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Playoff Bubble Watch: Richmond
By | Published: September 7, 2017 15
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It's all come down to this. On Saturday night under the lights at Richmond (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN) the 2017 playoff field will be set. For those currently on the outside looking in, it's win-or-bust. None of the drivers below can get in via points. Here's a close look at how the drivers not in the field, but in the top 30 in the points standings, fare at the .75-mile Virginia track.
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Clint Bowyer
Regular-season standings: 11th
Wins at Richmond: 2
Top-fives at Richmond: 4
Top-10s at Richmond: 12
Career average finish at Richmond: 12.9
Note: Bowyer is one of just three drivers on the outside of the playoff field who has won at the track.
Regular-season standings: 11th
Wins at Richmond: 2
Top-fives at Richmond: 4
Top-10s at Richmond: 12
Career average finish at Richmond: 12.9
Note: Bowyer is one of just three drivers on the outside of the playoff field who has won at the track.
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Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Erik Jones
Regular-season standings: 14th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 0
Career average finish at Richmond: 38.0
Note: Ignore the above; the rookie has just one career Monster Energy Series start here. His XFINITY Series numbers (three top-five finishes in four starts) and recent speed indicate he's a real contender.
Regular-season standings: 14th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 0
Career average finish at Richmond: 38.0
Note: Ignore the above; the rookie has just one career Monster Energy Series start here. His XFINITY Series numbers (three top-five finishes in four starts) and recent speed indicate he's a real contender.
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Joey Logano
Regular-season standings: 15th
Wins at Richmond: 2
Top-fives at Richmond: 6
Top-10s at Richmond: 9
Career average finish at Richmond: 12.5
Note: Logano already won once at Richmond this year, a victory that was ruled encumbered and does not count toward the playoffs. You can bet the No. 22 team will be dialed in.
Regular-season standings: 15th
Wins at Richmond: 2
Top-fives at Richmond: 6
Top-10s at Richmond: 9
Career average finish at Richmond: 12.5
Note: Logano already won once at Richmond this year, a victory that was ruled encumbered and does not count toward the playoffs. You can bet the No. 22 team will be dialed in.
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Daniel Suarez
Regular-season standings: 17th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 0
Career average finish at Richmond: 12.0
Note: A Joe Gibbs Racing driver has won three of the past four races here. Suarez will have a real shot.
Regular-season standings: 17th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 0
Career average finish at Richmond: 12.0
Note: A Joe Gibbs Racing driver has won three of the past four races here. Suarez will have a real shot.
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Trevor Bayne
Regular-season standings: 20th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 0
Career average finish at Richmond: 18.2
Note: Bayne has improved his Richmond finish every single race, culminating with a 13th-place run in April.
Regular-season standings: 20th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 0
Career average finish at Richmond: 18.2
Note: Bayne has improved his Richmond finish every single race, culminating with a 13th-place run in April.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Regular-season standings: 22nd
Wins at Richmond: 3
Top-fives at Richmond: 10
Top-10s at Richmond: 14
Career average finish at Richmond: 13.7
Note: Earnhardt's three wins here are tied for the most at any non-restrictor-plate track on the circuit. The downside: His last victory here came 11 years ago.
Regular-season standings: 22nd
Wins at Richmond: 3
Top-fives at Richmond: 10
Top-10s at Richmond: 14
Career average finish at Richmond: 13.7
Note: Earnhardt's three wins here are tied for the most at any non-restrictor-plate track on the circuit. The downside: His last victory here came 11 years ago.
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Paul Menard
Regular-season standings: 23rd
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 1
Top-10s at Richmond: 1
Career average finish at Richmond: 24.4
Note: Menard finished fifth in this race in 2013.
Regular-season standings: 23rd
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 1
Top-10s at Richmond: 1
Career average finish at Richmond: 24.4
Note: Menard finished fifth in this race in 2013.
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Ty Dillon
Regular-season standings: 24th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 0
Career average finish at Richmond: 26.0
Note: Don't be at all surprised if Dillon is running toward the front late. His team showed at Dover (27 laps led) they'll be aggressive.
Regular-season standings: 24th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 0
Career average finish at Richmond: 26.0
Note: Don't be at all surprised if Dillon is running toward the front late. His team showed at Dover (27 laps led) they'll be aggressive.
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Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Chris Buescher
Regular-season standings: 25th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 0
Career average finish at Richmond: 25.0
Note: Richmond is Buescher's last shot to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year, with his second different team.
Regular-season standings: 25th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 0
Career average finish at Richmond: 25.0
Note: Richmond is Buescher's last shot to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year, with his second different team.
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Michael McDowell
Regular-season standings: 26th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 0
Career average finish at Richmond: 35.2
Note: McDowell doesn't have Cup win in his career, but his No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet have been more competitive this year than ever before.
Regular-season standings: 26th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 0
Career average finish at Richmond: 35.2
Note: McDowell doesn't have Cup win in his career, but his No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet have been more competitive this year than ever before.
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AJ Allmendinger
Regular-season standings: 27th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 3
Career average finish at Richmond: 20.8
Note: Allmendinger's qualifying has consistently improved at Richmond, but he's looking for more consistency on race night.
Regular-season standings: 27th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 3
Career average finish at Richmond: 20.8
Note: Allmendinger's qualifying has consistently improved at Richmond, but he's looking for more consistency on race night.
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Danica Patrick
Regular-season standings: 28th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 0
Career average finish at Richmond: 23.3
Note: Patrick's career-best Richmond finish is 15th in this race last year.
Regular-season standings: 28th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 0
Top-10s at Richmond: 0
Career average finish at Richmond: 23.3
Note: Patrick's career-best Richmond finish is 15th in this race last year.
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David Ragan
Regular-season standings: 29th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 3
Top-10s at Richmond: 3
Career average finish at Richmond: 22.6
Note: Ragan's three top-five finishes all came with Roush Fenway Racing.
Regular-season standings: 29th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 3
Top-10s at Richmond: 3
Career average finish at Richmond: 22.6
Note: Ragan's three top-five finishes all came with Roush Fenway Racing.
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Aric Almirola
Regular-season standings: 30th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 1
Top-10s at Richmond: 4
Career average finish at Richmond: 16.2
Note: Consider Almirola a deep sleeper. His average finish here among those outside the playoff field is fifth-best. NASCAR has awarded the team a playoff waiver, so if he wins, he's in.
Regular-season standings: 30th
Wins at Richmond: 0
Top-fives at Richmond: 1
Top-10s at Richmond: 4
Career average finish at Richmond: 16.2
Note: Consider Almirola a deep sleeper. His average finish here among those outside the playoff field is fifth-best. NASCAR has awarded the team a playoff waiver, so if he wins, he's in.