Bubble Watch: Where drivers closest to the cutline stand before Dover doubleheader

By Staff Report | Published: August 20, 2020 9

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

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Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Catch up on where the NASCAR Cup Series drivers closest to the playoff cutline stand before this weekend's doubleheader at Dover International Speedway. Stats and ratings have been provided by Racing Insights.

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Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Kyle Busch
Points above cutline: 100 | Full standings
Trending: Hit or Miss -- In the last five races, Busch has two top fives and three finishes of 11th or worse (including two DNFs).
Dover outlook: Hot -- He has four top 10s in the last five races here, including one win.

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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - JULY 15: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1 Ford, speaks to the media prior to the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Clint Bowyer
Points above cutline: 66 | Full standings
Trending: Snapped a cold streak -- His sixth-place finish on the Daytona Road Course ended a streak of seven straight finishes of 11th or worse.
Dover outlook: Warm -- He has four top 10s in the last five races at Dover.

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SPARTA, KENTUCKY - JULY 12: Matt DiBenedetto, driver of the #21 Menards/Quaker State Ford, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart at Kentucky Speedway on July 12, 2020 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Matt DiBenedetto
Points above cutline: 44 | Full standings
Trending: Hit or Miss -- In the last nine races, he has four finishes of seventh or better and five finishes of 15th or worse.
Dover outlook: Mostly cold -- He has one finish of better than 20th in 10 career Dover starts, but it came here last fall (seventh).

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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 05: William Byron, driver of the #24 Liberty University Chevrolet, looks on prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400 Powered by Big Machine Records at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 05, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

William Byron
Points above cutline: 25 | Full standings
Trending: OK recently -- He has six finishes in the range of eighth to 14th over the last seven races.
Dover outlook: Mostly cold -- He has three finishes of 13th or worse in four Dover starts.

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SPARTA, KENTUCKY - JULY 12: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart at Kentucky Speedway on July 12, 2020 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Jimmie Johnson
Points below cutline: 25 | Full standings
Trending: Snapped cold streak -- He was fourth on the Daytona Road Course, his first top-10 finish since Martinsville.
Dover outlook: Hit or Miss recently -- He has 11 career wins here, but he has two finishes of 14th or worse in the last three races.

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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - JULY 15: Erik Jones, driver of the #20 Craftsman Toyota, walks the grid prior to during the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Erik Jones
Points below cutline: 35 | Full standings
Trending: Cold -- He has four straight finishes of 11th or worse.
Dover outlook: Hit or Miss -- He finished sixth and 15th in the two races at Dover in 2019.

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LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 28: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #8 Caterpillar Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Pocono 350 at Pocono Raceway on June 28, 2020 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Tyler Reddick
Points below cutline: 57 | Full standings
Trending: Cold -- He has three straight finishes of 18th or worse, including 18th last week on the Daytona Road Course.
Dover outlook: No Cup experience -- However, he did win once at Dover in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series.

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CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 24: Christopher Bell, driver of the #95 Rheem Toyota, sits in his car on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, 2020 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Christopher Bell
Points below cutline: 146 | Full standings
Trending: Cold -- He has six straight finishes of 13th or worse.
Dover outlook: No Cup experience -- But he did win twice here in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in four career starts.