BACK TO GALLERIES
Bubble watch: Who has the upper hand at Michigan?
By Marissa Fuller | Published: August 8, 2019 10
Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
1 of 10
Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Michigan. Bristol. Darlington. Indianapolis.
There are four races left in the regular season and for those without a win in the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, every stage point, every track, every finish is crucial in the hunt for the playoffs. Let's take a dive into the playoff bubble and analyze the drivers currently in and currently out.
There are four races left in the regular season and for those without a win in the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, every stage point, every track, every finish is crucial in the hunt for the playoffs. Let's take a dive into the playoff bubble and analyze the drivers currently in and currently out.
2 of 10
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
William Byron +60 points above cutline
Where he stands … Byron currently sits 12th in the standings despite his 21st-place finish last week. He accumulated enough stage points to ease the sting of that finish to not hurt him in the playoff picture. Byron is sitting pretty on points right now but he has to continue executing and making smart moves.
Mission Michigan: Michigan is not a great track for the young Hendrick Motorsports driver. In his three starts, he's finished 13th, 36th and 18th, respectively. He did lead two laps at the track earlier this season en route to his 18th-place finish but his focus should remain on stage points.
Where he stands … Byron currently sits 12th in the standings despite his 21st-place finish last week. He accumulated enough stage points to ease the sting of that finish to not hurt him in the playoff picture. Byron is sitting pretty on points right now but he has to continue executing and making smart moves.
Mission Michigan: Michigan is not a great track for the young Hendrick Motorsports driver. In his three starts, he's finished 13th, 36th and 18th, respectively. He did lead two laps at the track earlier this season en route to his 18th-place finish but his focus should remain on stage points.
3 of 10
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Erik Jones +54 points above cutline
Where he stands … Erik Jones' fourth-place finish at Watkins Glen gave him exactly what he needed -- more points. He doubled the distance from the 16th spot that he had entering The Glen and now has a more comfortable cushion heading into this weekend.
Mission Michigan: Sunday's race will mark Jones' sixth start at his home track of Michigan -- but it hasn't always been a warm welcome for the driver of the No. 20. He has one top 10 at the 2-mile track (a fifth-place showing). Earlier this season, he was 31st at Michigan. Expect him to also play the stage point game and strive to be mistake free.
Where he stands … Erik Jones' fourth-place finish at Watkins Glen gave him exactly what he needed -- more points. He doubled the distance from the 16th spot that he had entering The Glen and now has a more comfortable cushion heading into this weekend.
Mission Michigan: Sunday's race will mark Jones' sixth start at his home track of Michigan -- but it hasn't always been a warm welcome for the driver of the No. 20. He has one top 10 at the 2-mile track (a fifth-place showing). Earlier this season, he was 31st at Michigan. Expect him to also play the stage point game and strive to be mistake free.
4 of 10
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Kyle Larson +46 points above cutline
Where he stands … Michigan is a track that Kyle Larson should be looking forward to as it's one of his strongest. He is also coming off of an eighth-place finish at Watkins Glen and has given himself a little bit more leeway when it comes to points. It would be no surprise to see Larson in contention for a win at Michigan again.
Mission Michigan: With 11 starts under his belt, Larson has three wins, four top fives, five top 10s and one pole. He's also led 150 laps. His most recent starts at the track aren't as strong (average finish of 19.7 in last three races) but he's still one to watch.
Where he stands … Michigan is a track that Kyle Larson should be looking forward to as it's one of his strongest. He is also coming off of an eighth-place finish at Watkins Glen and has given himself a little bit more leeway when it comes to points. It would be no surprise to see Larson in contention for a win at Michigan again.
Mission Michigan: With 11 starts under his belt, Larson has three wins, four top fives, five top 10s and one pole. He's also led 150 laps. His most recent starts at the track aren't as strong (average finish of 19.7 in last three races) but he's still one to watch.
5 of 10
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Clint Bowyer +12 points above cutline
Where he stands … Clint Bowyer is currently 15th in the driver standings with only a 12-point advantage over Jimmie Johnson in 16th. Bowyer finished 20th last weekend at Watkins Glen and will surely be searching for a better result at Michigan.
Mission Michigan: In Bowyer's 27 starts at Michigan, he has one win (2018), two top fives and 12 top 10s. He was 35th at the track earlier this season after starting fifth and being involved in a wreck. But, his familiarity and recent win could give him a little extra push. Bowyer needs a clean race with stage points and a top-10 finish.
Where he stands … Clint Bowyer is currently 15th in the driver standings with only a 12-point advantage over Jimmie Johnson in 16th. Bowyer finished 20th last weekend at Watkins Glen and will surely be searching for a better result at Michigan.
Mission Michigan: In Bowyer's 27 starts at Michigan, he has one win (2018), two top fives and 12 top 10s. He was 35th at the track earlier this season after starting fifth and being involved in a wreck. But, his familiarity and recent win could give him a little extra push. Bowyer needs a clean race with stage points and a top-10 finish.
6 of 10
Chris Trotman | Getty Images
Jimmie Johnson +0 points above cutline
Where he stands … Right now, Jimmie Johnson is sitting in the 16th and final spot of the projected 2019 NASCAR Playoffs field. He had a promising day at Watkins Glen last weekend but a final stage spin -- hello, Ryan Blaney -- resulted in a 19th-place finish. With Johnson's rare anger after Sunday's race, it would be surprising if he didn't race his heart out this weekend at Michigan.
Mission Michigan:Johnson has 35 starts at Michigan with one win, five top fives and 13 top 10s. He's led 700 laps at the 2-mile track. His most recent finish earlier this season was 15th. Johnson and his new crew chief will likely be on the hunt for more stage points and a solid finish, striving for a better finish than the 15th he had at the season's first stop at the track.
Where he stands … Right now, Jimmie Johnson is sitting in the 16th and final spot of the projected 2019 NASCAR Playoffs field. He had a promising day at Watkins Glen last weekend but a final stage spin -- hello, Ryan Blaney -- resulted in a 19th-place finish. With Johnson's rare anger after Sunday's race, it would be surprising if he didn't race his heart out this weekend at Michigan.
Mission Michigan:Johnson has 35 starts at Michigan with one win, five top fives and 13 top 10s. He's led 700 laps at the 2-mile track. His most recent finish earlier this season was 15th. Johnson and his new crew chief will likely be on the hunt for more stage points and a solid finish, striving for a better finish than the 15th he had at the season's first stop at the track.
7 of 10
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Ryan Newman +0 points above cutline
Where he stands … Ryan Newman's season-worst 25th-place Watkins Glen finish did not help in his playoff push. After a blown tire during Sunday's race, Newman ended up falling to 17th in the standings, one spot out of the 16-driver playoff field.
Mission Michigan: Newman's playoff chances are far from gone, regardless of his finish last weekend. He is tied for the 16th spot and heading to Michigan is a good thing for the driver of the No. 6. Newman has 36 starts there with two wins, six top fives and 10 top 10s. Expect Newman's strategy to find a way to maximize points.
Where he stands … Ryan Newman's season-worst 25th-place Watkins Glen finish did not help in his playoff push. After a blown tire during Sunday's race, Newman ended up falling to 17th in the standings, one spot out of the 16-driver playoff field.
Mission Michigan: Newman's playoff chances are far from gone, regardless of his finish last weekend. He is tied for the 16th spot and heading to Michigan is a good thing for the driver of the No. 6. Newman has 36 starts there with two wins, six top fives and 10 top 10s. Expect Newman's strategy to find a way to maximize points.
8 of 10
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Daniel Suarez -23 points below cutline
Where he stands … Daniel Suarez may be getting nervous about making the playoffs. After a 17th-place finish at Watkins Glen, Suarez remains below the cutline in 18th. Without a win, it's getting tougher and tougher for the driver of the No. 41 to secure a playoff berth.
Mission Michigan: Suarez heads into this weekend at Michigan with a fourth-place finish earlier this season in the rearview mirror. He has five starts at the 2-mile track with one top five. He undoubtedly will look to mimic his earlier finish this season.
Where he stands … Daniel Suarez may be getting nervous about making the playoffs. After a 17th-place finish at Watkins Glen, Suarez remains below the cutline in 18th. Without a win, it's getting tougher and tougher for the driver of the No. 41 to secure a playoff berth.
Mission Michigan: Suarez heads into this weekend at Michigan with a fourth-place finish earlier this season in the rearview mirror. He has five starts at the 2-mile track with one top five. He undoubtedly will look to mimic his earlier finish this season.
9 of 10
Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Paul Menard -61 points below cutline
Where he stands … Paul Menard is not sitting comfortably in 19th in the standings. His points situation -- 61 below the cutline -- is starting to make the playoffs seem out of reach. His strategy should be stage points and solid finishes for the next four races. But, if it comes down to it, aggression might come into play if a win is in reaching distance.
Mission Michigan: Menard heads back to Michigan after a 13th-place finish at the track earlier this season. He has 26 starts with five top fives and seven top 10s. Another strong finish is crucial for the No. 21 -- but nothing can top a victory -- and this is one of Menard's best tracks.
Where he stands … Paul Menard is not sitting comfortably in 19th in the standings. His points situation -- 61 below the cutline -- is starting to make the playoffs seem out of reach. His strategy should be stage points and solid finishes for the next four races. But, if it comes down to it, aggression might come into play if a win is in reaching distance.
Mission Michigan: Menard heads back to Michigan after a 13th-place finish at the track earlier this season. He has 26 starts with five top fives and seven top 10s. Another strong finish is crucial for the No. 21 -- but nothing can top a victory -- and this is one of Menard's best tracks.
10 of 10
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. -78 points below cutline
Where he stands … Ricky Stenhouse Jr. likely needs a win to make his way into the playoffs. With only four races left to secure a spot, Stenhouse's numbers may be too far off to get in on points. Last weekend at Watkins Glen, the driver of the No. 17 finished 15th, which didn't help much.
Mission Michigan: Stenhouse finished 19th at Michigan earlier this season and needs to do much better this weekend. He has 13 starts there with only one top 10.
Where he stands … Ricky Stenhouse Jr. likely needs a win to make his way into the playoffs. With only four races left to secure a spot, Stenhouse's numbers may be too far off to get in on points. Last weekend at Watkins Glen, the driver of the No. 17 finished 15th, which didn't help much.
Mission Michigan: Stenhouse finished 19th at Michigan earlier this season and needs to do much better this weekend. He has 13 starts there with only one top 10.