X
NASCAR Playoff Watch 2022: How the postseason picture looks
By Zach Sturniolo | Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
1 of 18
View Fullscreen
Throughout the regular season, NASCAR.com will examine the playoff picture. Here's how the postseason picture looks through 17 regular-season races (out of 26) after the Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway.
A few reminders:
-- All point totals are reset to 2,000 for the 16 eligible playoff drivers.
-- Drivers earn five playoff points for each of their regular-season wins.
-- Drivers earn one playoff point for each stage win.
-- The top 10 finishers in the regular-season standings earn playoff points on a sliding scale, starting with 15 points for the Regular Season Champion and ending on one point for the 10th-place finisher.
A few reminders:
-- All point totals are reset to 2,000 for the 16 eligible playoff drivers.
-- Drivers earn five playoff points for each of their regular-season wins.
-- Drivers earn one playoff point for each stage win.
-- The top 10 finishers in the regular-season standings earn playoff points on a sliding scale, starting with 15 points for the Regular Season Champion and ending on one point for the 10th-place finisher.
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
2 of 18
View Fullscreen
*Note that the cutline sits at 11th place in the regular-season standings since that is the lowest non-winner in the provisional playoff field.
On the outside looking in:
Aric Almirola (12th in regular-season standings, minus-9 points to 11th); Tyler Reddick (13th in regular-season standings, minus-52 points to 11th); Austin Dillon (14th in regular-season standings, minus-53 points to 11th); Erik Jones (16th in regular-season standings; minus-58 points to 11th).
Almirola fell out of the playoff bracket after a 17th-place finish at Nashville. Reddick is the only driver among this group who is looking for his first career Cup win.
On the outside looking in:
Aric Almirola (12th in regular-season standings, minus-9 points to 11th); Tyler Reddick (13th in regular-season standings, minus-52 points to 11th); Austin Dillon (14th in regular-season standings, minus-53 points to 11th); Erik Jones (16th in regular-season standings; minus-58 points to 11th).
Almirola fell out of the playoff bracket after a 17th-place finish at Nashville. Reddick is the only driver among this group who is looking for his first career Cup win.
Logan Riely | Getty Images
3 of 18
View Fullscreen
16. Kevin Harvick: 2,000 points
Qualified by: Points
Stage wins: 0
Quick hit: Harvick still hasn't hit the same strides we're used to seeing from the 2014 Cup champion, but his past few races should bring optimism. He's finished inside the top 10 in three of the past four races, including top fives at Charlotte and Sonoma. A revamped pit crew at Nashville kept Harvick in the hunt all day, with the No. 4 team posting the fifth-best average running position before finishing 10th.
Qualified by: Points
Stage wins: 0
Quick hit: Harvick still hasn't hit the same strides we're used to seeing from the 2014 Cup champion, but his past few races should bring optimism. He's finished inside the top 10 in three of the past four races, including top fives at Charlotte and Sonoma. A revamped pit crew at Nashville kept Harvick in the hunt all day, with the No. 4 team posting the fifth-best average running position before finishing 10th.
Buda Mendes | Getty Images
4 of 18
View Fullscreen
15. Christopher Bell: 2,003 points
Qualified by: Points
Stage wins: 0
Quick hit: Bell rebounded from a 27th-place finish at Sonoma to score an eighth-place result at Nashville, his ninth top 10 in the last 12 races. Bell's season-long consistency is keeping him well in the playoff hunt despite a goose egg in the win column.
Qualified by: Points
Stage wins: 0
Quick hit: Bell rebounded from a 27th-place finish at Sonoma to score an eighth-place result at Nashville, his ninth top 10 in the last 12 races. Bell's season-long consistency is keeping him well in the playoff hunt despite a goose egg in the win column.
Getty Images
5 of 18
View Fullscreen
14. Austin Cindric, 2,006 points
Qualified by: Win (Daytona 500)
Stage wins: 1
Quick hit: From February through May, Cindric only nabbed two top-10 finishes, including his victory in the season-opening Daytona 500. June has proven to be a different story. In this month's three contests, Cindric has a 7.7 average finish with results of 11th (Gateway), fifth (Sonoma) and seventh (Nashville). The sample size isn't large, but perhaps the rookie is gaining more confidence.
Qualified by: Win (Daytona 500)
Stage wins: 1
Quick hit: From February through May, Cindric only nabbed two top-10 finishes, including his victory in the season-opening Daytona 500. June has proven to be a different story. In this month's three contests, Cindric has a 7.7 average finish with results of 11th (Gateway), fifth (Sonoma) and seventh (Nashville). The sample size isn't large, but perhaps the rookie is gaining more confidence.
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
6 of 18
View Fullscreen
13. Chase Briscoe, 2,006 points
Qualified by: Win (Phoenix)
Stage wins: 1
Quick hit: Briscoe has run into a disappointing stretch of races despite his playoff spot being secured by his Phoenix victory. An early crash at Nashville left him with a 34th-place finish, his eighth finish of 13th or worse in the past nine races. His car has shown speed in this span that his finishes don't reflect: He led 59 laps and was a corner away from a top-two finish at Bristol dirt and also led 27 laps at Gateway before finishing 24th.
Qualified by: Win (Phoenix)
Stage wins: 1
Quick hit: Briscoe has run into a disappointing stretch of races despite his playoff spot being secured by his Phoenix victory. An early crash at Nashville left him with a 34th-place finish, his eighth finish of 13th or worse in the past nine races. His car has shown speed in this span that his finishes don't reflect: He led 59 laps and was a corner away from a top-two finish at Bristol dirt and also led 27 laps at Gateway before finishing 24th.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
7 of 18
View Fullscreen
12. Daniel Suárez, 2,007 points
Qualified by: Win (Sonoma)
Stage wins: 2
Quick hit: Following his first career win at Sonoma, Suárez started the race at Nashville with notable pace that saw his No. 99 Tootsies Chevrolet as high as second place. But the Trackhouse Racing driver ultimately had a quieter day than anticipated, finishing 15th and averaging the 13th-best running position.
Qualified by: Win (Sonoma)
Stage wins: 2
Quick hit: Following his first career win at Sonoma, Suárez started the race at Nashville with notable pace that saw his No. 99 Tootsies Chevrolet as high as second place. But the Trackhouse Racing driver ultimately had a quieter day than anticipated, finishing 15th and averaging the 13th-best running position.
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
8 of 18
View Fullscreen
11. Alex Bowman, 2,007 points
Qualified by: Win (Las Vegas)
Stage wins: 1
Quick hit: Bowman suffered his first last-place finish of the season and just his second DNF of 2022 at Nashville after early-race contact from Corey LaJoie. The result drops his average finish to 13.5 in what has still been a steady season for the No. 48 team.
Qualified by: Win (Las Vegas)
Stage wins: 1
Quick hit: Bowman suffered his first last-place finish of the season and just his second DNF of 2022 at Nashville after early-race contact from Corey LaJoie. The result drops his average finish to 13.5 in what has still been a steady season for the No. 48 team.
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
9 of 18
View Fullscreen
10. Kurt Busch, 2,007 points
Qualified by: Win (Kansas)
Stage wins: 2
Quick hit: The peaks and valleys of Kurt Busch's season continued at Nashville with a second-place finish, his third podium finish in the past five races. The runner-up result bumps him four spots higher in the playoff grid.
Qualified by: Win (Kansas)
Stage wins: 2
Quick hit: The peaks and valleys of Kurt Busch's season continued at Nashville with a second-place finish, his third podium finish in the past five races. The runner-up result bumps him four spots higher in the playoff grid.
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
10 of 18
View Fullscreen
9. Martin Truex Jr., 2,009 points
Qualified by: Points
Stage wins: 5
Quick hit: Truex's future became clearer at Nashville when the 2017 Cup champion announced he is returning to Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 19 Toyota in 2023. With his decision made, Truex returned to title-contending form by leading a season-best 82 laps at Nashville and sweeping the stages for the first time since the Daytona 500. He's still winless, but things are looking up.
Qualified by: Points
Stage wins: 5
Quick hit: Truex's future became clearer at Nashville when the 2017 Cup champion announced he is returning to Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 19 Toyota in 2023. With his decision made, Truex returned to title-contending form by leading a season-best 82 laps at Nashville and sweeping the stages for the first time since the Daytona 500. He's still winless, but things are looking up.
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
11 of 18
View Fullscreen
8. Ryan Blaney, 2,012 points
Qualified by: Points
Stage wins: 4
Quick hit: Blaney was a top-10 -- and often a top-five -- contender at Nashville before a late-race spin sent him through the infield grass. Not to worry. The Team Penske driver rebounded for a season-best third-place finish and moves into third in the regular-season points tally.
Qualified by: Points
Stage wins: 4
Quick hit: Blaney was a top-10 -- and often a top-five -- contender at Nashville before a late-race spin sent him through the infield grass. Not to worry. The Team Penske driver rebounded for a season-best third-place finish and moves into third in the regular-season points tally.
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
12 of 18
View Fullscreen
7. Kyle Larson, 2,012 points
Qualified by: Win (Auto Club)
Stage wins: 2
Quick hit: Kyle Larson's car wasn't a factor for the win at Nashville, but the No. 5 team certainly showed speed in its first race without Cliff Daniels atop the pit box after incurring a four-week suspension at Sonoma. His fourth-place finish is his third top 10 in the last five races as he tries to rekindle last year's magic.
Qualified by: Win (Auto Club)
Stage wins: 2
Quick hit: Kyle Larson's car wasn't a factor for the win at Nashville, but the No. 5 team certainly showed speed in its first race without Cliff Daniels atop the pit box after incurring a four-week suspension at Sonoma. His fourth-place finish is his third top 10 in the last five races as he tries to rekindle last year's magic.
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
13 of 18
View Fullscreen
6. Denny Hamlin, 2,012 points
Qualified by: Wins (Richmond, Charlotte)
Stage wins: 2
Quick hit: Just like that, Hamlin is emerging as a true force to be reckoned with. His 114 laps led at Nashville are a season high and best since September 2021 when he led 137 and won at Las Vegas. At the checkered flag Sunday, he was sixth, his third top 10 in the last five races and snapping a two-race stretch of finishes outside the top 30.
Qualified by: Wins (Richmond, Charlotte)
Stage wins: 2
Quick hit: Just like that, Hamlin is emerging as a true force to be reckoned with. His 114 laps led at Nashville are a season high and best since September 2021 when he led 137 and won at Las Vegas. At the checkered flag Sunday, he was sixth, his third top 10 in the last five races and snapping a two-race stretch of finishes outside the top 30.
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
14 of 18
View Fullscreen
5. Kyle Busch, 2,013 points
Qualified by: Win (Bristol Dirt Race)
Stage wins: 1
Quick hit: Busch led the series in average finish ahead of Sunday's race at Nashville and was in position to score another top five until the team pit under the final caution. Traffic, chaos and a wall ride in the closing laps instead relegated the No. 18 Toyota to a 21st-place finish. That marks his third finish outside the top 20 in the last six races.
Qualified by: Win (Bristol Dirt Race)
Stage wins: 1
Quick hit: Busch led the series in average finish ahead of Sunday's race at Nashville and was in position to score another top five until the team pit under the final caution. Traffic, chaos and a wall ride in the closing laps instead relegated the No. 18 Toyota to a 21st-place finish. That marks his third finish outside the top 20 in the last six races.
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
15 of 18
View Fullscreen
4. William Byron, 2,015 points
Qualified by: Wins (Atlanta, Martinsville)
Stage wins: 3
Quick hit: The driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet felt an issue before the first lightning hold at Nashville and unfortunately needed his car repaired in the garage area. He returned to the track but finished 35th, 38 laps down. Byron's season has struggled since winning Martinsville in April, scoring just one finish better than 13th since then (ninth, Sonoma).
Qualified by: Wins (Atlanta, Martinsville)
Stage wins: 3
Quick hit: The driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet felt an issue before the first lightning hold at Nashville and unfortunately needed his car repaired in the garage area. He returned to the track but finished 35th, 38 laps down. Byron's season has struggled since winning Martinsville in April, scoring just one finish better than 13th since then (ninth, Sonoma).
Jeff Curry | Getty Images
16 of 18
View Fullscreen
3. Joey Logano, 2,018 points
Qualified by: Wins (Darlington, Gateway)
Stage wins: 2
Quick hit: Logano scored a ninth-place finish at Nashville, only his third top 10 in the last eight races. The good news for him is that his other two top 10s in that stretch are victories.
Qualified by: Wins (Darlington, Gateway)
Stage wins: 2
Quick hit: Logano scored a ninth-place finish at Nashville, only his third top 10 in the last eight races. The good news for him is that his other two top 10s in that stretch are victories.
Getty Images
17 of 18
View Fullscreen
2. Ross Chastain, 2,023 points
Qualified by: Wins (COTA, Talladega)
Stage wins: 3
Quick hit: Another race, another top-five finish for Chastain. The Trackhouse Racing driver scored his series-leading eighth top five Sunday at Nashville with a fifth-place finish and his fourth top 10 in the last five races. Chastain hasn't led since an impressive 153 circuits led at Charlotte three races ago, but the No. 1 Chevrolet remains a factor week in and week out.
Qualified by: Wins (COTA, Talladega)
Stage wins: 3
Quick hit: Another race, another top-five finish for Chastain. The Trackhouse Racing driver scored his series-leading eighth top five Sunday at Nashville with a fifth-place finish and his fourth top 10 in the last five races. Chastain hasn't led since an impressive 153 circuits led at Charlotte three races ago, but the No. 1 Chevrolet remains a factor week in and week out.
James Gilbert | Getty Images
18 of 18
View Fullscreen
1. Chase Elliott, 2,028 points
Qualified by: Wins (Dover, Nashville)
Stage wins: 3
Quick hit: What a way to return to form. Elliott's Nashville win makes him the fifth driver with multiple wins in the Cup Series this year and immediately puts him back into the championship conversation. He now holds a 10-point cushion over the No. 2 seed in the playoff bracket. That sort of gap can carry a driver deep into the playoffs, and Elliott knows how to turn up the wick when it matters most. His second win of the season may be a dangerous development for the rest of the Cup field.
Qualified by: Wins (Dover, Nashville)
Stage wins: 3
Quick hit: What a way to return to form. Elliott's Nashville win makes him the fifth driver with multiple wins in the Cup Series this year and immediately puts him back into the championship conversation. He now holds a 10-point cushion over the No. 2 seed in the playoff bracket. That sort of gap can carry a driver deep into the playoffs, and Elliott knows how to turn up the wick when it matters most. His second win of the season may be a dangerous development for the rest of the Cup field.
Presented By: