Chase Bubble: Analyzing the playoff picture post-Bristol

RELATED: See the full Chase Grid

Here’s a breakdown of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Grid and bubble picture after Sunday’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

BUESCHER’S STANDING

Chris Buescher vaulted into the top 30 in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings with a resounding fifth-place finish in the rain-delayed 500-lapper. Crossing the top-30 plateau ticked off the final requirement for postseason eligibility, coupling it with his breakthrough Sprint Cup victory earlier in the month at Pocono Raceway. Sunday’s effort hands the Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate a 13-point cushion over 31st-ranked David Ragan, who finished 21st Sunday. Buescher will need to maintain or improve his spot in the top 30 to give his Front Row Motorsports team its first Chase appearance.

LOCKED IN

Drivers who have clinched a spot in the Chase are: Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin (all with multiple wins), along with one-win drivers Kurt Busch, Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. After Sunday’s 500-lapper, three regular-season races (Michigan, Darlington, Richmond) remain before the postseason field is set.

WIN, BASICALLY IN

Tony Stewart endured an extended stay behind the wall for a mechanical issue, finishing 29 laps down in 30th place. The Sonoma winner sits 27th in Sprint Cup points with a comfortable cushion on a top 30 spot. With Stewart’s stature and Buescher’s newfound Chase status, just four at-large spots (at present) for non-winners remain up for grabs based on drivers’ positioning in the standings. Here’s how that picture looks post-Bristol.

BUBBLE WATCH

Editor’s note: The standings below are the Chase Grid standings, not the Sprint Cup Series drivers standings.

CHASE BUBBLE WATCH