After the fifth Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs race, and the second in the Round of 12, here's a brief look at the playoff picture. There is one race remaining in the Round of 12 before the field is whittled to eight, with four drivers eliminated from the postseason following Kansas on Oct. 22.
Winner
Brad Keselowski won on Oct. 15 at Talladega Superspeedway, clinching a spot in the Round of 8 of the playoffs. The win also gives him five playoff points to add to his total, which now sits at 26.
Who's hot
Surprise! It's Brad Keselowski, who entered the week 10th in the playoff standings but now is guaranteed a spot in the Round of 8 thanks to his fifth win at Talladega. Keselowski had to avoid three big wrecks in the final 17 laps and made a final-lap pass of Ryan Newman.
Ryan Blaney wrecked out of the race, but his 18th-place finish, which included a stage win, was enough to move up to seventh place in the playoff standings after he started the day in 11th. Blaney was second to Joey Logano in most laps led on the day with 27.
Who's not
Jamie McMurray wrecked out on Lap 25 at Talladega and fell to the bottom of the playoff standings. The Joplin, Missouri, native will likely need a win next week at Kansas Speedway in order to continue in the playoffs.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s streak of wins at restrictor-plate tracks came to an end. Now he's teetering on the brink of playoff elimination heading to a Kansas track that didn't favor him like Talladega did.
BUBBLE WATCH
| Rank |
Driver |
Points to cutoff |
| 5. |
Denny Hamlin |
+21 |
| 6. |
Chase Elliott |
+20 |
| 7. |
Ryan Blaney |
+9 |
| 8. |
Jimmie Johnson |
+7 |
| --------------- |
CUT-OFF LINE |
--------------- |
| 9. |
Kyle Busch |
-7 |
| 10. |
Matt Kenseth |
-8 |
| 11. |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
-22 |
| 12. |
Jamie McMurray |
-29 |
Next race
The Monster Energy Series travels to Kansas Speedway for a Sunday afternoon race on Oct. 22 (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). It is the elimination race in the Round of 12.
Who it favors
Wins: Jimmie Johnson (3), Kevin Harvick (2), Matt Kenseth (2)
Average Finish: Jimmie Johnson (8.5), Kevin Harvick (8.6), Matt Kenseth (11.0)
Driver Rating: Jimmie Johnson (108.7), Matt Kenseth (106.5), Kevin Harvick (105.8).
Who it hurts
Fewest Top-10s in past 10 starts at track: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (0), Chase Elliott (1), Denny Hamlin (2), Jamie McMurray (2), Kyle Larson (2)
Worst Average Finish: Chase Elliott (23.0), Jamie McMurray (21.8), Kyle Larson (18.4)
Worst Driver Rating: Jamie McMurray (72.3), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (75.0), Chase Elliott (80.3)