August marks the final month in the push to the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Just four races remain until the 16-driver grid is set to determine who will compete for the Bill France Trophy.
Entering Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, 12 drivers had locked themselves into the postseason with a victory, leaving four spots still up for grabs. As the field looks to resume the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Lap 74 on Monday (noon ET, USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App), a handful of big names still have yet to solidify their playoff position. See who currently sits just above the elimination line, just below and on the outside looking in with stats provided by Racing Insights.
RELATED: Cup standings | Racing Insights’ projected Michigan results
✅ DRIVERS ABOVE ELIMINATION LINE
BUBBA WALLACE
Points above: 54
Trending: OK Recently
Michigan outlook – Hit or Miss Recently: Wallace had a huge points day at Richmond despite falling off in the race’s closing laps for a 12th-place result. With nearly a race in hand above the elimination line heading into Sunday, the No. 23 team can put its focus on redeeming itself from a missed opportunity at Michigan last year. Wallace still finished runner-up in the 2022 race but arguably had the fastest car on the day until a late restart bolted Kevin Harvick to his first win of 2022 instead.
MICHAEL MCDOWELL
Points above: 18
Trending: Cold
Michigan outlook – Cold: On a completely opposite day from Wallace, McDowell went on a differing strategy than most of the field, and it backfired as he went a lap down to finish 22nd. Historically, Michigan doesn’t bode well either for the driver of the No. 34 as he hasn’t finished better than 20th in 16 career starts.
☣️ ON THE BUBBLE
TY GIBBS
Points below: 18
Trending: Hit or Miss
Michigan outlook – Warm Start: Replacing an injured Kurt Busch in the second half of the 2022 Cup season, Gibbs flashed his talent with a top-10 run at Michigan last season and has continued to climb his way closer and closer to the elimination line. He’ll have a good chance to jump ahead of McDowell for that 16th spot on Sunday.
AJ ALLMENDINGER
Points below: 22
Trending: Cold
Michigan outlook – It’s Been A While: Allmendinger all but turned Richmond into a throwaway as he forewent practice and qualifying to compete in the Xfinity Series race at Road America. While overcoming 22 points is definitely doable with four races to go, including two at road courses, Allmendinger hasn’t made a Cup start at Michigan since 2018.
DANIEL SUÁREZ
Points below: 34
Trending: Cold
Michigan outlook – Cold: The last three races have been anything but pleasant for the No. 99 team, with no finish better than 16th and two finishes of 33rd or worse in the last two contests. Suárez finished 25th at Michigan last year but does own a best finish of fourth in the Irish Hills (June 2019).
CHASE ELLIOTT
Points below: 40
Trending: OK Recently
Michigan outlook – Warm: Slowly but surely, Elliott continues to inch his way closer to the elimination line. Michigan has been a decent track for him recently, with four top 10s in the last five races at the 2-mile oval.
🚩 MUST-WIN SITUATION
ALEX BOWMAN
Points below: 42
Trending: Cold
Michigan outlook – Cold Until 2022: An 18th-place run at Richmond continues a dismal run for Bowman since returning from injury. He finished ninth at Michigan last season, but don’t expect Sunday to be the shot in the arm the No. 48 team needs to finally get back on the path toward the postseason.
AUSTIN CINDRIC
Points below: 64
Trending: Cold
Michigan outlook – Cold Start: A pair of road courses after Michigan will be Cindric’s last chance to shock the Cup field and make the postseason. He crashed out at Michigan in his first Cup start last year.
JUSTIN HALEY
Points below: 70
Trending: Cold
Michigan outlook – Cold: Haley currently owns three consecutive finishes of 17th or worse, and that trend may hold at Michigan as he finished 17th in the Irish Hills last year.
ARIC ALMIROLA
Points below: 86
Trending: Richmond Snapped Cold Streak
Michigan outlook – Cold: Almirola picked up a quality result at Richmond with an eighth-place finish on what was the banner day of the year so far for Stewart-Haas Racing. But the SHR camp has been abysmal on intermediate/2-mile ovals this season. Almirola currently has five finishes of 16th or worse in the last six races at Michigan.
RYAN PREECE
Points below: 88
Trending: Richmond Snapped Cold Streak
Michigan outlook – Cold: A top-five run at Richmond is a welcome turnaround for the No. 41 team in what has been a forgettable year to date. Michigan isn’t optimal for Preece to keep the momentum up, but he does own a career-best seventh-place finish at the track (Aug. 2019).