NASCAR: Who’s Hot And Who’s Not Heading Into Loudon

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

NOT – Aric Almirola

Just because some 95 percent of the NASCAR Universe believes that Almirola is going to be one of the first cars out of the chase doesn’t mean that he actually has to be. Last weekend Almirola ran one of the best races of his career and was 39 laps away from taking a huge step towards moving onto the second round of the chase. Moments later everything came crashing down when the engine let go in the No. 43 machine which would send Almirola to the garage and to the bottom of the chase standings. With two races left before the first elimination Almirola finds himself 23 points behind 12th place. Although the 23-point deficit isn’t the end of the world, the fact that there are three drivers in front of him makes it quite the task. Also not helping matters is the fact that the three drivers ahead of him are each nine points or less behind the 12th place position. Almirola has a lot of work to do in the final two races before the first elimination and it will most likely take consecutive top-10 finishes for him to even have a shot at the second round.