Loser: Drivers Near The Chase Bubble
The race to make it above the cut line has been an up-and-down battle for some drivers over the past few weeks and today didn’t help their cause.
Drivers like Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman and Ryan Blaney have been in a tight battle for quite some time, but their chances at making the Chase grew even smaller today for two reasons.
First was the fact that Kyle Larson, who had been bouncing around the near the cut line, locked his spot in with a win. Second was the fact that even with Chris Buescher’s rough day and 35th-place finish he still remains seven points above David Ragan for the 30th position in the driver standings.
If Buescher is able to hang on for two more weeks, there will only be three spots available for drivers to get themselves into the Chase by points.
Buescher still +7 points clear of 31st place.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) August 28, 2016
That means Chase drivers on points are now: Elliott, Dillon, McMurray. Newman is out (-15 pts)
Chase Elliott and Austin Dillon can lock their spots with quality finishes in the next two weeks. Jamie McMurray, who currently owns the final Chase spot, has finished eighth each of the last three weeks and has shown strength as the Chase grows closer.
Newman is only 15 points below the cut line, but as for the other drivers in the hunt, they’ll most likely need a win to make it to the Chase.
Next: A Breakthrough For The Team