We are now 24 races into the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season. As the Darlington race approaches, stage and playoff points matter now more than ever.
With 24 races down, there are only two races for NASCAR drivers to lock up a spot for themselves in the playoffs. Which drivers have the best chance of doing so with the new playoff format? Here are the current stage points standings and playoff point standings.
Stage Points
- Martin Truex Jr., #78, Furniture Row Racing, Toyota – 314 points (-)
- Kyle Larson, #42, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet – 249 points (-65)
- Kyle Busch, #18, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota – 244 points (-70)
- Kevin Harvick, #4, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford – 205 points (-109)
- Brad Keselowski, #2, Team Penske, Ford – 192 points (-122)
- Ryan Blaney, #21, Wood Brothers Racing, Ford – 168 points (-146)
- Matt Kenseth, #20, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota – 166 points (-148)
- Denny Hamlin, #11, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota – 142 points (-172)
- Chase Elliott, #24, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet – 139 points (-175)
- Jimmie Johnson, #48, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet – 138 points (-176)
- Jamie McMurray, #1, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet – 125 points (-189)
- Erik Jones, #77, Furniture Row Racing, Toyota – 106 points (-208)
- Joey Logano, #22, Team Penske, Ford – 105 points (-209)
- Kurt Busch, #41, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford – 72 points (-242)
- Clint Bowyer, #14, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford – 67 points (-247)
- Ryan Newman, #31, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet – 46 points (-268)
- Dale Earnhardt Jr., #88, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet – 36 points (-278)
- Kasey Kahne, #5, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet – 36 points (-278)
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #17, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford – 22 points (-292)
- AJ Allmendinger, #47, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet – 21 points (-293)
- Daniel Suarez, #19, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota – 20 points (-294)
- Austin Dillon, #3, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet – 19 points (-295)
- Trevor Bayne, #6, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford – 18 points (-296)
- Danica Patrick, #10, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford – 18 points (-296)
- David Ragan, #38, Front Row Motorsports, Ford – 7 points (-307)
- Michael McDowell, #95, Leavine Family Racing, Chevrolet – 7 points (-307)
- Paul Menard, #27, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet – 6 points (-308)
- Ty Dillon, #13, Germain Racing, Chevrolet – 5 points (-309)
Playoff Points
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Kurt Busch, #41, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford – 5 playoff points (-30)
Next: 10 small-team drivers who deserve Danica Patrick's ride
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