NASCAR: Ranking the 16 playoff drivers in 2017

By Asher Fair | Sep 14, 2017

RICHMOND, VA - SEPTEMBER 09: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 Mountain Dew Chevrolet,, Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW Chevrolet,, Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Hurricane Harvey Relief Toyota, Ryan Newman, driver of the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 McDonald's Chevrolet, Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Great Clips Chevrolet, Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Fitzgerald Glider Kits Ford, Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #17 Fastenal Ford, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, pose for a photo after making the playoffs following the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway on September 9, 2017 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

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BROOKLYN, MI – JUNE 18: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Omnicraft Auto Parts Ford, leads Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Chevrolet (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /

#12 and #11

#12. In his second full-time season in the Cup Series, Ryan Blaney broke through and earned his first career victory at Pocono to seal himself a spot in the playoffs for the first time in his career. While his season was otherwise inconsistent as far as results go, it was not rare to see him with great speed running up the front at all kinds of tracks, including big ovals, medium-sized ovals, short ovals and even the two road courses that the series visits each year. And thanks to his first career win and a few stage wins, he will start the playoffs in 9th place in the standings, a spot that would put him right on the cut line of making it to the third of four playoff rounds.. No. 21. Wood Brothers Racing, Ford. RYAN BLANEY

CHASE ELLIOTT. #11. Chase Elliott is a driver that many people consider to be the future of NASCAR, as he has tons of potential. However, with his second full regular season in the books, those many people are still waiting for him to turn that potential into reality. Through 67 career Cup Series races, he is still without a victory, so while he is in the playoffs for the second time in two full-time seasons, it’s hard to see him as a legitimate championship contender this early on in his career without even one career win to his name, which is why he isn’t even ranked in the top 10 in these rankings.. No. 24. Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet

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