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: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, leads Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, and Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Chevrolet (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /

#8 and #7

#8. Kurt Busch seemed to be heating up at the end of the regular season, and that certainly may play to his advantage in the playoffs. He opened up the 2017 season with his first career Daytona 500 victory, which secured his spot in these playoffs. And it’s good it did, because up until lately, that win was really the only bright spot of his season. In the 22 races after that win, he had just one top 5 finish, with that being a 4th place effort at Pocono. But he ended the regular season on a three-race streak of top 5 finishes, including a podium finish at Darlington. The 2004 series champion is not a driver that should be slept on in this year’s playoffs.. No. 41. Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford. KURT BUSCH

#7. Brad Keselowski is in the mist of a cold streak coming into the playoffs, as he hasn’t finished in the top 10 in any of the last five races, but that’s okay. Thanks to his two victories earlier this season and a number of stage wins throughout the year, he starts the playoffs in 4th place in the standings, effectively making the 2012 champion one of the technical favorites to make it to the final round of the playoffs at Homestead. With his Team Penske teammate Joey Logano not in the playoffs, the team’s focus is going to turn 100% to Keselowski, which should really help him kick it up a notch and break out of his slump in order to potentially get back into his early season groove and possibly win his second career championship.. No. 2. Team Penske, Ford. BRAD KESELOWSKI

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