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NASCAR: New Hampshire Post-Race Grades

By Dustin Smith

LOUDON, NH - SEPTEMBER 24: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, poses with the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
LOUDON, NH - SEPTEMBER 24: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, poses with the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ISM Connect 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 24, 2017 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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LOUDON, NH – SEPTEMBER 24: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
LOUDON, NH – SEPTEMBER 24: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

#16 through #13

No. 5. Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet. KASEY KAHNE (16TH). F. With all the news surrounding Kasey Kahne entering the weekend, a track bar issue was an unfortunate way for Kahne’s day to end. Kahne spent most of the race in the 10th to 15th range and would have been looking at sitting in or around 12th place in the playoff standings if it weren’t for his unlucky car malfunction. Kahne sits 21 points outside of the last transfer spot and will most likely need to win at Dover to make the next round.

F. Kurt Busch, just like Kahne, was having a pretty decent day in New Hampshire before disaster struck. When Kevin Harvick spun off of turn number two, there was a ton of smoke that filled the track, making it virtually impossible to see a wrecked car in front of you. Kurt Busch unfortunately was wrapped up in the Harvick spin that eventually ended the day for both drivers. The reigning Daytona 500 champion will have to fight back from a 17-point deficit to make the next round.. No. 41. Stewart-Haas Racing, Chevrolet. KURT BUSCH (15TH)

B. Ryan Newman took home a 13th place finish on Sunday in Loudon, which was good enough to slip him into 14th after the second week of playoff racing. The good news for Newman is his finish on Sunday places him only one point behind 12th place heading into Dover. If he can manage to stay ahead of Austin Dillon and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., he could be on his way to the second round of playoff action.. No. 31. Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet. RYAN NEWMAN (14TH)

D. If any driver needs to be constantly looking over his shoulder at Dover, it would be Austin Dillon. Dillon made contact with Kevin Harvick which ended the day for Harvick. Dillon went on to finish 19th and is now in a tie for the last playoff position. Dillon will need to avoid any major wrecks on Sunday at Dover in order to secure a spot in the round of 12. Avoiding trouble may not be an easy task with the #4 car lurking around…. No. 3. Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet. AUSTIN DILLON (13TH)

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