NASCAR: New Hampshire Post-Race Grades

Roush Fenway Racing, Ford. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. (12TH). B. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. holds on the last spot in the playoff standings heading into the last race before the cutoff. Stenhouse Jr. drove to a 15th place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. However, one thing to take a close look at is how close Stenhouse Jr. was to a disaster when he hit the wall early for the second week in a row. He will need another decent finish at Dover and he needs to avoid hitting the wall for a third straight week to remain in the playoff hunt.. No. 17

C+. With a 16th place finish at New Hampshire, Jamie McMurray currently sits in 11th place with one race to go before elimination. McMurray is nine points ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Austin Dillon, which is not exactly what you would call a lot of breathing room. He will need another strong finish at Dover to secure his spot in the Round of 12.. No. 1. Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet. JAMIE MCMURRAY (11TH)

D. Sitting in the 10th position in the playoff standings is Kevin Harvick. Harvick was having a pretty good day in Loudon before being clipped and then run into by his own teammate, causing him to finish 36th. The one thing we do know, is you don’t earn the “closer” nickname by not coming in clutch and with just one race to go in this round, Harvick will only need an average finish to get to the next round.. No. 4. Stewart-Haas Racing, Chevrolet. KEVIN HARVICK (10TH)

B. Chase Elliott finds himself in the 9th position after an 11th place finish last Sunday. He would be in an even better position if his team had not cheated and gotten caught the previous week at Chicagoland (we don’t forget). All in all, Elliott holds a 26-point lead over the last cutoff position and will move to the Round of 12 if he can avoid disaster at Dover.. No. 24. Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet. CHASE ELLIOTT (9TH)