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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 22: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 SiriusXM Toyota (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
LOUDON, NH – SEPTEMBER 22: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 SiriusXM Toyota (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /

#8 through #5

B+. Ryan Blaney holds on to the 8th spot in the playoffs after his 9th place New Hampshire finish. Being consistent in the playoffs is how you survive and Blaney has done just that. With his 9th place finish at New Hampshire and 11th place finish at Chicagoland, Blaney has a 26-point lead over the last spot. Like Elliott, Blaney will just need to stay out of trouble to make it to Round 2.. No. 21. Wood Brothers Racing, Ford. RYAN BLANEY (8TH)

B. It should surprise no one that Jimmie Johnson has driven consistent finishes in the first two races to put himself in a great position to make the second round. With an 8th place finish at Chicagoland and his 14th place finish at New Hampshire, Johnson controls a 32-point lead over 12th place and is heading to a track where he has had great success.. No. 48. Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet. JIMMIE JOHNSON (7TH)

A. Sitting in the 6th spot after two races is Matt Kenseth. Kenseth drove his Gibbs Toyota to a rather impressive 3rd place finish at New Hampshire and all but secured himself into the second round. With finishes of 9th and 3rd after the first two races, Kenseth will head to Dover with a 43-point lead over the playoff cut line.. No. 20. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota. MATT KENSETH (6TH)

C+. There are two items of good news for Denny Hamlin after New Hampshire. The first is that he didn’t have to hold the lobster he is afraid of. Secondly, with his 12th place finish, Hamlin has a 44-point cushion heading to Dover. Although 12th was a strong finish for Hamlin, he will need to post better results going forward if he wants to make the Round of 8.. No. 11. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota. DENNY HAMLIN (5TH)

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