NASCAR: Dover Post-Race Grades

F. Kurt Busch finished his playoff run with a 20th place finish at Dover. His chances of making the round of 12 were pretty slim entering the final race before the cutoff. What Busch needed was a win or other drivers to have bad days, neither of which occurred. The reigning Daytona 500 champion will end the season outside of the playoffs and head into Charlotte on the outside looking in.. No. 41. Stewart-Haas Motorsports, Chevrolet. KURT BUSCH (16TH)

D-. Similar to Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne needed a win or some help at Dover and was not fortunate enough to get either. Kahne finished Dover in 14th place and will close out his time with Hendrick Motorsports on the outside looking in. On the plus side, Kahne has a ride next season with Leavine Family Racing.. No. 5. Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet. KASEY KAHNE (15TH)

F. Austin Dillon finished in 16th place at Dover on Sunday and will be heading to Charlotte to race, just not as a playoff contender. Entering the race on Sunday, Dillon just need to have a strong finish. Had he finished inside the top 10, he more than likely would have made the Round of 12. Instead, Dillon finished outside of the top 15 and was eliminated.. No. 3. Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet. AUSTIN DILLON (14TH)

Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet. RYAN NEWMAN (13TH). D. Missing the Round of 12 by only two points was Ryan Newman. Newman finished Dover with a 13th place finished and needed to pass just two cars in the end to make it into the next round. Newman is also being blamed for holding up Chase Elliott in the closing laps, which cost the #24 his first career win in the Cup Series.. No. 31