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NASCAR: Dover Post-Race Grades

By Dustin Smith

DOVER, DE - SEPTEMBER 29: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, qualifies for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Apache Warrior 400 presented by Lucas Oil at Dover International Speedway on September 29, 2017 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
DOVER, DE - SEPTEMBER 29: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, qualifies for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Apache Warrior 400 presented by Lucas Oil at Dover International Speedway on September 29, 2017 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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DOVER, DE – OCTOBER 01: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 Mountain Dew Chevrolet (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
DOVER, DE – OCTOBER 01: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 Mountain Dew Chevrolet (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

#12 through #9

A-. Our first featured driver who made the Round of 12 is Jamie McMurray. By and large, McMurray finished Dover in 9th place and will head to Charlotte still in the hunt for his first championship. The best news for McMurray is the Round of 12 having Talladega on the schedule. McMurray is a great restrictor plate racer and could use Talladega as his stepping stone into the Round of 8.. No.1. Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet. JAMIE MCMURRAY (12TH)

B. Matt Kenseth is the driver sitting in 11th place in the points standings after Dover. Kenseth finished in 11th place, which was good enough to push him into the Round of 12. Kenseth will need more consistency in the next three weeks in order to keep his hopes of another championship alive.. No. 20. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota. MATT KENSETH (11TH)

A. There aren’t many drivers in the Monster Energy Cup Series who would be depressed about finishing in 2nd place at Dover. However, this was the case for Chase Elliott yesterday. In the final laps, Kyle Busch was able to run down Elliott and keep him from earning his first career victory. Fortunately, Elliott will have seven more chances to win this season and he is still alive in the championship hunt.. No. 24. Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet. CHASE ELLIOTT (10TH)

F. Ryan Blaney was the second-worst playoff finisher at Dover in 23rd place. Blaney sits in 9th place in playoff points and will need to be much better at Charlotte, Talladega and Kansas to make the Round of 8. Blaney will be heading to Team Penske in 2018, but will look to win Wood Brothers Racing a championship before he leaves.. No. 21. Wood Brothers Racing, Ford. RYAN BLANEY (9TH)

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