NASCAR Cup Series playoff picture after 2018 1000Bulbs.com 500

With five races down and five to go in the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and two races down and one to go in the round of 12, how does the playoff picture look?

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Aric Almirola became the second driver to clinch a spot in the third of four rounds in the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, the round of 8. He did so by winning the second of three races in the second round, the round of 12, at Talladega Superspeedway, the 1000Bulbs.com 500.

The driver of the #10 Ford ran in the top four in what was a top four Stewart-Haas Racing sweep for much of the 193-lap race around the four-turn, 2.66-mile (4.281-kilometer) Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama, which was only scheduled to be a 188-lap race but was extended as a result of a late caution flag period.

However, Almirola did not lead the race until coming off of turn four on the race’s 193rd and final lap when teammate Kurt Busch, who led a majority of the race’s laps after starting from the pole position, ran out of fuel.

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Almirola joins Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott on the short list of drivers who have locked themselves into the round of 8. Elliott won the first of three races in the round of 12 last Sunday at Dover International Speedway.

Aside of the winners of the first two races of the round of 12, no drivers have locked themselves into the round of 8. This is the case as a result of the fact that none of the other 10 round of 12 drivers, including the six who currently sit above the round of 8 cut line, have point totals that cannot be passed by at least six of the other round of 12 drivers who are not named Almirola or Elliott.

The 12 round of 12 drivers finished anywhere from first through 33rd place in the 1000Bulbs.com 500. Aside of Almirola, only teammate Clint Bowyer and Team Penske’s Joey Logano finished in the top 10. They finished in second and fifth in their #14 Ford and #22 Ford, respectively, and both drivers currently sit ahead of the round of 8 cut line.

The highest finishing round of 12 driver who does not currently sit above the round of 8 cut line was Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson. He finished in 11th place in his #42 Chevrolet. The lowest finishing round of 12 who currently sits above the round of 8 cut line but has not yet clinched a spot in the round of 8 was Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick. He finished in 28th in his #4 Ford.

Here is the NASCAR Cup Series playoff picture with two races down and one race remaining in the round of 12. The totals in the “behind” column show where each driver is currently positioned in relation to the round of 8 cut line.

Rank – Driver, Car, Team, Manufacturer: Points (Behind), Playoff Points (Rank)
1st – Chase Elliott, #9, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet: 1 WIN (1 WIN), 13 (T-8th)
2nd – Aric Almirola, #10, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 1 WIN (1 WIN), 6 (T-10th)
3rd – Kevin Harvick, #4, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 3128 (+63), 53 (2nd)
4th – Kyle Busch, #18, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 3111 (+46), 55 (1st)
5th – Joey Logano, #22, Team Penske, Ford: 3104 (+39), 14 (7th)
6th – Kurt Busch, #41, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 3095 (+30), 15 (T-5th)
7th – Clint Bowyer, #14, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 3086 (+21), 15 (T-5th)
8th – Martin Truex Jr., #78, Furniture Row Racing, Toyota: 3083 (+18), 38 (3rd)
9th – Brad Keselowski, #2, Team Penske, Ford: 3065 (-18), 25 (4th)
10th – Ryan Blaney, #12, Team Penske, Ford: 3061 (-22), 13 (T-8th)
11th – Kyle Larson, #42, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet: 3057 (-26), 6 (T-10th)
12th – Alex Bowman, #88, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet: 3015 (-68), 0 (12th)

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The Hollywood Casino 400 is the third and final race on the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series round of 12 schedule, meaning that just four races will remain on the playoff schedule once it concludes. This race is scheduled to be broadcast live from Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas on NBC beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 21, so be sure not to miss it.

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