One race remains on the 2019 NASCAR Truck Series regular season schedule. Here are the playoff-clinching scenarios for drivers still seeking playoff berths.
Of the 16 races on the 2019 NASCAR Truck Series regular season schedule, only Saturday afternoon’s Corrigan Oil 200 at Michigan International Speedway has not yet been contested.
Leading up to this 100-lap race around the four-turn, 2.0-mile (3.219-kilometer) Michigan International Speedway oval in Brooklyn, Michigan, six of the eight playoff spots have been clinched.
Meanwhile, two spots are still up for grabs heading into the final race before the three-round, seven-race playoffs.
Here are the six drivers who have already clinched playoff berths. Their playoff point totals do not reflect the bonuses that will be applied before the playoffs begin once the playoff field is set.
Rank – Driver – Car, Team, Manufacturer – Points (Wins, Playoff Points (Difference))
1st – Brett Moffitt – #24, GMS Racing, Chevrolet – 564 (2 wins, 11 PP (-))
2nd – Ross Chastain – #45, Niece Motorsports, Chevrolet – 250 (3 wins, 11 PP (-6))
3rd – Johnny Sauter – #13, ThorSport Racing, Ford – 418 (1 win, 8 PP (-3))
4th – Stewart Friesen – #52, Halmar Friesen Racing, Chevrolet – 567 (1 win, 7 PP (-4))
5th – Austin Hill – #16, Hattori Racing Enterprises, Toyota – 431 (1 win, 5 PP (-6))
6th – Tyler Ankrum – #17, DGR-Crosley, Toyota – 322 (1 win, 5 PP (-6))
As for the other two positions, there are several drivers still eligible to claim them. Because only one more driver can win in the regular season, at least one driver is guaranteed to lock himself into the playoffs based on his point total.
That said, two drivers could still do so, although if two do so, it would have to be a particular set of two, ThorSport Racing teammates Grant Enfinger and Matt Crafton.
Here is how the current playoff cut line looks
NOTE: This chart includes only drivers who are within 230 points of the cut line.
Rank – Driver – Car, Team, Manufacturer – Points (Difference)
7th – Grant Enfinger – #98, ThorSport Racing, Ford – 622 (+115)
8th – Matt Crafton – #88, ThorSport Racing, Ford – 570 (+63)
————————— PLAYOFF CUT LINE —————————
9th – Ben Rhodes – #99, ThorSport Racing, Ford – 507 (-63)
10th – Harrison Burton – #18, Kyle Busch Motorsports, Toyota – 506 (-64)
11th – Todd Gilliland – #4, Kyle Busch Motorsports, Toyota – 473 (-97)
12th – Sheldon Creed – #2, GMS Racing, Chevrolet – 450 (-120)
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Because there is such a difference between Enfinger and Crafton right above the playoff cut line and there is such a massive difference between Crafton and Ben Rhodes on the cut line, the scenarios by which each of these six drivers can clinch a playoff berth are extremely simple.
A maximum of 60 points are available in each race for each driver, but that is only if a driver wins the race (and stage one and stage two), which would lock them into the playoffs anyway. That total is reduced to 55 points with two stage wins and a second place finish in the race.
A maximum of 32 drivers can compete in each race, so the minimum point total a driver can score is five. As a result, a driver can only outscore another driver by a maximum of 50 points in a race without winning it.
Here is a list of the scenarios by which each of these six drivers can clinch a playoff berth.
Grant Enfinger
- Compete in the Corrigan Oil 200
- He holds a 52-point lead over Matt Crafton, which is more than the 50-point threshold.
- If for some reason Enfinger does not compete in this race, Crafton must not score more than 52 points OR one of Ben Rhodes, Harrison Burton, Todd Gilliland and Sheldon Creed must not win.
- Have somebody other than Ben Rhodes, Harrison Burton, Todd Gilliland or Sheldon Creed win the Corrigan Oil 200
- Crafton cannot pass Grant Enfinger in the standings if Enfinger competes in the race.
- If for some reason Enfinger does not compete in this race, Crafton can lock himself into the playoffs by scoring 53 points to pass him in the standings OR by having somebody other than these four drivers win.
- Without winning, the highest point total Crafton can score for a race result is 35 points, which would require him to score 18 stage points to score 53 total points. This can be accomplished via a stage win and a third place stage finish or two second place stage finishes.
- Win the Corrigan Oil 200
- None of Rhodes, Burton, Gilliland or Creed can pass Grant Enfinger or Matt Crafton in the standings.
Which two drivers will join Brett Moffitt, Ross Chastain, Johnny Sauter, Stewart Friesen, Austin Hill and Tyler Ankrum in the 2019 NASCAR Truck Series playoffs? Tune in to Fox Sports 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET this Saturday, August 10 for the live broadcast of the Corrigan Oil 200 at Michigan International Speedway to find out.
Ben Rhodes, Harrison Burton, Todd Gilliland and Sheldon Creed