NASCAR Cup Series: Daytona playoff bubble – Live tracker
By Asher Fair
Follow along with our live playoff bubble tracker throughout the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway.
The 26th and final race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series regular season is scheduled to take place this evening at Daytona International Speedway, as a new era begins for the sport’s most iconic track.
This race, the Coke Zero Sugar 400, has traditionally been contested on Independence Day weekend, going back to its inaugural running in 1959, but it was shifted to the regular season finale ahead of the 2020 season.
The four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked oval in Daytona Beach, Florida is known for its ability to produce upset winners and serve as somewhat of an equalizer as a result of the close pack racing and the likelihood of the “Big One”.
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An upset winner in tonight’s race would shake up the playoff picture.
Entering the race, 13 of the 16 playoff positions have been locked up, meaning that at least two more drivers will qualify for the playoffs on points. Three more will do so if the winner of tonight’s 160-lap race does not come from below the playoff cut line.
Follow along with our live playoff bubble tracker throughout this evening’s race, which is set to be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network this evening beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.
NOTE: Only drivers who could qualify for the playoffs on points entering the race are listed.
Playoff bubble (entering race)
Rank – Driver, Car, Team, Manufacturer: Points (Behind)
14th – Clint Bowyer, #14, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 685 (+57)
15th – Matt DiBenedetto, #21, Wood Brothers Racing, Ford: 637 (+9)
16th – William Byron, #24, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet: 632 (+4)
———————-PLAYOFF CUT LINE———————-
17th – Jimmie Johnson, #48, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet: 628 (-4)
18th – Erik Jones, #20, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 582 (-50)
Start of the race (official starting order)
Leader: Kevin Harvick (not an upset; no shift in playoff cut line)
Race Position – Driver
6th – William Byron
7th – Jimmie Johnson
14th – Clint Bowyer
15th – Matt DiBenedetto
20th – Erik Jones
Through end of race (projected)
NOTE: This scenario is based on the listed positions for stage one, stage two and the end of the race. All positions are projected forward throughout the race.
Rank – Driver, Car, Team, Manufacturer: Points (Behind)
14th – Clint Bowyer: 708 (+49)
15th – William Byron: 673 (+14)
16th – Jimmie Johnson: 666 (+7)
————PLAYOFF CUT LINE————
17th – Matt DiBenedetto: 659 (-7)
18th – Erik Jones: 599 (-67)
End of Stage 1
Leader: Joey Logano (not an upset; no shift in playoff cut line)
Race Position – Driver
2nd – Erik Jones
5th – Jimmie Johnson
7th – William Byron
13th – Matt DiBenedetto
33rd – Clint Bowyer
Active points
Rank – Driver: Points (Behind)
14th – Clint Bowyer: 685 (+51)
15th – Matt DiBenedetto: 637 (+3)
16th – William Byron: 636 (+2)
————PLAYOFF CUT LINE————
17th – Jimmie Johnson: 634 (-2)
18th – Erik Jones: 591 (-45)
Through end of race (projected)
NOTE: This scenario is based on the listed positions for stage one (official), the listed positions for stage two (projected) and the listed positions for the end of the race (projected).
Rank – Driver: Points (Behind)
14th – Clint Bowyer: 689 (+28)
15th – Jimmie Johnson: 672 (+11)
16th – William Byron: 670 (+9)
————PLAYOFF CUT LINE————
17th – Matt DiBenedetto: 661 (-9)
18th – Erik Jones: 635 (-35)
NOTE: Clint Bowyer has now clinched a playoff berth, and Erik Jones can no longer qualify for the playoffs on points. As a result, they will not be included below.
End of Stage 2
Leader: Joey Logano (not an upset; no shift in playoff cut line)
Race Position – Driver
5th – Jimmie Johnson
7th – Matt DiBenedetto
11th – William Byron
Active points
Rank – Driver: Points (Behind)
15th – Matt DiBenedetto: 641 (+5)
16th – Jimmie Johnson: 640 (+4)
————PLAYOFF CUT LINE————
17th – William Byron: 636 (-4)
Through end of race (projected)
NOTE: This scenario is based on the actual positions for stage one (official), the listed positions for stage two (official) and the listed positions for the end of the race (projected).
Rank – Driver: Points (Behind)
15th – Jimmie Johnson: 672 (+10)
16th – Matt DiBenedetto: 671 (+9)
————PLAYOFF CUT LINE————
17th – William Byron: 662 (-9)
End of Race
Winner: William Byron (locked into playoffs)
Position – Driver
1st – William Byron
12th – Matt DiBenedetto
17th – Jimmie Johnson
Playoff picture
NOTE: This scenario is based on the listed positions for stage one (official), stage two (official) and the end of the race (official).
Rank – Driver: Points (Behind)
16th – Matt DiBenedetto: 666 (+6)
————PLAYOFF CUT LINE————
17th – Jimmie Johnson: 660 (+0)
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The opening race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs is the Cook Out Southern 500, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 6. This race is set to be broadcast live from Darlington Raceway on NBC Sports Network beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET.