NASCAR: 3 drivers who could sneak into the playoffs

The NASCAR Cup Series playoff picture is coming into focus through 17 races, but things are still far from settled at the cut line.

Following last Sunday’s inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville Superspeedway, the Ally 400, there are just nine race remaining on the 26-race 2021 regular season schedule.

There are 17 races in the books, and the playoff picture is coming into focus. There have been 11 different winners so far this season, though none of the last three races have seen a new winner, drastically lessening the likelihood that the 2021 regular season will be the first with more winners than playoff spots (16).

However, things are still far from settled, specifically at the points cut line. Which three drivers from currently outside the top 16 could sneak their way in?

Drivers who could sneak into the playoffs: No. 1 – Ross Chastain

Ross Chastain isn’t a rookie, but this is his first season in somewhat competitive machinery in the NASCAR Cup Series.

He struggled to start the season, as he recorded just one finish higher than 14th place through the season’s first 13 races. That was his seventh place finish in the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, his first race as the full-time driver of the #42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing.

But in the last four races, he has recorded three more top seven finishes, including two top four finishes at new tracks. He finished in fourth place in the inaugural race at Circuit of the Americas, seventh at Sonoma Raceway and second in the inaugural race at Nashville Superspeedway.

If he doesn’t manage to win one of the regular season’s final nine races, don’t rule out the possibility of him pulling off a surprise run to qualify for the four-round, 10-race postseason on points. He sits in 20th place in the point standings and trails the final driver above the cut line, Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher, by 50 points.