NASCAR: 5 playoff drivers who might be in trouble
By Asher Fair
Playoff drivers in trouble: No. 4 – Kevin Harvick
Sitting just one position ahead of Aric Almirola in the point standings is teammate Kevin Harvick. Despite sitting in 11th place in the standings, Harvick finds himself below the playoff cut line.
Sitting in 17th place in the playoff picture, the driver of the #4 Ford is currently the highest positioned driver who would not be in the playoffs if they started today.
Harvick is coming off of his first winless season since 2009 last year, and halfway through the 2022 season, he is still seeking his first win since earning a career-high ninth and final victory of the 2020 season at Bristol Motor Speedway in September 2020.
Harvick hasn’t missed the playoffs since the 2009 season, but that could very well change in 2022 if he doesn’t find victory lane.
Interestingly, the 16th and final driver to qualify for last year’s playoffs was Richard Childress Racing’s Tyler Reddick, who finished the regular season in 11th place in the point standings. Harvick was the 15th driver to qualify, and he finished the regular season in ninth.
This year, an 11th place finish (without a win) probably won’t cut it, as the points cutoff currently sits below the eighth place driver — and there are still eight races remaining on the schedule in which more new winners could emerge.