NASCAR: 5 drivers who can shake up the playoff picture

Drivers who can shake up playoff picture: No. 4 – Michael McDowell

After recently being hit with a stiff penalty that cost him 100 points in both the driver and owner standings, as well as 10 playoff points, Michael McDowell dropped to 26th in the point standings.

While this was a massive blow to him and his team, he is still on track to have the best season of his career in many statistical categories. He has nine top 10 finishes, and he might also have more motivation than ever before to win a race and lock himself into the playoffs.

McDowell and his #34 Front Row Motorsports team have consistently shown great strength in two disciplines of racing: road course racing and superspeedway racing. Luckily for them, there is another road course race and another superspeedway race before the playoffs.

McDowell will have the chance to outfox road course favorites Chase Elliott, Tyler Reddick, Ross Chastain and others at Watkins Glen, and he’ll have a chance to capture his second Daytona win after winning the Daytona 500 last year.

Of his nine top 10 finishes so far this year, two came at superspeedways and three came at road courses, with his best finish being a third place effort at Sonoma. He is known threat who somehow continues to be overlooked.