NASCAR: One driver eliminated from playoffs at Watkins Glen
By Asher Fair
Following Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen International, Corey LaJoie no longer has any way to qualify for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
One race before the race that will eliminate 14 drivers ahead of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, leaving the field at 16 to battle for the championship in a four-round, 10-race format, one full-time driver has already been eliminated.
Following Sunday afternoon’s Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International, Spire Motorsports’ Corey LaJoie no longer has any possible way of qualifying for this year’s postseason.
Even if LaJoie wins the regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway to become the season’s 16th different winner, he cannot get into the playoffs because of his position in the point standings.
LaJoie sits in 31st place in the standings following his 27th place finish in Sunday’s 90-lap race around the eight-turn, 2.454-mile (3.949-kilometer) Watkins Glen, New York road course, and he sits 71 points behind Front Row Motorsports rookie Todd Gilliland in 30th.
A driver can only score up to 60 points in a single race, with 10 points awarded to the stage one winner, 10 points awarded to the stage two winner, and 40 points awarded to the race winner.
Entering the race at Watkins Glen International, LaJoie still had a slight chance to make the playoffs, as he sat 53 points outside of the top 30. At the time, 30th place was held by Petty GMS Motorsports’ Ty Dillon.
Unfortunately for the driver of the #7 Chevrolet, what was already a slim chance is now completely gone.
Interestingly, LaJoie would be in a similar situation even if he had won the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway last month. He was a contender late in the race and had a chance to win before a last-lap incident.
While he wouldn’t be mathematically eliminated from finishing in the top 30 heading into the season finale had he won, he would be in a strange position where even a second win — which would tie for second in the wins category this season — wouldn’t be enough to finish above the bottom two spots among full-time drivers in the point standings.
Alas, it wasn’t meant to be, though do look for LaJoie to be a contender on Saturday night, as some of his best career results have come in superspeedway races, including a fifth place effort in the March race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The only other full-time driver who had previously been eliminated was Rick Ware Racing’s Cody Ware. Ware, who sits in 32nd (last) place among full-time drivers, entered the race at Watkins Glen International trailing Dillon for 30th by 148 points with 120 points left on the table. He now trails Gilliland by 183 points with 60 points left on the table.
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Who will be the 16th and final driver to lock up a spot in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs? The regular season-ending Coke Zero Sugar 400 is set to be broadcast live on NBC from Daytona International Speedway beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET this Saturday, August 27. Don’t miss your chance to start a free trial of FuboTV today!