NASCAR: Two drivers already eliminated from playoffs
By Asher Fair
Two full-time drivers have no way to qualify for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs as the regular season finale approaches.
There is just one race remaining before the four-round, 10-race 2022 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are scheduled to get underway, and that race is this Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
The four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked Daytona Beach, Florida oval is widely considered a wild card track capable of producing surprise winners, given the nature of superspeedway racing and the chaos it presents.
With 15 drivers having found victory lane at some point during the season’s first 25 events, just one of the 16 playoff spots remains open heading into this 160-lap race.
There are two drivers still eligible to take that spot via points: Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. Truex trails Blaney by 25 points heading into the regular season finale.
In addition to Blaney and Truex, there are more than a dozen other drivers who can claim that spot by winning this upcoming race (see full list here).
But two full-time drivers do not find themselves in that category, as they have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Even with a win on Saturday night, Spire Motorsports’ Corey LaJoie cannot find himself in the playoffs, and neither can Rick Ware Racing’s Cody Ware.
Race winners are only eligible for the playoffs if they finish the regular season in the top 30 in the point standings. LaJoie and Ware sit in 31st and 32nd place, respectively, lowest among the full-time drivers.
There is no way for either one to make up enough points to get into the top 30. The 30th spot is currently held by Front Row Motorsports rookie Todd Gilliland, who is 71 points ahead of LaJoie and 183 points ahead of Ware.
The maximum point total a driver can score in a single race is 60 (10 for a stage one win, 10 for a stage two win, and 40 for a race win).
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Who will ultimately claim the 16th and final spot in the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs? The Coke Zero Sugar 400 is set to be broadcast live from Daytona International Speedway on NBC beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET this Saturday, August 27, so be sure to start a free trial of FuboTV now!