Four races, four spots left for NASCAR Cup playoffs

Martin Truex Jr., William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Kyle Busch, Ross Chastai, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson and Chris Buescher all have qualified for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

That leaves four spots to be decided this month in four races. The venues: Michigan International Speedway, road courses at Indianapolis Speedway and Watkins Glen and Daytona International Speedway.

The 10-race playoffs begin at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 3.

Here’s a look at drivers on the bubble:

Chase Elliott

The Hendrick Motorsports star and 2020 Cup champion, who has raced for the title each of the last three years, missed six races early after breaking his left leg and was suspended for another and hasn’t led a lap since late June. But with two road course upcoming, no one should count him out.

Seven of Elliott’s 18 career Cup wins have come at road courses.

Kevin Harvick

Harvick is retiring at the end of this season, and the 2014 Cup champ wants to go out with a shot at a second title. He’s sixth in the Cup standings, which would be good enough to make the playoffs without a victory providing there are not 16 unique winners.

With six career wins at Michigan, one at the Glen and two at Daytona, Harvick surely has to like his chances to punch his playoff ticket in August.

Brad Keselowski

Keselowski is 11th in the standings and would make the playoffs if there are not 16 different winners.

In his second year of ownership at rebranded RFK Racing, the 2012 champ is trying to get back into the playoffs after last year’s rebuild at his new team. He missed the playoffs for the first time in 15 seasons in 2022.

Bubba Wallace

Wallace is still looking for his first playoff berth. He’s 15th in the standings, one of two Toyota drivers not already locked into the postseason.

He’s usually a contender at Daytona but surely doesn’t want to go there needing to win.

Michael McDowell

The 2021 Daytona 500 champion is 16th in the standings, trying to get tiny Front Row Motorsports into the playoffs for the second time in team history.

Ty Gibbs

The reigning Xfinity Series champ is having a decent rookie Cup season for Joe Gibbs Racing and sits 17th in points. If Gibbs could snag a spot, JGR would have all four of its Toyotas in the playoff field.

Daniel Suarez

A playoff driver last year, Suarez is on the outside looking in, winless so far and 19th in points. Suarez has yet to find victory lane this season and has just six top-10 finishes.