Playoff spots hang in balance today at Darlington

Most of them could be wrapped up after Southern 500.

DARLINGTON, S.C. — Austin Dillon loves his position entering the Southern 500 — planning for NASCAR’s playoffs rather than trying to qualify for the postseason.

Dillon was the first to lock up a spot in the 16-team playoffs with his win at the Daytona 500 in February. He’s largely felt pressure-free ever since, something he expects will change as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wraps up its final two regular-season races here at Darlington today and then Indianapolis next week.

“In two weeks from now we are going to be thinking about points again,” said Dillon, 19th in the point standings. “So you’ve got to race these last two races like the playoffs have started.”

Twelve drivers have clinched berths in the playoffs, and most of the other spots could be wrapped up after tonight’s race. Denny Hamlin needs eight points in the race to make the field for the 12th time in 13 years. Aric Almirola and Jimmie Johnson could get in if one of NASCAR’s nine drivers with victories crosses the line in first.

For many drivers, they’ll need a great run if they’re to race for a title. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is 16th in points, but on the outside looking in because of Dillon’s victory at Daytona. Stenhouse stands 79 points behind Alex Bowman, who is on the bubble as the final driver for the playoff. Stenhouse’s approach this weekend is clear — win and you’re in. “We’ve got to go out and do our job and get to victory lane,” he said.

Stenhouse, the Roush Fenway Racing driver who qualified for the playoffs for the first time a year ago, acknowledged that strategies change and more risks are taken when it comes to making the playoffs. He said crew chief Brian Pattie might try an unconventional setup or tinker with their race plan to get the No. 17 car on top.

“It’s like that for a lot of us,” Stenhouse said.

Kyle Larson secured his playoff spot at Bristol with a runner-up finish two weeks ago. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver never really concerned himself with his positioning, feeling his consistency (13 top 10s in 24 events) and performance was better than several other playoff contenders. “I felt like for the last three or four months, our team was solidly in the playoffs until you’re not mathematically set until the last race,” Larson said. “Our mindset isn’t any different, especially these next two.”

Hamlin, the defending Southern 500 champ, has struggled in recent weeks to find the form that’s made him a regular playoff participant since 2006.

Matt Kenseth returned to the Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 6 in midseason after retiring as a full-time driver last year. He’s run just eight races, with his best finish a 13th in the first Pocono event in June. Kenseth is not racing for points or planning for playoffs, simply trying to improve the team.