Bowyer still facing playoff pressure

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Clint Bowyer rolled into Kansas Speedway on Friday with the comfort of knowing he’ll be with Stewart-Haas Racing next season and the uncertainty of whether he’ll be in the playoffs next week.

The Kansan reached a contract extension with SHR to remain in the No. 14 Ford regardless of what happens Sunday, when Bowyer faces postseason elimination. He sits 11th in the 12-driver field with the bottom four drivers eliminated after the race at Kansas Speedway.

“Right now the plan is all about trying to stay alive in these playoffs and winning a championship,” said Bowyer, who has been with SHR for three of his 15 seasons in NASCAR’s top series.

Kyle Larson won at Dover and Ryan Blaney won last week’s rain-delayed race at Talladega, locking them into the eight-driver semifinal round that begins next week at Martinsville. But the pressure is on the remaining 10 drivers to lock up their spot at an unpredictable 11⁄ 2- mile track.

Joey Logano is the last driver above the points cutoff line, while Alex Bowman is 18 points adrift to lead three Hendrick Motorsports cars in danger of elimination. The fourth car that could be cut on points? Bowyer, who is 24 points behind heading into Sunday.

Hemric on the pole: Daniel Hemric gave his hopes of landing a Cup Series ride for next season some help by taking his No. 8 Chevrolet to the pole for Richard Childress Racing at Kansas Speedway on Sunday.

Hemric, who was told last month that Childress would not pick up his option for 2020, turned a lap of 178.047 mph to edge the retiring David Ragan during qualifying on Saturday.

They were joined in the top five by a trio of drivers in NASCAR’s version of the playoffs.

Ryan Blaney was third after his rain-delayed win last weekend at Talladega. Brad Keselwoski will start alongside him after qualifying fourth and Kyle Larson will start fifth.