PLAYOFFS: WHO’S HOT

Denny Hamlin. Hamlin entered the playoffs without a win, but now he's arguably the hottest driver in these playoffs. The pilot of the No. 11 JGR Toyota followed up his Darlington victory with a second-place showing at Richmond.

Kyle Busch. He came to Richmond two points below the elimination line and $50,000 lighter in the pockets after being fined for speeding off to the garage last weekend. But Busch showed his resiliency with a ninth-place run at Richmond that put him eight points to the good heading into Bristol.