Playoff Points: Auto Club Edition

By Aaron Bearden, Motorsports Editor

Following each regular season points race, Kickin’ the Tires takes a deep look at the current playoff grids for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, evaluating each team’s postseason odds and highlighting those that made steps in the right direction, as well as those who dug themselves into a hole. 

Track: Auto Club Speedway

Event: Auto Club 400

Race Winner: Martin Truex Jr.

Stage Winner(s): Martin Truex Jr. (Won Both Stages)

Who Won Big

• Martin Truex Jr.: The champ took care of business in California. Truex claimed both stages and bested Kyle Busch on the final run to the checkered flag to secure his first win of 2018, stamping his name in the playoff grid and scoring seven playoff points in the process.
• Erik Jones: The Joe Gibbs Racing sophomore looked strong again in Fontana, challenging for a top five before settling for seventh. The Michigander’s third top 10 in five races elevated him to 13th in the standings, 25 points clear of the cutoff.
• Jimmie Johnson: It wasn’t a dominant day by any means, but the seven-time Cup champion looked more like himself in Fontana. Johnson ran inside of the top 10 throughout the day and scored an eighth-place finish to jump up to 18th in points. He trails teammate Alex Bowman by 18 points for the final spot on the current playoff grid.
• Team Penske: None of the Penske trio have been able to make their way to victory lane yet, but all three drivers find themselves well inside of the current playoff field after another set of top 10s in Fontana. Joey Logano leads the way for the organization in third, with Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney following in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Who Hurt Their Odds

• Daniel Suarez: The 2016 Xfinity Series champion was already struggling compared to his teammates when he sped on pit road during the last round of stops. The ensuing penalty trapped Suarez a lap down en-route to a 23rd-place result. The Mexican now sits 23rd in the standings, 34 points out from the playoff bubble.
• Paul Menard: The strong start to the season for Menard and Wood Brothers Racing has been undone. The veteran suffered multiple flat tires before finishing 19th on Sunday, which combined with last week’s crash to drop him to 15th in the standings.
• Kasey Kahne: Leavine Family Racing’s torrid beginning to the year continued in Fontana, where Kahne finished 24th. The Washington native is mired back in 29th in the standings, a full 50 points out of the current playoff grid.

Playoff Standings: 

*Technically ineligible due to missed races. Would require a waiver.
**One or more race wins ineligible due to post-race inspection failures.

Where They Stand

(All But) Locked In

• Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. Austin Dillon
  • Race Winners

Safe (For Now)

• Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson
  • These six drivers all find themselves a full race’s allotment of points up on the playoff cutoff.

More Work to Do

• Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola, Kurt Busch

On the Bubble

• Erik Jones, Ryan Newman, Paul Menard, Alex Bowman

Within Reach 

• Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Darrell Wallace Jr., William Byron, Chase Elliott, Chris Buescher, Daniel Suarez, Michael McDowell, A.J. Allmendinger, Jamie McMurray, Trevor Bayne

Likely Need to Win

• David Ragan, Kasey Kahne, Matt DiBenedetto

Playoff Points

Stage Points

Previous Race Results

Season Totals

*One or more stage wins ineligible due to post-race inspection failures