Playoff Points: Darlington 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: Darlington Raceway

Event: Bojangles’ Southern 500

Race Winner: Brad Keselowski

Stage Winner(s): Kyle Larson (Won Both Stages)

Who Won Big

• Brad Keselowski: In a run that paid likeness to their 2012 title run, Keselowski and Team Penske surged when it counted to claim a much-needed win at Darlington. The triumph was the No. 2 team’s first of the year, netting Keselowski five playoff points. If Penske can pull these sort of efforts off in the postseason, then a spot in the Championship 4 is there for the taking.
• Kyle Larson: Losing out on a race win — especially the Southern 500 — after dominating the majority of the event has to be a difficult defeat to accept for Larson and Chip Ganassi Racing. But the Californian still looked as strong as he has at any point this year, earning his first two playoff points and moving to seventh in the standings heading into the regular season finale.
• Joey Logano: The frustration of watching teammate Keselowski drive off with a marquee win must have been immense, but Logano still had much to celebrate leaving Darlington. His runner-up run was the second top-five in as many attempts for the No. 22 team after going without one for 11 races during the summer. It also gave Logano a 33-point gap to his closest challenger for fifth, meaning a solid haul of playoff points are there for the taking at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
• Alex Bowman: Another week without a surprise winner is another good week for Bowman, regardless of his result. One more standard race and the ‘Showman’ will have his first playoff berth secured.

Who Hurt Their Odds

• Everyone outside of the current playoff grid: Another lost race. For drivers outside of the current playoff grid, this weekend’s trip to the Brickyard will be win-or-bust. Best of luck.
• Clint Bowyer: A scary run-in with Ryan Newman left Bowyer exiting Darlington early for the second-straight season with Stewart-Haas Racing. It also cost him in the point standings, dropping the Kansas native three spots to eighth with just one race to regain lost ground and salvage playoff points.

 Playoff Standings: 

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

Where They Stand

(All But) Locked In

• Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Aric Almirola, Jimmie Johnson
  • Race Winners
  • Drivers up a full race on the playoff bubble

Safe (For Now)

More Work to Do

On the Bubble

• Alex Bowman

Within Reach 

Likely Need to Win

• Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Newman, Paul Menard, Daniel Suarez, Jamie McMurray, William Byron, Chris Buescher, A.J. Allmendinger, David Ragan, Michael McDowell, Kasey Kahne, Darrell Wallace Jr., David Ragan, Ty Dillon, Matt DiBenedetto

Playoff Points

Stage Points

Previous Race Results

Season Totals

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