Playoff Points: Michigan II 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: Michigan International Speedway

Event: Consumers Energy 400

Race Winner: Kevin Harvick

Stage Winner(s): Kevin Harvick (Won Both Stages)

Who Won Big

• Kevin Harvick: The Irish Hills of Michigan might as well have been the Happy Hills on Sunday. Harvick beat down the field, leading 108 of 200 laps and winning both stages before jumping atop the playoff point totals with his seventh win of the season.
• Alex Bowman: No, he didn’t run well. Bowman had a 19th-place shocker, in fact. But he survived another weekend without a surprise winner or finish outside of the top 30. That’s all the Hendrick Motorsports driver has to do at this stage.
• Austin Dillon: There were no playoff points gained from Dillon’s fourth-place run in Michigan. But the promise and momentum shown give his Richard Childress Racing team hope for more than a first-round exit – something they’ve rarely seen since his Daytona 500 win.

Who Hurt Their Odds

• Everyone outside of the current playoff grid: With three races left, those drivers outside of the playoff bubble are essentially in a “win-or-bust” scenario. So for drivers like Daniel Suarez, Ryan Newman and Paul Menard, anything short of victory lane is essentially a loss at the moment.

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, Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Aric Almirola, Jimmie Johnson
  • Race Winners
  • Drivers up 100+ points 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., Paul Menard, Daniel Suarez, Ryan Newman, William Byron, Jamie McMurray, A.J. Allmendinger, Chris Buescher, Darrell Wallace Jr., Michael McDowell, David Ragan, Kasey Kahne, 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