Playoff Points: New Hampshire 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: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Event: Foxwoods Resort Casino 301

Race Winner: Kevin Harvick

Stage Winner(s): Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott

Who Won Big

• Kevin Harvick: The latest chapter in the battle of the Big Three went to Harvick and Stewart-Haas Racing. The 2014 Cup champ bumped Kyle Busch out of the way late to claim his sixth win of 2018, reaching a total of 32 playoff points earned thus far in the process.
• Alex Bowman: He didn’t have an overwhelmingly strong day, but Bowman’s 11th-place run was enough to to increase his advantage on the playoff bubble to 28 points heading into Pocono Raceway.
• Martin Truex Jr.: He was the worst of the top trio in the end, but MTJ earned another stage win in Loudon to snag an extra playoff point.
• Chase Elliott: The slow summer for Chevrolet saw a reprieve at New Hampshire, and no one took advantage more than Elliott. The Georgian scored his first stage win of the year to snag a guaranteed playoff point as the postseason draws near.

Who Hurt Their Odds

• Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: Another disappointing result (this time 30th) dropped Stenhouse to a 28-point deficit on the playoff bubble with just six regular season races remaining.
• Paul Menard: A disappointing day for Menard and Wood Brothers Racing meant that the 2011 Brickyard 400 winner fell 29 points behind Bowman for the last playoff spot – still within reach, but without any margin for error.

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, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon, Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Aric Almirola
  • Race Winners
  • Drivers up 100+ points on the playoff bubble

Safe (For Now)

• Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliott

More Work to Do

On the Bubble

• Alex Bowman

Within Reach 

• Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Paul Menard

Likely Need to Win

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

Playoff Points

Stage Points

Previous Race Results

Season Totals

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