Playoff Points: Phoenix 2 Edition

By Aaron Bearden, Motorsports Editor

Following each 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: Phoenix Raceway

Event: Can-Am 500

Race Winner: Matt Kenseth

Stage Winner(s): Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin

Who Won Big

• Brad Keselowski: Only one of the five remaining drivers that hadn’t already clinched a berth in the Championship 4 was set to earn a spot in the title fight leaving Phoenix Raceway. In the end that one was Keselowski. The Michigander struggled heavily in Phoenix, but benefitted from the crashes of Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson, struggles of Ryan Blaney and failure to win by Chase Elliott to keep his championship hopes alive.

Who Hurt Their Odds:

• Chase Elliott: So close. Elliott was within a few laps of a victory in two of the three races in the Round of 8, but his failure deliver either win means the Georgian has been eliminated from the championship conversation. He’ll get one last chance to win in the No. 24 before changing to the No. 9 in 2018.
• Jimmie Johnson: Superman’s Chase for an eighth Cup Series title just wasn’t mean to be this year. An early flat tire knocked Johnson out of the conversation before his fellow competitors, leaving him outside of the Championship 4 and unable to defend his 2016 title.
• Denny Hamlin: You reap what you sow, or so it appears. Hamlin was poised to advance on points after strong runs in Sunday’s two stages when contact from Elliott – an apparent sign of retribution for the pair’s run-in at Martinsville Speedway – left Hamlin with a flat tire and a trip into the outside wall. Once again Phoenix proved to be the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran’s kryptonite.
• Ryan Blaney: After entering Phoenix with distant odds of advancement, Blaney struggled throughout the majority of the afternoon. The sophomore failed to tally enough stage points to contend for a Championship 4 spot on points, and couldn’t elevate himself into the battle for the win as the laps wound down. Instead he exited the postseason quietly, bowing out in the semifinals in his final planned season with Wood Brothers Racing.

Playoff Standings: 

Where They Stand

Safe (For Now)

More Work to Do

On the Bubble

Within Reach 

Likely Need to Win

• Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Brad Keselowski
  • No one’s been able to claim the title without a victory in the first three editions of the modernized playoff format. And while this season’s new format altered the year leading up to this point, the season finale’s highest-finisher-take-all format remains unchanged. Expect the champion to celebrate both a race and title win until proven otherwise.

Playoff Points

Stage Points

Previous Race Results

Playoff Totals

Season Totals