Playoff Points: Pocono 2 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: Pocono Raceway

Event: Gander Outdoors 400

Race Winner: Kyle Busch

Stage Winner(s): Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick

Who Won Big

• Kyle Busch: The back-and-forth battle between Busch and Kevin Harvick continued at the Tricky Triangle. Busch got the better of his championship rival to score five more playoff points – a mark that’s set to give him 50 playoff points at the end of the regular season as things stand.
• Alex Bowman: Sunday’s run at Pocono was just what Bowman needed. The Hendrick Motorsports shoe finished a career-best third to gain massively on his pursuers at the playoff bubble. Bowman now owns a 56-point advantage over Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Paul Menard, meaning he can afford a mistake if there are no surprise winners.
• Kevin Harvick: Finishing fourth was a tough pill to swallow for Harvick given how strong his No. 4 Ford was, but a win in Stage 2 netted the veteran another playoff point to use this postseason.
• Chase Elliott: Another quiet success saw Elliott win a stage for the second-consecutive weekend, earning yet another critical playoff point. Chevrolet are slowly looking better, and Elliott’s handful of bonus points mean he should be right in the thick of things when the postseason begins in Las Vegas.

Who Hurt Their Odds

• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Paul Menard: Sunday was a double-hit for the two Ford drivers just outside of the bubble. Not only did they both finish poorly, but Bowman ran his best race of the year. If he doesn’t make a mistake, Stenhouse and Menard will both have to aim for a win in the final weeks of the season.
• Daniel Suarez: So close. Suarez finished a heartbreaking second to teammate Kyle Busch at Pocono, falling just shy clinching a playoff spot with a win. He’ll likely need to finish on position better in one of the next five races if he hopes to make a playoff push.

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, Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowsk, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Aric Almirola, Chase Elliott, Jimmie Johnson
  • 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, William Byron, Jamie McMurray, 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