Playoff Points: Watkins Glen 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: Watkins Glen International

Event: Go Bowling at the Glen

Race Winner: Chase Elliott

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

Who Won Big

• Chase Elliott: Finally. Elliott fended off Truex and Kyle Busch to earn his first Cup victory at Watkins Glen. The result propelled Elliott into the postseason, and his strong outing overall led to six additional playoff points.
• Martin Truex Jr.: Let’s get the obvious out of the way – Truex didn’t win. But he did gain a stage win and playoff point in a race where the others in the Big Three failed to do the same, which makes the weekend a success in the end.
• Alex Bowman: After a 14th-place run in the Glen, Bowman found himself overshadowed by his race-winning teammate. But he might be the one who benefitted the most at race’s end. The lack of a shock winner meant that Bowman escaped the biggest remaining wild card race with his playoff position intact, and the struggles of those behind him ensured that Bowman left New York with a larger advantage than he entered the weekend with.

Who Hurt Their Odds

• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Paul Menard: Another lost week. Stenhouse and Menard each finished behind Bowman, losing more points and falling a full race behind the Hendrick Motorsports star with only a handful of races remaining. These teams may have to start aiming for wins instead of points with the regular season winding down.
• A.J. Allmendinger and Daniel Suarez: Statistics showed that Watkins Glen offered the best possible chance for Allmendinger and Suarez to win their way into the postseason. Though Suarez was in the conversation, neither driver accomplished the feat. That means they’re both likely on the way out unless they can pull off a surprise in the final weeks of the regular season.

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 

• Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Paul Menard

Likely Need to Win

• 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 due to post-race inspection failures