Ten drivers have already clinched while two others, who have wins, must be in the top-30 in points. That’s Tony Stewart, who appears to be a shoe-in, and Chris Buescher, who is on the outside looking in and desperately needs some solid finishes to make it.
Next: Best NASCAR Championship Seasons
With a week off before the final four events of the NASCAR Sprint Cup regular season set to kick off on August 20 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the Cheez-It 355 at the Glen started to bring into focus who needs what in order to make it into the Round of 16 when the Chase for the Championship begins on September 18 in Chicago.
Ten drivers –Brad Keselowski, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr.– are already in, and despite missing eight races due to injury, Tony Stewart is 97 points ahead of Chris Buescher in 31st, and therein lies the rub.
Buescher has competed in all 22 races thus far and has a victory to his credit. Unfortunately, he has 16 finishes of 25th or worse leaving him three points behind David Ragan in 30th place. Getting caught up in a late race wreck at Watkins Glen didn’t help either as he finished in 30th. Unless he can put it together over the final four events, his chances of going for the title are bleak.
Should Buescher manage to slip past at least one driver, that’s 12 spots already spoken for leaving a win and you’re in scenario for anyone who is in the top-30. That group includes Dale Earnhardt Jr., if he makes it back from concussion-like symptoms before the cutoff, Kasey Kahne, Paul Menard and Greg Biffle.
Currently, Kyle Larson is the most vulnerable in 16th place just eight ahead of Trevor Bayne and ten on Kahne for those trying to make it in on points. Even rookie Ryan Blaney could sneak in as he is just 19 out.
NOTES FROM THE GLEN:
Denny Hamlin not only notched his first ever road course win, he scored his first top-10 finish in 11 races at Watkins Glen International.
Chase Elliott (13th) was the highest finishing rookie.
CHASE STANDINGS AFTER WATKINS GLEN:
1 Brad Keselowski 727 –
2 Kevin Harvick 718 -9
3 Kurt Busch 689 -38
4 Kyle Busch 670 -57
5 Carl Edwards 653 -74
6 Joey Logano 652 -75
7 Denny Hamlin 620 -107
8 Martin Truex Jr. 612 -115
9 Matt Kenseth 600 -127
10 Jimmie Johnson 578 -149
11 Ryan Newman 562 -165
12 Chase Elliott 561 -166
13 Austin Dillon 559 -168
14 Jamie McMurray 550 -177
15 Kyle Larson 520 -207
16 Trevor Bayne 512 -215
—- CHASE CUTOFF —-
17 Kasey Kahne 509 -218
18 Ryan Blaney 502 -225
19 AJ Allmendinger 486 -241
20 R. Stenhouse Jr. 475 -252
21 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 461 -266
22 Paul Menard 422 -305
23 Greg Biffle 416 -311
24 Danica Patrick 413 -314
25 Clint Bowyer 397 -330
26 Tony Stewart 389 -338
27 Aric Almirola 379 -348
28 Casey Mears 359 -368
29 Landon Cassill 334 -393
30 David Ragan 295 -432
—– TOP-30 CUTOFF —-
31 Chris Buescher 292 -435