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5 drivers who could still win their way into the NASCAR Playoffs — and probably need to

By Nick Tylwalk

LONG POND, PA - JULY 29: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 Stanley Toyota, stands on the grid prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Gander Outdoors 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 29, 2018 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
LONG POND, PA - JULY 29: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 Stanley Toyota, stands on the grid prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Gander Outdoors 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 29, 2018 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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Time is almost up for everyone below Alex Bowman in the standings to make the NASCAR Playoffs, but these five drivers could still manage a win that would punch their ticket to the postseason.

With just four races left before the NASCAR Playoffs and this year’s Big 3 of Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. dominating so much that only the occasional triumph from elsewhere shines through, this might be the worst year in recent memory to need a win down the stretch of the regular season. Yet for everyone but Austin Dillon from 16th on back in the current points standings, that’s almost certainly what needs to happen.

Alex Bowman is currently on the bubble as the last driver in on points, but he has a 62-point lead over Ricky Stenhouse Jr. That’s hardly insurmountable in four races, but a lot would have to go wrong for the 88 and way more right for the 17 to change the standings.

No, a victory is the only way anyone from Stenhouse on back is going to shake things up. It’s not likely, but it’s also not impossible, so let’s take a look at five drivers who might still be able to pull it off in relative order of desperation.

WATKINS GLEN, NY – AUGUST 04: William Byron, driver of the #24 Hertz Chevrolet, walks on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GoBowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 4, 2018 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
WATKINS GLEN, NY – AUGUST 04: William Byron, driver of the #24 Hertz Chevrolet, walks on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GoBowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 4, 2018 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /

William Byron

Best shot remaining: Indianapolis … maybe?

Byron has looked every bit the 20-year-old rookie for big chunks of the season, and compounded by the problems that Hendrick Motorsports and every Chevrolet team have faced, he’s been behind the proverbial 8-ball most of the way. On the positive side, he and the 24 bunch are at least peaking at the right time, as two of their three top-10 finishes have come in the last two races.

That plus Chase Elliott’s Watkins Glen victory have to give Byron some confidence. He’ll need every bit, because he’s never won at Michigan or Bristol in any NASCAR series, nor did he win the Darlington XFINITY Series race during his 2017 championship campaign. Byron did take the checkered flag at Indianapolis last year, but that was a race with a much different aero and rules package than the Cup cars will run in the final regular season event.

He’d be the longest of shots from this group, but maybe Elliott’s breakthrough galvanizes all the Hendrick cars. If so, you can’t completely rule him out.

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