Fansided

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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LONG POND, PA – JULY 29: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Newman Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Chevrolet (31) during driver introductions prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series – 45th Annual Gander Outdoors 400 on July 29, 2018 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LONG POND, PA – JULY 29: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Newman Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Chevrolet (31) during driver introductions prior to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series – 45th Annual Gander Outdoors 400 on July 29, 2018 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Ryan Newman

Best shot remaining: Indianapolis

It hasn’t been the kind of season Richard Childress Racing was hoping for, with the new Camaro mystifying its teams too and Austin Dillon’s Daytona 500 victory seeming more like a different lifetime with each passing week. Newman is currently 19th in points, which would be his worst finish ever at RCR if it holds up, and he’s in much worse shape than he was a year ago at this time, when he had his early season Phoenix win to lean on.

That came a bit out of nowhere, as would a win over the next five weeks this year. Still, Newman performed very well a year ago in all four races still left before the playoffs start, with top-10 finishes in all of them. For that reason, it’s tough to say where he might have the best puncher’s chance, but since he won at the Brickyard more recently than any of the other tracks and he’s an Indiana native, we’ll say that’s his best bet for an upset.

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