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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
LONG POND, PA – JULY 28: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Paul Menard Menards/Libman Ford (21) 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 28: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Paul Menard Menards/Libman Ford (21) 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) /

Paul Menard

Best shot remaining: Michigan

If you consider the Wood Brothers Racing Ford a de facto fourth Team Penske team — and judging by the way we passed the 21 hauler with all the Penske haulers on the way back from Watkins Glen, that’s more true than we realized — Menard would seem to be in okay shape to steal a win. The Penske Fords have been fast, right?

Well, sort of, but not that fast. All three actual Penske cars will make the NASCAR Playoffs, but Joey Logano has the only race win among them. That’s what Menard needs to duplicate, and the tracks remaining aren’t great for him.

Michigan hasn’t been horrible, though, as he finished fifth there earlier this season and had a number of top-5s at the track while he was with Richard Childress Racing. He’s probably going to need a lot of breaks going his way to sneak into Victory Lane, but at least the ever calm Menard won’t ever outwardly show any signs of panic.

Home/NASCAR