The second race of the Round of 16 has shaken up the NASCAR Playoff standings. Tyler Reddick was the big winner in overtime. However, Martin Truex Jr. a championship favorite, was relegated to below the cutline after going out of the race early.
A lot more happened between the top of the NASCAR Playoff standings and the bottom. For a while, this race looked like it was going to be a Kyle Larson back-to-back. The Darlington winner was strong but came up short, ultimately.
We now have two winners and two drivers locked into the Round of 12. They sit atop of our standings. I think we could see a fun battle between Larson and Reddick throughout the postseason, but that’s for another day.
Coming into Bristol, Denny Hamlin is 49 points above the cutline as the top non-winner in the playoffs right now. He is followed by William Byron (+41) and Brad Keselowski (+33) to round out the top-5.
That top-5 should be safe in most situations that could arise this Saturday at the night race. However, let’s look at Truex Jr. before and after Kansas. He was +25 coming to Kansas and is now -7 after the race. That is a 32-point swing.
Keselowski needs to get through the first stage and he should be fine. Everyone below the RFK owner and driver could be eliminated if they have a bad day at Bristol. The NASCAR Playoff standings shifted around quite a bit already and Bristol might be the most chaotic race of the first round.
NASCAR Playoff standings winners and losers from Kansas
Of course, the big winner is Tyler Reddick. He is THE winner in fact. That doesn’t mean other drivers didn’t come out on top of their respective situations at Kansas. A lot changed in the NASCAR Playoff standings.
Winners from Hollywood Casino 400
– Ryan Blaney is once again in the winner’s category. He came into Kansas in the 9th position, +16 on the cutline. He leaves the Sunflower State +25 on the bubble and in 6th overall. P12 on the day, but a nice 35-point performance.
– Denny Hamlin is the winning car owner and finished P2 himself. He wanted to sweep Kansas this season but wasn’t able to as Reddick sped to the win in overtime. Hamlin is now +49 and essentially locked into the Round of 12. Solid day all around for Hamlin.
– Kevin Harvick is now +7 on the cutline. He entered these NASCAR Playoffs in the 15th position and is now in possession of the final transfer spot into the Round of 12. He doesn’t have a great cushion and needs another solid race for the third week in a row if he wants to advance. For now, he’s one of our winners.
Losers from Kansas Speedway
-Martin Truex Jr. came into the NASCAR Playoff standings at the top. He was the regular season champion, three wins on the year and the Busch Light Clash victory! Two terrible weeks in a row and a DNF within the first 10 laps at Kansas has him -7 under the cutline. The championship favorite has to show he’s championship material at Bristol.
– Bubba Wallace suffered a similar fate to Truex Jr., just later in the race. Wallace was P2 to Kyle Larson when he blew a tire and hit the wall. One bent toe link put him down five laps as he completed the race. However, he’s 14th overall and -19 to the line. He needs a career-best day at Bristol to advance.
– Chris Buescher is on this list because, despite a good week at Darlington and a decent race at Kansas, he fell five spots in the NASCAR Playoff standings. From 4th to 9th in a matter of a week. Buescher is just +13 on the line and will have to keep it steady at Bristol if he wants to earn a transfer spot into the Round of 12.
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