Where the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff picture sits after Mexico City

While a Cup Series regular in Daniel Suarez won Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Mexico City, the playoff bubble is still quite interesting. Here's where the playoff picture sits with 11 races remaining in the regular season. 

7. Sam Mayer (+114) 

8. Sheldon Creed (+42) 

9. Carson Kvapil (+35) 

A Stage 1 win was enough to soften the blow of a disappointing 19th-place finish for Kvapil in Mexico City. Saturday's race at Pocono will be an interesting test for the rookie driver as he navigates the cut line. 

10. Jeb Burton (+23) 

A solid eighth-place finish in Mexico City keeps Burton above the cut line for another week. The No. 27 team continues to overperform this year, but it's going to be tough for Burton to hang on for 11 more weeks. 

11. Harrison Burton (+3) 

Like his cousin, Harrison Burton turned in a solid top-10 run in Mexico City, finishing ninth. There's very, very little margin for error if the No. 25 team wants to make a run at the postseason. 

12. Taylor Gray (+0) 

While Gray came heartbreakingly close to his first career win in Mexico City, a runner-up finish does put him on the positive side of the cut line via tiebreaker. His youth against the experience of the Burtons and Ryan Sieg will be a fascinating battle to watch. 

13. Ryan Sieg (-0) 

Sieg can't afford races like Mexico City, where he finished 29th and earned no stage points. He may have the upper hand in experience over Kvapil, Gray and the other rookies below him, but his cars aren't quite up to snuff with what JRM and JGR can bring to the racetrack. 

14. Nick Sanchez (-15) 

Nine stage points saved Sanchez's day in Mexico City from being a complete wash following a 31st-place finish. Pocono will be a good litmus test for the rookie driver as to where he stacks up among his peers. 

15. Daniel Dye (-44) 

Dye has quietly had a solid rookie season, but he'll need more than the 13th-place finish he earned in Mexico City in order to make the playoffs. He is, however, ahead of a fellow Kaulig Racing rookie in Christian Eckes, who is 17th, 64 points below the cut line. 

16. Dean Thompson (-59)

Thompson has exceeded expectations with Sam Hunt Racing this season, and finds himself right in the thick of the playoff bubble with his fellow rookies. However, his lack of both experience and equipment may hurt him down the stretch. A 12th-place finish in Mexico City was a solid day, but it takes more than solid days to make the postseason.