BREAKING NEWS: Stormy “Golden Position” Playoffs! Overview of “Hot” National Rankings When Entering the “Battlefield” of Chicago! -duy2k3

Chase Elliott and Nick Sanchez each won their way into their respective series’ playoffs last weekend at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta. Now, another wild-card race looms this weekend at the Chicago Street Course that could bring more changes to the postseason field.

As a reminder: A win clinches a playoff spot for full-time drivers in all three series, and it’s the simplest path to the postseason. The remainder of the postseason field — 16 drivers in Cup, 12 in Xfinity and 10 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series — is determined by points earned over the regular season.

Read on to see full playoff standings and key battles in each of NASCAR’s three national series.

Playoff standings in each national series - MRN - Motor Racing Network

NASCAR CUP SERIES

Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott was firmly in the field on points, but his electric EchoPark Speedway victory cements his status in the postseason. There are now 12 drivers with wins in the Cup Series. Back-to-back races at Chicago’s street course and the winding Sonoma Raceway present opportunities for others below the elimination line to steal a bid with a win.

Drivers provisionally qualified for playoffs with a win (12): Kyle Larson (three wins), Denny Hamlin (three wins), Christopher Bell (three wins), William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric, Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe, Josh Berry, Shane van Gisbergen, Chase Elliott and Ross Chastain.

Winless drivers more than 100 points above the elimination line (one): Tyler Reddick (+128).

Biggest movement: Alex Bowman aided in pushing teammate Chase Elliott to the win at Atlanta, although the No. 48 team could still use a win itself. Bowman’s third-place run, though, combined with a chaotic series of wrecks allowed him to move from +20 to +39.

Note: Drivers in bold have provisionally clinched a playoff spot by virtue of winning. There are eight races remaining in the regular season.

 

Rank Driver Cutoff
1 Kyle Larson 3 WINS
2 Denny Hamlin 3 WINS
3 Christopher Bell 3 WINS
4 William Byron WIN
5 Ryan Blaney WIN
6 Austin Cindric WIN
7 Joey Logano WIN
8 Chase Briscoe WIN
9 Josh Berry WIN
10 Shane van Gisbergen WIN
11 Chase Elliott WIN
12 Ross Chastain WIN
13 Tyler Reddick +128
14 Chris Buescher +52
15 Alex Bowman +39
16 Bubba Wallace +23
ELIMINATION LINE
17 Ryan Preece -23
18 Erik Jones -49
19 AJ Allmendinger -59
20 Carson Hocevar -62
21 Kyle Busch -72
22 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. -73
23 Michael McDowell -77
24 John Hunter Nemechek -82
25 Ty Gibbs -86
26 Zane Smith -91
27 Austin Dillon -114
28 Brad Keselowski -122
29 Todd Gilliland -123
30 Daniel Suarez -129
31 Justin Haley -149
32 Ty Dillon -154
33 Noah Gragson -171
34 Cole Custer -191
35 Riley Herbst -222
36 Cody Ware -295

 

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

Big Machine Racing driver Nick Sanchez jumped from out of the playoff field to lock in with his thrilling Friday night victory. That comes at the expense of at-large hopefuls Sheldon Creed and Ryan Sieg, who dropped in the standings and find themselves tied for the final spot as it stands.

Drivers provisionally qualified for playoffs with a win (7): Justin Allgaier (three wins), Austin Hill (three wins), Connor Zilisch (two wins), Brandon Jones, Sammy Smith, Jesse Love and Nick Sanchez.

Rookie Nick Sanchez scores first career NASCAR Xfinity Series win at EchoPark  Speedway

Winless drivers more than 100 points above the elimination line (one): Sam Mayer (+136).

Biggest movement: Carson Kvapil gained 20-plus points to move a full race ahead of the elimination line … Taylor Gray’s strong top-five run moved him firmly off the “last driver in” position.

Note: Drivers in bold have provisionally clinched a playoff spot by virtue of winning. There are nine races remaining in the regular season.

 

Rank Driver Cutoff
1 Justin Allgaier 3 WINS
2 Austin Hill 3 WINS
3 Connor Zilisch 2 WINS
4 Brandon Jones WIN
5 Sammy Smith WIN
6 Jesse Love WIN
7 Nick Sanchez WIN
8 Sam Mayer +136
9 Carson Kvapil +63
10 Taylor Gray +28
11 Jeb Burton +20
12 Sheldon Creed +0
ELIMINATION LINE
13 Ryan Sieg -0
14 Harrison Burton -1
15 Christian Eckes -51
16 Daniel Dye -52
17 Dean Thompson -53
18 Brennan Poole -99
19 Jeremy Clements -105
20 Josh Williams -126
21 Anthony Alfredo -144
22 Matt DiBenedetto -157
23 William Sawalich -177
24 Kyle Sieg -192
25 Parker Retzlaff -195
26 Blaine Perkins -202
27 Ryan Ellis -206
28 Kris Wright -256

 

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES

Corey Heim doesn’t need to worry about making the postseason field, but his Lime Rock Park victory stacks more playoff points and nearly assures him of the top seed.

Drivers provisionally qualified for playoffs with a win (7): Corey Heim (five wins), Chandler Smith (two wins), Layne Riggs, Tyler Ankrum, Daniel Henric, Stewart Friesen and Rajah Caruth.

Nick Sanchez secures first Xfinity Series win in action-packed Atlanta race

Biggest movement: Reigning series champion Ty Majeski has gone from being on the bubble to firmly +38, which gives him some breathing room. He’d drop below the elimination line, though, should anyone below him in the standings win their way in.

Note: Drivers in bold have provisionally clinched a playoff spot by virtue of winning. There are three races remaining in the regular season.

 

Rank Driver Cutoff
1 Corey Heim 5 WINS
2 Chandler Smith 2 WINS
3 Layne Riggs WIN
4 Tyler Ankrum WIN
5 Daniel Hemric WIN
6 Stewart Friesen WIN
7 Rajah Caruth WIN
8 Kaden Honeycutt +67
9 Grant Enfinger +64
10 Ty Majeski +38
ELIMINATION LINE
11 Jake Garcia -38
12 Giovanni Ruggiero -65
13 Ben Rhodes -68
14 Tanner Gray -101
15 Connor Mosack -141
16 Matt Crafton -153
17 Andres Perez -165
18 Jack Wood -175
19 Matt Mills -189
20 Dawson Sutton -206
21 Spencer Boyd -248
22 Toni Breidinger -273
23 Frankie Muniz -280

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