NASCAR is currently on its Olympic break, but only four races are left until the Cup Series playoffs begin. Currently, Ross Chastain holds the 16th and final playoff spot, and your first four drivers on the outside looking in are Bubba Wallace, Chase Briscoe, Kyle Busch, and Todd Gilliland. With the four races before the playoffs being at various racetracks, anything can happen, and someone below the playoff cutline could win a race and lock themselves into the playoffs, or the playoff picture could remain the same.
So, who could possibly sneak their way into the playoffs? Let's take a look at which drivers could make it.
Bubba Wallace
Of the first four drivers below the cutline, I think Bubba Wallace has the best shot at making the playoffs. Three weeks ago, Wallace was 51 points behind the cutline, and coming out of the break, he'll be just seven points behind Chastain for the 16th spot and final spot. He has cut the deficit by having three top tens in the last four races. Wallace's worst finish in the previous four races was a 13th. Wallace being hot right now makes him confident that he can make the playoffs, even if people think he won't.
“We thrive off counting us out,” Wallace said. “You thought we’d be out in the (first) round, too, last year, didn’t you? We didn’t do that, either. Just keep on fighting, prove y’all wrong.'
Wallace doesn't have to win a race, even though a win would be nice, as he could make the playoffs on points. He's outperforming Chastain right now, so making up seven points should be easy to do. Chastain is having the worst year of his career, as he has two top fives, seven top tens, three DNFs, and an average finish of 14.9. I don't see Chastain winning any of the next four races, and he will lose his playoff spot to Bubba unless he beats Wallace in each of the following four races, which I don't see happening.
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch is the only other driver outside the top 16 that could make the playoffs. In his second season at Richard Childress Racing, Busch has struggled as he has no wins, two top fives, six top tens, five DNFs, and an average finish of 19.6. He is currently 112 points behind Chastain, meaning he must win a race to make the playoffs. I don't think Kyle will win any of the following four races. However, I would say that his best shot at winning a race would be at Daytona, where anyone can win. The only other place that Kyle would have a shot at winning is next weekend in Richmond. He is an excellent short-track racer but has struggled at the short tracks this year. Expect Bush to miss the playoffs this year unless he wins at Daytona.
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