Chase Elliott on the bubble as 4 drivers face Roval elimination

The Spherical of 12 opened with one other spoiler as Ross Chastain took the checkered flag at Kansas. The sphere then raced into Talladega the place one more non-playoff driver stole all of the glory with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. profitable the race. This implies nobody bought to mechanically advance into the Spherical of 8 through a win this spherical, however that does not imply nobody is locked in.

Locked in or feeling good

William Byron really earned sufficient factors during the last two races to clinch a spot mathematically, so he has nothing to fret about at Charlotte. Whereas not technically locked in, Christopher Bell at +57 and Kyle Larson at +52 are in a very sturdy spot to maneuver ahead. You can be seeing these drivers within the Spherical of 8 which is fascinating, as all three made the Championship 4 final yr.

Simply preserve it clear and rating some stage factors

After his cautious strategy backfired at Atlanta, Denny Hamlin did it once more at Talladega, however this time, it paid off in an enormous means. When over half the sector crashed on the backstretch, he was nowhere close to the chaos and gained a mountain of factors because of this. He now enters Charlotte +30 to the cut-line and simply must keep away from any main setbacks this weekend. Nevertheless, he has struggled in current street course races. Alex Bowman at +26 and Ryan Blaney at +25 are in comparable positions. Gather some stage factors, end the race, and every little thing must be okay, however historical past tells us that it by no means finally ends up being that easy. If these drivers do not get any stage factors, these beneath them may quickly bridge the hole.

On the new seat

Common season champion Tyler Reddick is simply +14 factors above the elimination zone and NASCAR’s Most Common Driver is in the identical boat. Chase Elliott is sitting on the bubble at +13. And keep in mind, it would not matter what number of factors you will have if any of these 4 drivers beneath you go and win the race. Because the bubble driver, you’ll be out.

Happily for Elliott, he is not solely received on the Roval however he is the one energetic driver to have received it greater than as soon as. Reddick can be a really succesful street racers with the second-highest common end on the Charlotte Roval, in addition to race wins at COTA, the Indy RC and Street America. On the finish of the day, they might be racing one another on Sunday. Ought to a Briscoe or Cindric discover their means into the lead and the drivers above these two do not get into bother, it’s a must to keep away from being the motive force on the chopping block. Due to this, Elliott and Reddick might be keeping track of one another, simply as a lot (if no more) than these behind them.

The 2-time NASCAR Cup Sequence champion has an odd sample he wish to proceed yr — he has made the Championship 4 in alternating years for the reason that present format’s introduction (’14, ’16, ’18, ’20, ’22) whereas lacking out the remainder of the time. Sadly, in contrast to these he’s chasing, he hasn’t had a lot success on street programs. He does have a pole and two top-five finishes on the Roval, however he might want to have his finest displaying but to keep away from elimination. Count on Logano to go for as many stage factors as doable as he tries to bridge that hole to these forward.

Joey Logano, Crew Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang

Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photographs

The Trackhouse driver took a foul scenario and made it worse at Talladega, crashing himself whereas making an attempt to aggressively mix into the pack after an early pass-through penalty left him a lap down. This can be a troublesome factors deficit to make up, particularly with the caliber of drivers straight in entrance of him, however it’s not all unhealthy for Suarez. He is a superb street racer and whereas success has eluded him on the Roval, Trackhouse has proven an uptick in pace not too long ago and his teammate led half the race at Watkins Glen. He is additionally in a troublesome spot the place he has to determine if going for factors is the suitable play or if he ought to gamble all of it and go straight for the win. Sadly, Suarez and the opposite two remaining underdog tales within the playoffs carry up the rear of the factors grid, so it will be fairly the upset if he may drag himself out of the elimination zone.

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing, Freeway Insurance Chevrolet Camaro

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing, Freeway Insurance coverage Chevrolet Camaro

Photograph by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photographs

One other Crew Penske driver in peril, and the way various things may have been for the motive force of the No. 2 Ford. He was main late at Talladega and will have completely received that race, however a foul push despatched him spinning in the midst of the pack as an alternative. Whereas he may nonetheless level his means in mathematically, his solely actual shot is to go straight for the win. He is by no means received a street course race on the Cup stage, which is a shock. He has a background in street racing and 5 of his 13 Xfinity wins got here on tracks that go each left and proper. He must dig deep and discover a method to lastly try this on the Cup stage asap, or his playoffs might be over.

Austin Cindric, Team Penske, Discount Tire Ford Mustang

Austin Cindric, Crew Penske, Low cost Tire Ford Mustang

Photograph by: Gavin Baker / NKP / Motorsport Photographs

Most likely essentially the most distinctive story of the playoffs surrounds this driver. Stewart-Haas Racing is just some weeks away from shutting down, however Briscoe received the common season finale and gave them one final shot at NASCAR glory. With your complete four-car group rallying behind him, he bested champions Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski to advance into this spherical. Sadly, issues haven’t gone practically as properly right here and luck was not on his facet at Talladega. Like Cindric, he has to go for the race win on the Roval. It is his solely actual hope of preserving this dream alive for SHR. Like Cindric, he’s a driver who confirmed promise on street programs in decrease divisions, however he is but to search out Victory Lane at such tracks within the Cup Sequence. However once we discuss a driver and group who’ve actually nothing to lose, there is not any one who suits that higher than this No. 14 workforce.

Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing, Rush Truck Centers / Cummins Ford Mustang