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 sector 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 obtained to mechanically advance into the Spherical of 8 by way of a win this spherical, however that does not imply nobody is locked in.

Locked in or feeling good

William Byron truly 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 extremely sturdy spot to maneuver ahead. You can be seeing these drivers within the Spherical of 8 which is attention-grabbing, as all three made the Championship 4 final 12 months.

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 sphere crashed on the backstretch, he was nowhere close to the chaos and gained a mountain of factors consequently. 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. Accumulate some stage factors, end the race, and all the pieces ought to be okay, however historical past tells us that it by no means finally ends up being that straightforward. If these drivers do not get any stage factors, these beneath them might quickly bridge the hole.

On the recent seat

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

Happily for Elliott, he isn’t solely gained on the Roval however he is the one energetic driver to have gained it greater than as soon as. Reddick can also 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 hassle, it’s important to keep away from being the driving force on the chopping block. Due to this, Elliott and Reddick will probably be keeping track of one another, simply as a lot (if no more) than these behind them.

The 2-time NASCAR Cup Collection champion has a wierd sample he want to proceed 12 months — he has made the Championship 4 in alternating years because the present format’s introduction (’14, ’16, ’18, ’20, ’22) whereas lacking out the remainder of the time. Sadly, not like 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 greatest exhibiting but to keep away from elimination. Anticipate Logano to go for as many stage factors as attainable as he tries to bridge that hole to these forward.

Joey Logano, Group Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang

Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photos

The Trackhouse driver took a foul state of affairs 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. It is a troublesome factors deficit to make up, particularly with the caliber of drivers instantly in entrance of him, but it surely’s not all unhealthy for Suarez. He is a wonderful 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 fitting 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 deliver up the rear of the factors grid, so it will be fairly the upset if he might drag himself out of the elimination zone.

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing, Freeway Insurance Chevrolet Camaro

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing, Freeway Insurance coverage Chevrolet Camaro

Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photos

One other Group Penske driver in peril, and the way various things might have been for the driving force of the No. 2 Ford. He was main late at Talladega and will have completely gained that race, however a foul push despatched him spinning in the midst of the pack as a substitute. Whereas he might nonetheless level his means in mathematically, his solely actual shot is to go straight for the win. He is by no means gained a street course race on the Cup degree, 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 should dig deep and discover a method to lastly do this on the Cup degree asap, or his playoffs will probably be over.

Austin Cindric, Team Penske, Discount Tire Ford Mustang

Austin Cindric, Group Penske, Low cost Tire Ford Mustang

Picture by: Gavin Baker / NKP / Motorsport Photos

Most likely probably the most distinctive story of the playoffs surrounds this driver. Stewart-Haas Racing is only a few weeks away from shutting down, however Briscoe gained the common season finale and gave them one final shot at NASCAR glory. With the whole 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 Collection. However once we speak about a driver and group who’ve actually nothing to lose, there is not any one who suits that higher than this No. 14 group.

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