How Bubba Wallace’s Brickyard 400 win modifications the playoff battle

Coming into the Cup race at Indianapolis, Bubba Wallace was on the recent seat, holding the sixteenth and ultimate spot contained in the playoffs. He had simply 16 factors over the cut-line and the stress was on, however he stepped as much as the problem in a giant manner. Wallace proceeded to take a wrecking ball to the playoff factors battle, incomes a shock win within the Brickyard 400.

In doing so, Wallace grew to become the thirteenth totally different driver to lock themselves into the playoffs. Tyler Reddick, Alex Bowman, and Chris Buescher at the moment are the one drivers presently within the playoffs on factors alone, however that would nonetheless change.

RFK vs. RFK

So, what did that victory do to the playoff bubble? It’s now a combat between RFK Racing teammates, but it surely’s not a very shut battle. Buescher holds the ultimate spot, and he presently sits 42 factors away from teammate Ryan Preece with 4 races left within the common season. 

Each Buescher and Preece have misplaced priceless factors as a result of penalties this yr, as properly. Preece was disqualified after a second-place end at Talladega, whereas Buescher misplaced 60 factors when NASCAR discovered a entrance bumper cowl violation on the No. 17 Ford earlier this yr.

The one different drivers presently within the playoffs on factors alone are Reddick at +138pts and Bowman at +63pts. Whereas Reddick can really feel pretty safe, Bowman is uncomfortable near the bubble. There’s simply 11 factors between himself and Buescher, and will a brand new driver beneath the cut-line win one of many upcoming races, Bowman might be in actual hazard of lacking the playoffs.

It is win or nothing for many now

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Zane Smith, Entrance Row Motorsports Ford

Photograph by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Photographs

Under Preece, there’s actually nobody who is de facto shut sufficient to realistically achieve that many factors over the subsequent month. Kyle Busch is the closest driver to Preece, however he’s over 80 factors beneath the cut-line. Busch, and everybody beneath him, ought to be centered on one factor over the subsequent 4 races – profitable.

There are a number of notable names on this uncomfortable scenario, together with Ty Gibbs, A.J. Allmendinger, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Cole Custer, the Dillon brothers, each Legacy Motor Membership automobiles, all three drivers from Spire Motorsports and Entrance Row Motorsports, 23XI’s Riley Herbst, and Cody Ware in final place.