Playoff Projections: Joey Logano & Post-Bristol Dirt

 

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    For a second race in-a-row, the most dominate car of the race, did not take home the victory. Martin Truex, Jr. was the most dominate car of the "Food City Dirt Race", as he led 126 laps and won the first stage. Joey Logano took stage 2 from Daniel Suarez, who had led 58 total laps. 

Logano eventually won the first NASCAR Cup Series race on a dirt surface in 51 years.

As many of the Top-16 drivers in points last week had a poor run at the Bristol dirt race, this week we will see huge shift in the standings. 

Here’s last weeks Top 16 after Atlanta:

Liam Marshall-Stark/Stock Car Media

Current Top-16 after the Food City Dirt Race at Bristol:

1. Denny Hamlin [No. 11 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 327 Points [3 Stage Points]
2. Joey Logano [No. 22 Ford / Team Penske] - 269 Points [1 Win, 2 Stage Points] (+1)
3. Martin Truex, Jr. [No. 19 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 247 Points [1 Win, 1 Stage Point] (+1)
4. Kyle Larson [No. 5 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 242 Points [1 Win, 3 Stage Points] (-2)
5. Brad Keselowski [No. 2 Ford / Team Penske] - 232 Points [1 Stage Point]
6. William Byron [No. 24 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 228 Points [1Win, 1 Stage Point] (+2)
7. Ryan Blaney [No. 12 Ford / Team Penske] - 226 Points [1Win, 1 Stage Point]
8. Kevin Harvick [No. 4 Ford / Stewart-Haas Racing] - 225 Points (-2)
9. Chase Elliott [No. 9 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 211 Points [1 Stage Point] (+1)
10. Christopher Bell [No. 20 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 186 Points [1 Win] (-1)
11. Austin Dillon [No. 3 Chevrolet / Richard Childress Racing] - 186 Points
12. Michael McDowell [No. 34 Ford / Front Row Motorsports] - 183 Points [1 Win] (+1)
13. Kyle Busch [No. 18 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 163 Points (-1)
14. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. [No. 47 Chevrolet / JTG Daugherty Racing] - 180 Points (+3)
15. Kurt Busch [No. 1 Chevrolet / Chip Ganassi Racing] - 173 Points
16. Alex Bowman [No. 48 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 172 Points (-2)

Who has moved around within the Top-16?

Well, Denny Hamlin continues to stay in the points lead since assuming it from Austin Dillon after the Daytona Road Course. Bristol Dirt winner Joey Logano, has moved up from 3rd to take the second spot. Christopher Bell dropped a position with a DNF, and Larson dropped due to multiple problems.

Who is new, or has returned to the Top-16? 

Well, Stenhouse has come back to the Top 16 with a 2nd place finish at Bristol, and currently sits 14th in points.

Who has left the Top-16?

Chris Buescher has left the top-16, but only dropped from 16th to 17th, so he isn't too far gone.

What do you think about the current top-16 drivers? Who do you want to see stay, and who would you like to see go? Let us know in the comments below, we’ll be sure to get back to you!