Playoff Projections: Ryan Blaney & Post-Atlanta

 

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    Ryan Blaney added his name to the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series win list, with his victory in the "Folds of Honor" QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He passed Kyle Larson with 9 laps to go, to steal the win. Blaney is the 6th different driver to grab a victory so far this season. 

With his win, Blaney moved up 6 positions in the points standings, and now currently sits in 7th. Larson snagged two playoff points by winning both the 1st and 2nd stages, which moved him into 2nd place on the standings behind points-leader Denny Hamlin. 

How much did the Top 16 drivers move around this week? 

Let's look at last week's Top 16 drivers, after Phoenix:

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And now for the updated Top 16 drivers, after Atlanta:

1. Denny Hamlin [No. 11 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 277 Points [3 Stage Points]
2. Kyle Larson [No. 5 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 234 Points [1 Win, 3 Stage Points] (+3)
3. Joey Logano [No. 22 Ford / Team Penske] - 214 Points [1 Stage Point]
4. Martin Truex, Jr. [No. 19 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 212 Points [1 Win]
5. Brad Keselowski [No. 2 Ford / Team Penske] - 206 Points [1 Stage Point] (-3)
6. Kevin Harvick [No. 4 Ford / Stewart-Haas Racing] - 203 Points (+1)
7. Ryan Blaney [No. 12 Ford / Team Penske] - 191 Points [1Win, 1 Stage Point] (+6)
8. William Byron [No. 24 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 188 Points [1Win, 1 Stage Point](+1)
9. Christopher Bell [No. 20 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 183 Points [1 Win] (-1)
10. Chase Elliott [No. 9 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 183 Points [1 Stage Point] (-4)
11. Austin Dillon [No. 3 Chevrolet / Richard Childress Racing] - 170 Points (+1)
12. Kyle Busch [No. 18 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 163 Points (+3)
13. Michael McDowell [No. 34 Ford / Front Row Motorsports] - 158 Points [1 Win] (-2)
14. Alex Bowman [No. 48 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 157 Points (+3)
15. Kurt Busch [No. 1 Chevrolet / Chip Ganassi Racing] - 152 Points (-5)
16. Chris Buescher [No. 17 Ford / Roush-Fenway Racing] - 144 Points [1 Stage Point] (+2)

Who has moved around in the Top 16? Well, Denny Hamlin has stayed in the points lead since assuming it from Austin Dillon after the Daytona Road Course. Kyle Larson is in second, and slightly trimmed Hamlin's lead. Chase Elliott and Kurt Busch fell back in points after DNF's, yesterday at Atlanta. McDowell has continued to fall back in points, and could be in trouble if we have more than 16 different winners this season.

Who's back or new in the Top 16? Well, Chris Buescher left the top 16 in points after the race at Phoenix, but is back after a Top 10 finish at Sunday at Atlanta. Alex Bowman has definitely had a slow start to the 2021 season, but that too changed as he scored a 3rd place finish on Sunday at Atlanta.

Who left the Top 16 this week? Well, Stenhouse has come and gone so far in almost every-other race this season. He now sits just outside the top 16, in 17th. Ryan Preece dropped 4 positions in points from 14th, so he currently sits in 18th.

So what are your thoughts after Atlanta? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and we’ll be sure to get back to you!