Playoff Projections: Chase Elliott & Post-COTA

 

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    The rain shortened race results from Circuit of the Americas gave defending NASCAR Cup Series champion, Chase Elliott, his first win of 2021.

The race at COTA was interesting at the start, but got a little more daring as the race went on. Speaking of interesting, what are the playoffs looking like after race number 14?

Let's look at the Top 16 after Dover:

Liam Marshall-Stark/Stock Car Media

Now the updated Top 16 after Circuit of the Americas:

1. Denny Hamlin [No. 11 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] 597 Points [5 Stage Points]
2. William Byron [No. 24 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] 499 Points [1 Win, 1 Stage Point]
3. Kyle Larson [No. 5 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] 487 Points [1 Win, 6 Stage Points] (+2)
4. Joey Logano [No. 22 Ford / Team Penske] 486 Points [1 Win, 3 Stage Points]
5. Chase Elliott [No. 9 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] 481 Points [1 Win, 1 Stage Point] (+2)
6. Martin Truex, Jr. [No. 19 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] 474 Points [3 Wins, 3 Stage Points] (-3)
7. Ryan Blaney [No. 12 Ford / Team Penske] 458 Points [1 Win, 3 Stage Points] (-1)
8. Kevin Harvick [No. 4 Ford / Stewart-Haas Racing] 428 Points 
9. Brad Keselowski [No. 2 Ford / Team Penske] 422 Points [1 Win, 1 Stage Point]
10. Kyle Busch [No. 18 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] 422 Points [1 Win, 2 Stage Points]
11. Austin Dillon [No. 3 Chevrolet / Richard Childress Racing] 366 Points
12. Alex Bowman [No. 48 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] 362 Points [2 Wins] (+1)
13. Chris Buescher [No. 17 Ford / Roush-Fenway Racing] 338 Points [1 Stage Point] (+1)
14. Christopher Bell [No. 20 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] 337 Points [1 Win] (-2)
15. Tyler Reddick [No. 8 Chevrolet / Richard Childress Racing] 334 Points
16. Michael McDowell [No. 34 Ford / Front Row Motorsports] 329 Points [1 Win]

- Who has moved around inside the Top 16?

After COTA, Denny Hamlin is still holding the points lead, and by a 98 point margin over 2nd place William Byron. Many of these drivers did not move from their Post-Dover positions, but those who moved, the 20-turn road course created their results.

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

No one is new to the Top 16 this week!

- Who has left the Top 16?

No one has left the Top 16 this week!

The current Playoff field looks like this:

1. [No. 19] Martin Truex, Jr. / 3 Wins / 474
2. [No. 48] Alex Bowman / 2 Wins / 362
3. [No. 24] William Byron / 1 Win / 499
4. [No. 5] Kyle Larson / 1 Win / 487
5. [No. 22] Joey Logano / 1 Win / 486
6. [No. 9] Chase Elliott / 1 Win / 481
7. [No. 12] Ryan Blaney / 1 Win / 458
8. [No. 2] Brad Keselowski / 1 Win / 422
9. [No. 18] Kyle Busch / 1 Win / 422
10. [No. 20] Christopher Bell / 1 Win / 337
11. [No. 34] Michael McDowell / 1 Win / 329
12. [No. 11] Denny Hamlin / 597 [Points Leader]
13. [No. 4] Kevin Harvick / 428
14. [No. 3] Austin Dillon / 366
15. [No. 17] Chris Buescher / 338
16. [No. 8] Tyler Reddick / 334