Playoff Projections: Kyle Busch & Post-Kansas

 

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    The "Buschy McBusch Race” 400 at Kansas Speedway was won by Kyle Busch. That finish has secured Busch a spot in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, that is unless we have more than 16 different winners in the regular season.

What does our playoff field look like?

Here was the Top 16 in points after Talladega:

Liam Marshall-Stark/Stock Car Media

And now for the updated, Top 16 after Kansas:

1. Denny Hamlin [No. 11 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 481 Points [5 Stage Points]
2. Martin Truex, Jr. [No. 19 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 394 Points [2 Wins, 1 Stage Point]
3. William Byron [No. 24 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 385 Points [1 Win, 1 Stage Point] (+1)
4. Joey Logano [No. 22 Ford / Team Penske] - 373 Points [1 Win, 2 Stage Points] (-1)
5. Ryan Blaney [No. 12 Ford / Team Penske] - 370 Points [1 Win, 3 Stage Points]
6. Brad Keselowski [No. 2 Ford / Team Penske] - 366 Points [1 Win, 1 Stage Point]
7. Chase Elliott [No. 9 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 349 Points [1 Stage Point] (+1)
8. Kevin Harvick [No. 4 Ford / Stewart-Haas Racing] - 348 Points (-1)
9. Kyle Larson [No. 5 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 337 Points [1 Win, 4 Stage Points]
10. Kyle Busch [No. 18 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 330 Points [1 Win, 1 Stage Point] (+1)
11. Austin Dillon [No. 3 Chevrolet / Richard Childress Racing] - 295 Points (+1)
12. Christopher Bell [No. 20 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 292 Points [1 Win] (-2)
13. Michael McDowell [No. 34 Ford / Front Row Motorsports] - 268 Points [1 Win]
14. Alex Bowman [No. 48 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 260 Points [1 Win]
15. Chris Buescher [No. 17 Ford / Roush-Fenway Racing] - 258 Points [1 Stage Point] (+1)
16. Matt DiBenedetto [No. 21 Ford / Wood Brothers Racing] - 250 Points (+1) 

- Who has moved around in the Top 16?

Even though Denny Hamlin is still running away with the points lead, multiple drivers have moved up one or more positions. William Byron, Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, and Chris Buescher are all drivers who this week moved upwards within the top 16. On the other hand, drivers such as; Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, and Christopher Bell were the only ones who have moved downward after Kansas.

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

Matt DiBenedetto has had a second week of success, leaving Kansas Speedway with a 4th place finish. This places him in 16th, and holding the last spot in the playoffs.

- Who has left the Top 16?

Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. unfortunately has left the Top 16, after a tough day at Kansas Speedway. He has now been sent down to 19th on the standings.

The current playoff field looks like:

1. [No. 19] Martin Truex, Jr. / 2 Wins / 394
2. [No. 24] William Byron / 1 Win / 385
3. [No. 22] Joey Logano / 1 Win / 373
4. [No. 12] Ryan Blaney / 1 Win / 370
5. [No. 2] Brad Keselowski / 1 Win / 366
6. [No. 5] Kyle Larson / 1 Win / 337
7. [No. 18] Kyle Busch / 1 Win / 330
8. [No. 20] Christopher Bell / 1 Win / 292
9. [No. 34] Michael McDowell / 1 Win / 268
10. [No. 48] Alex Bowman / 1 Win / 260
11. [No. 11] Denny Hamlin / 481 (Points Leader)
12. [No. 9] Chase Elliott / 349
13. [No. 4] Kevin Harvick / 348
14. [No. 3] Austin Dillon / 295
15. [No. 17] Chris Buescher / 258
16. [No. 21] Matt DiBenedetto / 250

Are you happy with the current playoff field as it is? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear what you think!