Playoff Projections: Kyle Larson & Post-Charlotte

 

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     As he dominated yesterday's "Coca-Cola" 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kyle Larson became the 3rd driver to win more than 1 race in the 2021 season. Larson also swept all of the stage points that were up for grabs, that alone will add a lot off playoff points to his already large collection.

Let's compare last week's Top 16 to the update Top 16 after Sundays race.

Here is the Top 16 after Circuit of the Americas:

Liam Marshall-Stark/Stock Car Media

And now for this week's Top 16 after Charlotte:

1. Denny Hamlin [No. 11 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] 633 Points [5 Stage Points]
2. Kyle Larson [No. 5 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] 557 Points [2 Wins, 9 Stage Points] (+1)
3. William Byron [No. 24 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] 557 Points [1 Win, 1 Stage Point] (-1)
4. Chase Elliott [No. 9 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] 541 Points [1 Win, 1 Stage Point] (+1)
5. Joey Logano [No. 22 Ford / Team Penske] 506 Points 1 Win, 3 Stage Points (-1)
6. Martin Truex, Jr. [No. 19 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] 486 Points [3 Wins, 3 Stage Points]
7. Ryan Blaney [No. 12 Ford / Team Penske] 482 Points [1 Win, 3 Stage Points]
8. Kyle Busch [No. 18 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] 476 Points [1 Win, 2 Stage Points] (+2)
9. Kevin Harvick [No. 4 Ford / Stewart-Haas Racing] 468 Points (-1)
10. Brad Keselowski [No. 2 Ford / Team Penske] 448 Points [1 Win, 1 Stage Point] (-1)
11. Austin Dillon [No. 3 Chevrolet / Richard Childress Racing] 407 Points
12. Alex Bowman [No. 48 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] 405 Points [2 Wins]
13. Tyler Reddick [No. 8 Chevrolet / Richard Childress Racing] 378 Points (+2)
14. Chris Buescher [No. 17 Ford / Roush-Fenway Racing] 370 Points [1 Stage Point] (-1)
15. Christopher Bell [No. 20 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] 350 Points [1 Win] (-1)
16. Michael McDowell [No. 34 Ford / Front Row Motorsports] 346 Points [1 Win]

 

- Who has moved around inside the Top 16?

After Charlotte, Denny Hamlin is still holding the points lead, but by a shrinking 76 point margin over 2nd place Kyle Larson, who is tied with William Byron for the spot. Kyle Busch and Tyler Reddick each moved up 2 spots, they are this week’s biggest movers. For the most part, it is just drivers swapping positions with each other, but in a few more races, these seemingly insignificant changes could play a big role in the driver standings!

- 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 / 486
2. [No. 5] Kyle Larson / 2 Wins / 557
3. [No. 48] Alex Bowman / 2 Wins / 405
4. [No. 24] William Byron / 1 Win / 557
5. [No. 9] Chase Elliott / 1 Win / 541
6. [No. 22] Joey Logano / 1 Win / 506
7. [No. 12] Ryan Blaney / 1 Win / 482
8. [No. 18] Kyle Busch / 1 Win / 476
9. [No. 2] Brad Keselowski / 1 Win / 448
10. [No. 20] Christopher Bell / 1 Win / 350
11. [No. 34] Michael McDowell / 1 Win / 346
12. [No. 11] Denny Hamlin / 633 [Points Leader]
13. [No. 4] Kevin Harvick / 468
14. [No. 3] Austin Dillon / 407
15. [No. 8] Tyler Reddick / 378
16. [No. 17] Chris Buescher / 370