Playoff Projections: Martin Truex, Jr & Darlington

 

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    The “Goodyear” 400 at Darlington was dominated by Martin Truex, Jr., who led 248 laps and stole all three stages. With Truex taking his 3rd win of the 2021 season, in just the 12th race, the No. 19 is on a roll. 

With all of the extra playoff points going to Truex, what does this do in the post season outlook?

Here is the Top 16 after Kansas: 

Liam Marshall-Stark/Stock Car Media

And here is the newly updated Top 16 after Darlington:

1. Denny Hamlin [No. 11 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 529 Points [5 Stage Points]
2. Martin Truex, Jr. [No. 19 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 454 Points [3 Wins, 3 Stage Points]
3. William Bryon [No. 24 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 428 Points [1 Win, 1 Stage Point]
4. Joey Logano [No. 22 Ford / Team Penske] - 406 Points [1 Win, 2 Stage Points]
5. Ryan Blaney [No. 12 Ford / Team Penske] - 405 Points [1 Win, 3 Stage Points]
6. Kyle Larson [No. 5 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 385 Points [1 Win, 4 Stage Points] (+3)
7. Kevin Harvick  [No. 4 Ford / Stewart-Haas Racing] - 385 Points (+1)
8. Chase Elliott [No. 9 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 382 Points [1 Stage Point] (-1)
9. Brad Keselowski [No. 2 Ford / Team Penske] - 379 Points [1 Win, 1 Stage Point] (-3)
10. Kyle Busch [No. 18 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 373 Points [1 Win, 1 Stage Point]
11. Christopher Bell [No. 20 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] - 320 Points [1 Win] (+1)
12. Austin Dillon  [No. 3 Chevrolet / Richard Childress Racing] - 316 Points (-1)
13. Chris Buescher [No. 17 Ford / Roush-Fenway Racing] - 287 Points [1 Stage Point] (+2)
14. Alex Bowman [No. 48 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] - 281 Points [1 Win]
15. Michael McDowell [No. 34 Ford / Front Row Motorsports] - 278 Points [1 Win] (-2)
16. Tyler Reddick [No. 8 Chevrolet / Richard Childress Racing] - 268 Points (+2) 

- Who has moved around in the Top 16?

Even though Denny Hamlin is still running away with the points lead, Martin Truex, Jr's. 3 wins compared to Hamlin's zero wins will start to take its toll fairly soon. Harvick, Larson, Bell, and Buescher all moved up one or more positions in the points standings.

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

Tyler Reddick, has been slowly creeping up the standings by earning the bonus stage points awarded to the Top 10 finishers at the end of Stages 1 & 2. This is his first Top 16 appearance for 2021, but the Top 16 is not new to the sophomore Cup driver. He stayed 16th in points for a decent portion of his rookie season in 2020.

- Who has left the Top 16? 

With a unexpectedly, disappointing finish at Darlington for Matt DiBenedetto, he has fallen back to 17th in points. In all honesty thought, he is not too far away from the Top 16.

The current Playoff field looks like this:

1. [No. 19] Martin Truex, Jr / 3 Wins / 454
2. [No. 24] William Byron / 1 Win / 428
3. [No. 22] Joey Logano / 1 Win / 406
4. [No. 12] Ryan Blaney / 1 Win / 405
5. [No. 5] Kyle Larson / 1 Win / 385
6. [No. 2] Brad Keselowski / 1 Win / 379
7. [No. 18] Kyle Busch / 1 Win / 373
8. [No. 20] Christopher Bell / 1 Win / 320
9. [No. 48] Alex Bowman / 1 Win / 280
10. [No. 34] Michael McDowell / 1 Win / 278
11. [No. 11] Denny Hamlin / 529 (Points Leader)
12. [No. 4] Kevin Harvick / 385
13. [No. 9] Chase Elliott / 382
14. [No. 3] Austin Dillon / 316
15. [No. 17] Chris Buescher / 287
16. [No. 8] Tyler Reddick / 268