Playoff Projections: AJ Allmendinger & Post-Indianapolis Road Course

 

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    The finishing laps of the "Verizon" 200 at Indianapolis Road Course ended in a double-overtime, and AJ Allmendinger winning a NASCAR Cup Series race for the first time since 2014. His win makes him the 14th different driver to win in the 2021 Cup Series season.

As the NASCAR rulebook states, that a part-time Cup Series driver is not eligible for points/playoffs, so that makes AJ Allmendinger ineligible for point/playoffs after his win. 

And as there are only two races left, that makes Denny Hamlin a secured seat inside the 2021 Cup Series Playoffs.

Here is last week's Top 16 after Watkins Glen:

Liam Marshall-Stark/Stock Car Media

And now for this week's Top 16 after the Indianapolis Road Course:

1. Kyle Larson [No. 5 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] 953 Points [5 Wins, 12 Stage Points]
2. Denny Hamlin [No. 11 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] 931 Points [5 Stage Points]
3. Kyle Busch [No. 18 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] 796 Points [2 Wins, 4 Stage Points] (+1)
4. William Byron [No. 24 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] 790 Points [1 Win, 3 Stage Points] (-1)
5. Chase Elliott [No. 9 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] 774 Points [2 Wins, 1 Stage Point] (+1)
6. Joey Logano [No. 22 Ford / Team Penske] 763 Points [1 Win, 4 Stage Points] (-1)
7. Martin Truex, Jr. [No. 19 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] 762 Points [3 Wins, 5 Stage Points]
8. Ryan Blaney [No. 12 Ford / Team Penske] 747 Points [1 Win, 4 Stage Points
9. Kevin Harvick [No. 4 Ford / Stewart-Haas Racing] 733 Points
10. Brad Keselowski [No. 2 Ford / Team Penske] 696 Points [1 Win, 2 Stage Points] 
11. Tyler Reddick [No. 8 Chevrolet / Richard Childress Racing] 666 Points [3 Stage Points] (+1)
12. Alex Bowman [No. 48 Chevrolet / Hendrick Motorsports] 653 Points [3 Wins] (-1)
13. Austin Dillon [No. 3 Chevrolet / Richard Childress Racing] 638 Points
14. Kurt Busch [No. 1 Chevrolet / Chip Ganassi Racing] 607 Points [1 Win, 3 Stage Points]
15. Christopher Bell [No. 20 Toyota / Joe Gibbs Racing] 572 Points [1 Win]
16. Matt DiBenedetto [No. 21 Ford / Wood Brothers Racing] 521 Points (+1)

- Who has moved around inside the Top 16?

Kyle Larson has finally made his way past Denny Hamlin for the points lead, but not without some help from Chase Briscoe spinning the race leader Hamlin around. Now Larson will become only the 3rd driver to lead the regular-season points standings. Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, and Tyler Reddick each moved up one position. William Byron, Joey Logano, and Alex Bowman each fell one position in points.

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

Matt DiBenedetto is back to the Top 16, but by a mere point over 17th place.

- Who has left the Top 16?

Chris Buescher has fallen out of the Top 16, but not too far. He currently sits in 17th, and just one point less than 16th place Matt DiBenedetto.

The current playoff field looks like this:

1. [No. 5] Kyle Larson / 5 Wins / 953
2. [No. 19] Martin Truex, Jr. / 3 Wins / 762
3. [No. 48] Alex Bowman / 3 Wins / 653
4. [No. 18] Kyle Busch / 2 Wins / 792
5. [No. 9] Chase Elliott / 2 Wins / 774
6. [No. 24] William Byron / 1 Win / 790
7. [No. 22] Joey Logano / 1 Win / 763
8. [No. 12] Ryan Blaney / 1 Win / 747
9. [No. 2] Brad Keselowski / 1 Win / 696
10. [No. 1] Kurt Busch / 1 Win / 607
11. [No. 20] Christopher Bell / 1 Win / 572
12. [No. 34] Michael McDowell / 1 Win / 480
13. [No. 10] Aric Almirola / 1 Win / 416
14. [No. 11] Denny Hamlin / 931
15. [No. 4] Kevin Harvick / 733
16. [No. 8] Tyler Reddick / 666
17. [No. 3] Austin Dillon / 638