For the first time ever the NASCAR Cup Series will race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard.
Counting this weekend’s race there are three races left in the 2021 regular season. That means many drivers are getting more desperate to find a way to make the post season. The 13 drivers that have won this season have clinched their post-season spots. That is because there are only three spots remaining in the 16-driver Playoff field not filled by a driver with at least one win. There is not a way those winning drivers can be edged out.
Denny Hamlin has all but clinched his spot in the playoffs. Kyle Larson has edged him out for the regular season point lead. They are tied in point total. However, Kyle having five wins and Denny not having any wins gives Kyle the tie-breaker.
If Denny can regain the point lead and capture the Regular Season Championship by the end of the next three races he is in the post-season. If he does not regain the point lead and just one of the next three races has a repeat winner for the season, Denny will make the post season. His lead over the next two divers below him in points is large enough he cannot be pushed below the top 16 in point total.
The only way Denny can be kept out of the post season is: if Kyle Larson is able to hold the point lead and win the Regular Season Championship AND there are three new winners to end the regular season.
Kevin Harvick, Tyler Redick or Austin Dillon could make the post-season by points if there are enough repeat winners in the final three regular season races. However, scoring a win in one of the races would clinch their spot.
Realistically, anybody below that really would have to win to get in. While the outlook grid above shows the top 20, anybody in the top 30 can make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with a win. That happened a couple of races ago when Aric Almirola won and jumped from the 27th place in points to being in the post-season.
This weekend’s race could be a perfect situation for a driver not in the post-season conversation to jump up to the Playoffs. The drivers are not only racing on a road course, but racing on a road course in a Cup Series car for the first time. That makes it possible for just about any driver and team to come up with a strategy that can give them a chance to win.
Here is the track and race data the drivers and teams will be dealing with.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Data
Track Size: 2.439-miles
Track Type: Road Course
Number of Turns: 14
Verizon 200 at the Brickyard Data
Season Race #: 24 of 36 (08-15-21)
Race Length: 82 laps / 200 miles
Stage 1 Length: 15 laps
Stage 2 Length: 20 laps
Final Stage Length: 47 laps
We will find out what scenario plays out and how it affects the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff outlook Sunday, August 15th starting at 12 p.m. central time (1 p.m. eastern time) in the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
By: Buck Stevens
