This weekend’s Bank of America 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL will bring the second round of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs to a close and four more drivers will be eliminated from the postseason bringing the total to eight. Two drivers, Denny Hamlin and Kurt Busch are locked in on wins and moving on, leaving six spots still up for grabs. All remaining drivers can clinch a spot in the next round with a win at Charlotte.

Already Clinched

The following two drivers have clinched a spot in the eight-driver field of the next round: Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch.

Can clinch via Points

If there is a new winner, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 6th winless driver in the standings.

o   Kevin Harvick: Would clinch with 8 points

o   Brad Keselowski: Would clinch with 35 points

o   Martin Truex Jr.: Would clinch with 44 points

o   Chase Elliott: Would clinch with 49 points

o   Alex Bowman: Would clinch with 54 points

o   Joey Logano: Would clinch with 55 points

o   Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola: Could only clinch with help

If there is a repeat winner, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 7th winless driver in the standings.  They would also clinch if there was a new winner among Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman or Joey Logano and being ahead of the 6th winless driver in the standings.

o   Kevin Harvick: Would clinch regardless of finish

o   Brad Keselowski: Would clinch with 15 points

o   Martin Truex Jr.: Would clinch with 24 points

o   Chase Elliott: Would clinch with 29 points

o   Alex Bowman: Would clinch with 34 points

o   Joey Logano: Would clinch with 35 points

o   Kyle Busch, Austin Dillon, Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola: Could only clinch with help

Keep Digging: Drivers that have raced their way into the Round of 8

Since the introduction of the ‘elimination style’ format of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2014, several drivers have raced their way into the Round of 8 in the sixth and final cutoff race of the Round of 12.

2014: Heading to Talladega (sixth race of the Playoffs) in 2014, Matt Kenseth was ranked ninth in the Playoff standings, one point back from the Round of 8 cutoff and Brad Keselowski was ranked 10th in the Playoff standings, 19 points behind the Round of 8 cutoff. Brad Keselowski won the race at Talladega and automatically advanced to the next round. Matt Kenseth finished second at Talladega and advanced on points to the Round of 8 knocking Kasey Kahne (12th-place finish at Talladega) and Kyle Busch (40th-place finish at Talladega) out of the Playoffs. Heading into the elimination race, Kyle Busch was second in the Playoff standings 26 points above the cutline and Kasey Kahne was eighth in points just one point above the Round of 8 cutoff.

2015: Heading to Talladega (sixth race of the Playoffs) in 2015, Kyle Busch was ranked ninth in the Playoff standings just six points back from the Round of 8 cutoff. Kyle Busch finished 11th at Talladega and advanced on points knocking his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin (37th-place finish at Talladega due to an incident) out of the Playoffs. Heading into the elimination race, Denny Hamlin was second in the Playoff standings, 18 points above the Round of 8 cutoff.

2016: Heading to Talladega (sixth race of the Playoffs) in 2016, Denny Hamlin was ranked 10th in the Playoff standings, six points back from the Round of 8 cutoff. Hamlin went on to finish third at Talladega and advanced on points knocking Martin Truex Jr. (40th-place finish at Talladega due to an engine failure) out of the Playoffs. Heading into the elimination race, Martin Truex Jr. was sixth in the Playoff standings, 13 points above the Round of 8 cutoff.

2017: Heading to Kansas (sixth race of the Playoffs) in 2017, Kyle Busch was ranked ninth in the Playoff standings, seven points back from the Round of 8 cutoff. Busch went on to finish 10th at Kansas and advanced on points knocking Kyle Larson (39th-place finish at Kansas due to an engine failure) out of the Playoffs. Heading into the elimination race, Kyle Larson was third in the Playoff standings, 29 points above the Round of 8 cutoff.

2018: The four drivers below the Round of 8 cutline heading into the sixth race of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Kansas Speedway – Brad Keselowski (-1 point from cutoff), Ryan Blaney (-5), Kyle Larson (-19) and Alex Bowman (-51) – all failed to advance to the Round of 8 and were eliminated from the Playoffs following the Kansas race. At Kansas, Larson finished third, Keselowski finished sixth, Blaney finished seventh and Bowman finished ninth.

2019: Heading to Kansas (sixth race of the Playoffs) in 2019, Chase Elliott was ranked 10th in the Playoff standings, 15 points back from the Round of 8 cutoff. Elliott went on to finish second at Kansas and advanced on points knocking Brad Keselowski (19th-place finish at Kansas) out of the Playoffs. Heading into the elimination race, Keselowski was fifth in the Playoff standings, nine points above the Round of 8 cutoff.

Playoff dozen at the Charlotte Road Course

Below is a quick look at the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff driver’s performances at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course.

Denny Hamlin is currently one of two drivers (Kurt Busch) locked into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff’s Round of 8 on wins – the fifth time in his career he has advanced to the Round of 8 (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020). Hamlin has made two starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL posting a 12th-place finish in 2018 and a 19th-place finish in 2019. His average finish is 15.5, 12th-best. He has put up an Average Running Position of 21.101, 19th-best, a Driver Rating of 66.9, 17th-best and has spent 66 Laps in the Top 15 (30.3%), 19th-most. Hamlin will start on the pole in Sunday’s Bank of America 400.

Kurt Busch is currently one of two drivers that have locked themselves into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff’s Round of 8 on wins – the fourth time in his career he has advanced to the Round of 8 (2015, 2016, 2018, 2020). Busch has made two starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL posting a fifth-place finish in 2018 and a 20^th-place finish in 2019. His average finish is 12.5, 10th-best. He also has put up an Average Running Position of 15.188, 10th-best, a Driver Rating of 85.9, ninth-best and has spent 127 Laps in the Top 15 (58.3%), 11th-most. Busch will be starting this Sunday’s race in the 10th starting position.

Kevin Harvick is currently ranked third in NASCAR Cup Series Playoff outlook – the first driver without a win in the Round of 12 – 68 points ahead of the Round of 8 cutoff. Harvick has made two starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, posting a ninth-place finish in 2018 and a third-place finish in 2019. His average finish is 6.0, fifth-best. He has also managed an Average Running Position of 6.390, series-best, a Driver Rating of 111.7, second-best and has spent 201 Laps in the Top 15 (92.2%), series-most. Harvick will start Sunday’s race in the fourth starting position in his hunt to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 8 for the seventh consecutive time in his career (2014-2019).

Chase Elliott is currently ranked fourth in NASCAR Cup Series Playoff outlook, 44 points ahead of the Round of 8 cutoff. Elliott has made two starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, posting a sixth-place finish in 2018 and winning the event in 2019. His average finish is 3.5, second-best. He has also accumulated an Average Running Position of 8.188, second-best, a Driver Rating of 122.0, series-best and spent 187 Laps in the Top 15 (85.8%), second-most. Elliott will start on the outside front row this weekend in his pursuit to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 8 for the fourth consecutive year in a row (2017-2019).

Brad Keselowski is currently ranked fifth in NASCAR Cup Series Playoff outlook, 41 points ahead of the Round of 8 cutoff. Keselowski has made two starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, posting a 31st-place finish in 2018 due to an incident and a fifth-place finish in 2019. His average finish is 18.0, 15th-best. He has also posted an Average Running Position of 11.966, seventh-best, a Driver Rating of 97.6, seventh-best and has spent 149 Laps in the Top 15 (68.3%), eighth-most. Keselowski will start Sunday’s race in the third starting position in his journey to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 8 for the fourth time in his career (2014, 2015 and 2017).

Martin Truex Jr. is currently ranked sixth in NASCAR Cup Series Playoff outlook, 32 points ahead of the Round of 8 cutoff. Truex has made two starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL posting a 14th-place finish in 2018 due to an incident with Jimmie Johnson on the final turn and a seventh-place finish in 2019. His average finish is 10.5, eighth-best. Plus, he has amassed an Average Running Position of 8.862, third-best, a Driver Rating of 101.3, fifth-best and has spent 178 Laps in the Top 15 (81.7%), fourth-most. Truex will start from the seventh starting position on Sunday in his quest to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 8 for the fifth time in his career (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019).

Alex Bowman was named this week the next driver to pilot the famous No. 48 for Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, replacing seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. Bowman is currently ranked seventh in NASCAR Cup Series Playoff outlook, 22 points ahead of the Round of 8 cutoff. Bowman has made two starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, posting a fourth-place finish in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2019. His average finish is 3.0, series-best. He has also put up an Average Running Position of 17.656, 15th-best, a Driver Rating of 84.9, 11th-best and has spent 92 Laps in the Top 15 (42.2%), 14th-most. Bowman will start Sunday’s race from the fifth starting spot in his mission to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 8 for the first time in his career.

Joey Logano is currently in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff’s Round of 12 ‘hot seat’ in the eighth and final transfer position to the Round of 8 – just 21 points ahead of the cutoff.Logano has made two starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, posting a 10th-place finish in both starts (2018, 2019). His average finish is 10.0, seventh-best. Plus, he has accumulated an Average Running Position of 13.996, ninth-best, a Driver Rating of 85.9, 10th-best, and has spent 119 Laps in the Top 15 (54.6%), 12th-most. Logano will start Sunday’s Bank of America 400 from the eighth starting position in his pursuit to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 8 for the sixth time in his career (2014. 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019). 

Kyle Busch is currently ninth in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – the first spot outside the Round of 8 cutoff – 21 points back from Joey Logano in the eighth and final transfer spot. Busch has made two starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, posting a 32nd-place finish in 2018 due to an incident and a 37th-place finish in 2019 due to a suspension failure. His average finish is 34.500, 29th-best. He has also collected an Average Running Position of 15.541, 11th-best, a Driver Rating of 79.0, 12th-best and has spent 136 Laps in the Top 15 (62.4), ninth-most. Busch will start this Sunday’s race from the ninth starting spot in his quest to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 8 for the sixth consecutive time in his career (2015-2019).

Austin Dillon is currently 10th in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff outlook, 21 points back from Joey Logano in the eighth and final transfer spot to the Round of 8. Dillon has made two starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, posting a 39th-place finish in 2018 due to an incident and a 23rd-place finish in 2019. His average finish is 31.0, 27th-best. He has also put up an Average Running Position of 23.555, 23rd-best, a Driver Rating of 63.7, 20th-best and has spent 44 Laps in the Top 15 (20.2%), 21st-most. Dillon will start Sunday’s race in the sixth starting position in his journey to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 8 for the first time in his career.

Clint Bowyer is currently 11th in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff outlook, 38 points back from Joey Logano in the eighth and final transfer spot to the Round of 8. Bowyer has made two starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, posting a third-place finish in 2018 and a fourth-place finish in 2019. His average finish is 3.5, third-best. He has also put up an Average Running Position of 10.977, fifth-best, a Driver Rating of 103.5, fourth-best and has spent 157 Laps in the Top 15 (72.0%), seventh-most. Bowyer will start the Bank of America 400 this Sunday in the 11th starting position in his quest to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 8 for the second time in his career (2018). 

Aric Almirola is currently 12th in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff outlook, 48 points back from Joey Logano in the eighth and final transfer spot to the Round of 8. Almirola has made two starts at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, posting a 19th-place finish in 2018 and a 14th-place finish in 2019. His average finish of 16.5, 13th-best. He has also amassed an Average Running Position of 16.706, 14th-best, a Driver Rating of 77.0, 13th-best and has spent 101 Laps in the Top 15 (46.3%), 13th-most. Almirola will start Sunday’s race from the 12th starting position in his pursuit to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 8 for the second time in his career (2018).