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Harvick, Hamlin up top in finalized Cup Series playoff grid
Regular season domination by Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin put them at the top and far out front of the competition.
The NASCAR Cup Series playoff grid became finalized Saturday night in Daytona with the last two spots determined in a dramatic run to the finish. One of those spots went to William Byron, who earned his first career Cup Series win in the process. The other belongs to Matt DiBenedetto, a first-timer in the postseason.
But DiBenedetto isn’t alone in that category: Cole Custer earned a spot through a win at Kentucky Speedway and is also the only rookie in the postseason. As such, Custer is guaranteed Rookie of the Year honors.
Harvick won the regular-season championship and goes into the postseason with a record of 57 bonus points. Hamlin earned an additional 10 bonus points for finishing second in the standings to move his total to 47.
Five drivers go into the playoffs without wins: Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Matt DiBenedetto.
Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske, and Hendrick Motorsports have three cars in the playoffs. Stewart-Haas Racing qualified all four of theirs.
The Round of 16 kicks off Sept. 6 at Darlington Raceway.
https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1299900234554892291
Here is the reseeded playoff grid:
1. Kevin Harvick: 2,057 points
2. Denny Hamlin: 2,047 points
3. Brad Keselowski: 2,029 points
4. Joey Logano: 2,022 points
5. Chase Elliott: 2,020 points
6. Martin Truex Jr.: 2,014 points
7. Ryan Blaney: 2,013 points
8. Alex Bowman: 2,009 points
9. William Byron: 2,007 points
10. Austin Dillon: 2,005 points
11. Cole Custer: 2,005 points
12. Aric Almirola: 2,005 points
13. Clint Bowyer: 2,004 points
14. Kyle Busch: 2,003 points
15. Kurt Busch: 2,001 points
16. Matt DiBenedetto: 2,000 points
https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1299913679723520000
Kelly Crandall
Kelly has been on the NASCAR beat full-time since 2013, and joined RACER as chief NASCAR writer in 2017. Her work has also appeared in NASCAR.com, the NASCAR Illustrated magazine, and NBC Sports. A corporate communications graduate from Central Penn College, Crandall is a two-time George Cunningham Writer of the Year recipient from the National Motorsports Press Association.
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