NASCAR
Who’s in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Regular Season Halfway Point?
Heading into NASCAR’s longest night at Charlotte, the regular season is halfway over. 13 weeks into the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series, nine drivers have won their way into the Playoffs. This leaves seven spots up for grabs, as we head into the summer stretch. Who currently occupy these last Playoff spots, and who is just outside looking in? Here is a look at the seasons so far of those around the Playoff cut line.
Ross Chastain (+159)
The current points leader, Ross Chastain’s 2023 season has been nothing short of memorable. Despite six top-10s and a 12.9 average finish, the Trackhouse 1 has been more remembered for on-track dustups with competitors.
Three of these controversies have come in the last three points races. At Dover, Chastain turned Brennan Poole into Kyle Larson. At Kansas, Chastain punched Noah Gragson in a post-race fight. Lastly at Darlington, the 1 tried clearing himself off of Kyle Larson on a late restart, wrecking them both.
Chastain’s performance and aggression have both paid off in the short-term, with a 27-point lead in the standings. As the top dog he is currently not at risk of missing the 16-man cut in September. However, he can only truly secure his fate with a win. Should Chastain be more selectively aggressive and not draw other driver’s ire, he could mount another deep Playoff run in 2023.
Kevin Harvick (+130)
Retiring star Kevin Harvick has had a quietly great 2023 to date. Third in overall points with six top-10s are records most drivers would be pleased with.
The 4 has had a few winning chances so far narrowly escape their grasp. Phoenix and Martinsville both proved that Harvick is a true contender still on short tracks. A late caution and a loose tire kept Harvick from victory lane those days.
Just two weeks ago in Darlington, Harvick also mustered a season-best runner-up result with late damage. More than two races clear of the cut line, Harvick’s Playoff future seems almost certain. Only one question remains around team 4. Can they have a full race fall in their favor?
Ryan Blaney (+111)
Seventh in points with seven top-10s, Ryan Blaney is the last driver over 100 points above the cut line. With such a massive buffer, his postseason positioning seems fine for now.
What must change for this Penske team though is their winless streak. Now nearing 60 races since their last checkered flag, Blaney and his team seemingly have trouble executing to their potential. Pit road has been an especially regular pitfall for the 12 crew.
Even with these issues, Blaney has been second twice this year, at Phoenix and Talladega. The 12 is consistently one of the fastest Ford Mustangs on a weekly basis. Expect him to have multiple winning chances over the next few months.
Brad Keselowski (+95)
Perhaps the most improved driver year-over-year on this list is Brad Keselowski. In 2022 a massive penalty cut off any momentum or confidence within the 6 team for the regular season. Fast-forwarding a year, the 2012 champion boasts six top-10s, putting him eighth in points.
Keselowski was one misjudged block away from winning in Atlanta. When the Cup Series returns to the drafting track in July, expect BK to come out guns blazing. Aside from superspeedways, do not be surprised to see the crafty veteran potentially sneak a win elsewhere.
Chris Buescher (+59)
Right behind his team owner on the proverbial Playoff grid, Chris Buescher has also seen improvement this year. Five top-10s have the 17 at 13th in standings, but the best may be yet to come for this crew. A year ago Buescher’s standout regular season runs were on road courses. The 17 saw five-straight road course top-10s, extending that streak to six at COTA this year. The next 13 races include four left and right circuits, offering Buescher time to shine.
As should be expected, the RFK 17’s best results so far have been on superspeedways. Buescher was also top-10 in the most recent points race at Darlington though. To put it simply, do not be shocked to see the 17 win at least once this year. Many things are trending upward for all of RFK Racing.
Bubba Wallace (+23)
One driver and team moving positively in recent weeks is the 23 of Bubba Wallace. If you count his All-Star Race runner-up, Wallace has three-straight top-fives. With a season stat line of four top-10s and a 15.5 average finish, the 23 is +23 above the cut line at 15th on the grid.
While it was admittedly a unique track and a non-points event, Wallace believes the All-Star Race was a sign of good things ahead. Wallace said that data learned at North Wilkesboro could transfer over to Richmond or Darlington.
23XI Racing has historically been slow to start out seasons, only to heat up towards the summer months. Last year, pit crew shortcomings derailed several promising days for Wallace. It took until July for Wallace to develop any true consistent presence up front. If this newly found speed and execution can remain constant, then Wallace may be facing down his first-ever Playoff appearance.
Chase Briscoe (+5)
This time a year ago Chase Briscoe was an early winner; Briscoe’s Playoff standing is much less secure now though. The last man currently above the cut line, the 14 has no room for any error. That being said, Briscoe has been mired in the pack more than up front this season. The 14 only has four top-10s, including three-straight in April.
Stewart-Haas Racing has not performed up to their standards as a four-car mega team so far in 2023. Briscoe is narrowly within the Playoffs at this time, by a margin of only five points. The 14 must points race and also chase any winning chance over the next few months to secure their postseason fate.
Alex Bowman (-5)
Once the points leader a few weeks ago, Alex Bowman has fallen to 17th in the standings. After fracturing a vertebra April 25, Bowman has spent the past four weeks recovering on the sidelines. Driver 48 will return to the Ally Racing Chevrolet this weekend.
In a Hendrick car, Bowman should be able to regain his points deficit with relative ease. It will be very interesting to see how Bowman performs across these first few weeks back. Can he perhaps sneak in a win or two before the regular season ends? We shall see, with Bowman now granted a Playoff eligibility waiver.
Daniel Suarez (-13)
Gunning for his second-ever Playoff appearance, Daniel Suarez ranks 18th after the opening 13 races. After opening 2023 with three-straight top-10s, it has been tougher sledding for the 99 ever since. The last 10 races have only yielded one top-10 for Suarez. In addition, two of the last three races have seen Suarez crash out.
Last week’s All-Star Race was arguably Suarez’s best showing of the year though. Starting on pole, the 99 would fade to finish seventh.
Suarez must stop the points hemorrhaging team 99 has seen through lackluster results. Much like other drivers on this list, Suarez is eagerly anticipating the multiple road courses coming up throughout the summer.
Ty Gibbs (-15)
Top rookie Ty Gibbs has been quietly impressing early this season. The 54 had a run of four-straight top-10s in March and April across multiple track types. The reigning Xfinity Series champion is within eyesight of the top-16. Gibbs is currently 19th in points just 15 markers shy of the cut.
Expect the 20-year-old rookie to only improve throughout his maiden Cup Series campaign. It is not out of the question to see the 54 take a step forward in consistency. The rookie may perhaps battle for wins before the regular season concludes.
Austin Cindric (-27)
Currently 20th in points is 2022 Rookie of the Year Austin Cindric. Still winless since last year’s Daytona 500, the Penske deuce has a best 2023 result of sixth, both at Las Vegas and COTA. These two races are unfortunately Cindric’s only top-10s of the season so far.
It took until summer last year for Cindric to develop any true week-to-week consistency. The 2 crew will aim to repeat this effort, needing to make up a 27-point deficit if not win. The 2 should be in the conversation across the remaining road courses.
Last year’s race to the Playoffs was a memorable battle week in and week out. After race 26, it was 15 winners making the cut, leaving only one spot on points. With nine winners already in 2023, it will be interesting to track the cut line battle and see how many spots get clinched. Plenty of wildcard races remain in the coming months, this Playoff field is anything but determined now in May.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Sean Gardner/Getty Images for NASCAR
