Kurt Busch has now made it eight drivers who are locked into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
A hard-fought battle in Kentucky between Kurt and younger brother Kyle ended with the Chip Ganassi Racing in victory lane for the first time this season. Kurt Busch was already sitting comfortably on the playoff grid, but no longer needs to worry about the rest of the regular season. The overall victory plus his Stage 1 win puts Kurt Busch sixth on the grid with six playoff points.
At the bottom of the grid the advantage some drivers have on the cutline has closed. Clint Bowyer and Jimmie Johnson are tied for 14th, while Erik Jones now holds onto the final playoff spot. He leapfrogged both Daniel Suarez and Ryan Newman for the position.
Here is the playoff grid as it currently stands with seven races to go, with a reminder the grid will be reseeded at the end of the regular season when additional points are awarded to the top 10. Joey Logano is the overall championship point leader.
Kyle Busch: 4 race wins, 26 playoff points
Martin Truex Jr.: 4 race wins, 22 playoff points
Brad Keselowski: 3 race wins, 19 playoff points
Joey Logano: 2 race wins, 17 playoff points
Denny Hamlin: 2 race wins, 13 playoff points
Kurt Busch: 1 race win, 6 playoff points
Chase Elliott: 1 race win, 7 playoff points
Alex Bowman: 1 race win, 5 playoff points
Kevin Harvick: +174 on cutoff, 4 playoff points
Aric Almirola: +71 on cutoff, 0 playoff points
Ryan Blaney: + 64 on cutoff, 2 playoff points
William Byron: +46 on cutoff, 1 playoff point
Kyle Larson: +40 on cutoff, 3 playoff points
Clint Bowyer: +10 on cutoff, 0 playoff points
Jimmie Johnson: +10 on cutoff, 0 playoff points
Erik Jones: +2 on cutoff, 0 playoff points
Below the cutoff line is Ryan Newman (-2), Daniel Suarez (-4), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (-46), Paul Menard (-54).
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