Bubble Ready to Pop for Drivers Eyeing NASCAR Playoffs

Tyler Reddick knows what he has to do on Saturday at the Coke Zero Sugar 400 if he is going to make the NASCAR playoffs. He has to win at Daytona International Speedway.

Reddick is one of three drivers on the outside looking in at the NASCAR playoffs. He is currently in 19th place, with the top 16 getting in to the postseason.

“Well, it’s very straight forward,” Reddick said. “There’s not a lot of distraction. I’ve got one goal and that’s to win the race. So there’s not a lot of cloudiness to it.”

NASCAR Playoff Standings

Pos.	Driver	Points
1.	Kevin Harvick	1,041
2.	Denny Hamlin	907
3.	Brad Keselowski	881
4.	Joey Logano	836
5.	Chase Elliott	809
6.	Martin Truex Jr.	845
7.	Ryan Blaney	818
8.	Alex Bowman	662
9.	Austin Dillon	561
10.	Cole Custer	469
11.	Aric Almirola	740
12.	Kyle Busch	719
13.	Kurt Busch	700
14.	Clint Bowyer	685
15.	Matt DiBenedetto	637
16.	William Byron	632
17.	Jimmie Johnson	628
18.	Erik Jones	582
19.	Tyler Reddick	563

 

Reddick has 563 points, while William Byron, who currently is at 16, has 632. Unlike Jimmie Johnson, who is just four points behind Byron, a strong finish won’t get Reddick in to the NASCAR playoffs. He needs to win. Reddick is a 40/1 pick at BetMGM to win the Coke Zero Sugar 400, but can’t put any extra pressure on himself.

“I think for me, it’s just to go out and treat this like a normal race,” Reddick said. “Obviously, we all know what’s at stake. We have to win this race in order to make the playoffs.”

Bryon Trying to Help Johnson Make NASCAR Playoffs

With Byron in the final spot, he needs a strong race to secure a spot, but would also like to get his teammate Jimmie Johnson in the NASCAR playoffs. To do that, Johnson needs a good race, and some help, hopefully from Byron.

“We’re going to race and try to push each other towards the front and try to get both of us into the playoffs,” Byron said. “I think we have a chance and an opportunity to get both Hendrick cars in.”

This is Johnson’s final full-time season in NASCAR, and would like to make the playoffs one last time.

“For me, I feel like I’m racing more for my team,” said Johnson, who has seven Cup Series Championships. “On top of that and an extension of that woud be for the fans. I know where I am in my heart and I know that I’m still very, very competitive and can get the job done.”

DiBenedetto Marked Man

Matt DiBenedetto is in 15th place, but with only nine points separating him and Johnson, he could easily be knocked out with a poor performance. Bryon has already said he wants to bump DiBenedetto out of the NASCAR Playoffs, and get his teammate Johnson to replace him after Saturday’s race.

DiBenedetto knows that the two will be gunning for him at Daytona.

“I don’t know if it’s excited or anxious or what the emotion is,” DiBenedetto said. “It’s definitely different going to Daytona with so much on the line than if we were going to a regular short track or whatever you want to call it.”