How Bubba Wallace’s Brickyard 400 win changes the playoff battle

Entering the Cup race at Indianapolis, Bubba Wallace was on the hot seat, holding the 16th and final spot inside the playoffs. He had just 16 points over the cut-line and the pressure was on, but he stepped up to the challenge in a big way. Wallace proceeded to take a wrecking ball to the playoff points battle, earning a surprise win in the Brickyard 400.

In doing so, Wallace became the 13th different driver to lock themselves into the playoffs. Tyler Reddick, Alex Bowman, and Chris Buescher are now the only drivers currently in the playoffs on points alone, but that could still change.

RFK vs. RFK

So, what did that victory do to the playoff bubble? It’s now a fight between RFK Racing teammates, but it’s not a particularly close battle. Buescher holds the final spot, and he currently sits 42 points clear of teammate Ryan Preece with four races left in the regular season. 

Both Buescher and Preece have lost valuable points due to penalties this year, as well. Preece was disqualified after a second-place finish at Talladega, while Buescher lost 60 points when NASCAR found a front bumper cover violation on the No. 17 Ford earlier this year.

The only other drivers currently in the playoffs on points alone are Reddick at +138pts and Bowman at +63pts. While Reddick can feel fairly secure, Bowman is uncomfortable close to the bubble. There’s just 11 points between himself and Buescher, and should a new driver below the cut-line win one of the upcoming races, Bowman will be in real danger of missing the playoffs.

It’s win or nothing for most now

Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

Photo by: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images

Below Preece, there’s really no one who is really close enough to realistically gain that many points over the next month. Kyle Busch is the closest driver to Preece, but he is over 80 points below the cut-line. Busch, and everyone below him, should be focused on one thing over the next four races – winning.

There are several notable names in this uncomfortable situation, including Ty Gibbs, A.J. Allmendinger, Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Cole Custer, the Dillon brothers, both Legacy Motor Club cars, all three drivers from Spire Motorsports and Front Row Motorsports, 23XI’s Riley Herbst, and Cody Ware in last place.