DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Rain and lightning proved to be a very good omen for Alex Bowman, the motive force on the bubble for the ultimate NASCAR Cup Collection playoff berth.
With the qualifying session for Saturday evening’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 canceled due to inclement climate, Bowman will begin on the skin of the entrance row subsequent to Ryan Blaney within the race that may decide the ultimate two positions within the postseason.
When time trials are canceled, grid positions are decided by NASCAR’s metric components, comprised of proprietor factors place, ending place from the earlier race and quickest lap rank from the earlier race.
Bowman is 60 factors above the present elimination line getting into the final regular-season race. If one of many 15 drivers above him within the playoff standings occurs to win on Saturday, Bowman will clinch a berth on factors.
The hazard lies in the potential of a driver beneath the lower line successful the pivotal race. If that occurs, both Bowman or Tyler Reddick might be eradicated. Reddick, who begins twenty seventh, enters the Coke Zero Sugar 400 with a 29-point edge over Bowman.
The motive force of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet views the second beginning spot as extraordinarily useful.
“An excellent pit stall choice is sweet,” Bowman mentioned, highlighting an necessary perk of a prime beginning place. “Speedway racing has turn into solely harder to go at, I really feel like. So beginning up entrance is certainly a very good factor.”
It additionally provides Bowman choices in making an attempt to overhaul Reddick on factors.
“I feel with the factors cope with the 45 (Reddick), we have to get stage factors,” Bowman mentioned. “Stage 1 will decide how we race Stage 2 and sort of go from there. I have to do all we will to catch and beat the 45 on factors. It is a actually tall order, however it’s doable.
“If it would not seem like we will do this, then I will swap to only observe place on the finish and go attempt to win the race. We will do every little thing we will to win the race regardless, but when we have to burn some gas to attempt to win levels, I feel we’re undoubtedly factors, too.”
Roush Fenway Keselowski drivers Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece, closest to Bowman within the standings, will begin twenty fourth and thirty first, respectively. Buescher, Preece and people beneath them within the standings have just one path to the playoffs — they need to win the race.
Daytona 500 winner William Byron, who clinched the regular-season championship final Saturday at Richmond Raceway, begins eighth in his try and turn into the sixth driver to comb each factors races on the 2.5-mile superspeedway in the identical season.
A victory by the motive force of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet would guarantee Bowman, his teammate, of a Playoff berth.
Behind Blaney and Bowman, the remainder of the highest 10 consists of (so as) Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, Denny Hamlin, Austin Dillon, Byron, Chase Briscoe and Brad Keselowski.
–By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service. Particular to Discipline Stage Media
