After years of speculation over whether it might happen, NASCAR is finally in a position where its postseason could consist entirely of race winners.
Whether it’s a good thing or not is a question that depends on your idea of what NASCAR racing should be.
The arrival of the Next Gen car has been something of a shot in the arm for the NASCAR Cup Series, fostering a regular season that’s been unpredictable both in terms of winners and overall race quality. Tracks that have historically delivered snoozers have excelled.
Meanwhile short tracks and road courses, fan favorites in the Gen 6 era, have struggled to provide compelling events.
Along the way there have been a whole host of winners, including some genuine breakthrough stories for drivers like Daniel Suarez, Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick.
Kurt Busch triumphed in a Jordan-branded car at Kansas Speedway. Chase Briscoe scored his first win at Phoenix Raceway. Rookie Austin Cindric won the Daytona 500. Christopher Bell triumphed at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Kevin Harvick ended a lengthy winless streak at Michigan International Speedway.
There have been familiar faces in victory lane, too. All four of Hendrick Motorsports’ drivers won in the first 11 races. Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch knocked out wins in the spring. Joey Logano entered the winners bracket at Darlington Raceway.
The mix of new stars and familiar faces have accounted for 15 different winners in the opening 23 races of the 2022 season. That level of parity is something NASCAR dreamed of when it launched the new car, making the Next Gen era intriguing to follow.
But with the playoffs drawing near it also has some genuine title contenders feeling nervous.
Ryan Blaney’s had a tremendous 2022 season. He sits second in the standings and has eight top fives on the year, trailing only Chastain (10) and Kyle Larson (9).
But the No. 12 team has yet to get to victory lane this year. With 15 winners and only 16 playoff spots available, that means Blaney finds himself on the playoff cutline with three races remaining before the postseason.
The North Carolinian has a 19-point edge on Martin Truex Jr., who now finds himself out of title contention provisionally despite sitting fourth in the regular season standings. Erik Jones sits a strong 14th in points, but is essentially a non-factor for the playoffs without a win.
Meanwhile Briscoe and Cindric, whose seven-combined top fives are…
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