(nbcsports) Plenty of attention will be paid to the likes of Matt DiBenedetto and Ryan Blaney during Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series elimination race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
But it’s good to remember that they, along with Cole Custer and William Byron who are below the cutline, are not the only drivers whose playoff hopes are in danger at the half-mile track.
Above the cutoff on the playoff grid are three drivers who will try to stay there over the course of the 500-lap race.
Clint Bowyer is three points ahead of Byron, the first driver outside the final transfer spot, Kurt Busch and Aric Almirola are each seven points ahead of Byron.
For Clint Bowyer’s No. 14 team, crew chief Johnny Klausmeier said they’ll be on offense all night.
Brad Keselowski has the pole for the race. Bowyer will start from the 11th spot.
The top 12 drivers in the play-off standings after the race advance to the 2nd round of the play-offs.
