The NASCAR Cup Series silly season has been a rollercoaster of emotions. And the second race in the round of 8, held in Miami, was no different. The Homestead-Miami Speedway witnessed an intense battle among the top drivers, followed by a dramatic finish. With just one race remaining before the season finale at Phoenix, let’s take a closer look at how the playoff picture for the drivers, owners, and manufacturers has evolved.

Christopher Bell claimed a shocking victory in Miami, securing his place in the Championship 4 for the second consecutive year. Bell’s triumph came after an electrifying final stage where he faced off against Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, and William Byron.

How do the drivers stack up in the NASCAR playoff standings after Bell secured his place in the finale?

The race had its fair share of twists, especially during the final stage. Last week’s winner, Kyle Larson, was the favorite to win in Miami. And he had been in control early in the race. But saw his day end abruptly with a crash entering the Pit Road. Larson had already secured a spot in the Championship 4 before the race. But this incident was a stark reminder that there is no such thing as a sure victory in NASCAR. Let’s take a closer look at the standings, starting with the #5 car.

Kyle Larson: Larson’s strong performance at Homestead took an unexpected turn when his car collided with the pit road entrance barriers. However, his position in the race didn’t matter to his playoff positioning. He had already clinched a spot in the Championship 4 with a previous week’s win.

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Ryan Blaney: Despite a tumultuous 24 hours following a disqualification in Las Vegas, Ryan Blaney made a strong comeback at Homestead, finishing second and securing the third position in the playoff standings.

Martin Truex Jr: The regular season champion struggled early in the playoffs but managed to stay above the elimination line. Unfortunately, his race at Homestead ended prematurely due to an engine issue, causing him to slip to the 6th position in the playoff standings.

William Byron: Being a consistent front-runner throughout the playoffs, Byron maintained his impressive form at Homestead by finishing the race in fourth place. However, he slipped to third in the playoff standings.

Denny Hamlin: Hamlin’s hopes for a championship win were dashed when his car made hard contact with the wall during the final stage, leading to an early exit from the race. He now sits in the 7th spot in the playoff standings.

Tyler Reddick: The two-time Xfinity Series champion continued to perform well in the Round of 8 by finishing third at Homestead. He has now moved up into the 5th spot in the playoffs, and is currently 10 points below the cutline.

Christopher Bell: With an impressive record of six pole positions this year, Christopher Bell secured his victory at Homestead after a challenging middle section of the race. His triumph marks his second win of the season. And he has now secured a place in the Championship Four alongside Kyle Larson.

Chris Buescher: Buescher, who had a strong end to the regular season with 3 wins, had a difficult race day at Homestead, finishing 28th in Stage 1 and failing to collect any stage points. He currently sits in the last spot with 63 points below the cut line.

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The Championship Four is taking shape, and the drama is reaching its peak as the series heads to Martinsville Speedway. But Miami also had a major impact on the owner’s standings as well.

How do the owner’s stack up after 3 of the top 8 drivers failed to finish the race?

While the drivers are battling for individual glory, the owners are also in the hunt for their championship. The Homestead race brought significant changes to the owners’ championship standings.

• Team No. 5 for Rick Hendrick, driven by Kyle Larson, moves from 1st spot to the 4th spot in the owner’s standings after Larson failed to finish the race in Miami.
• Team No. 12 for Roger Penske, driven by Ryan Blaney, made a strong comeback at Homestead, securing the 3rd spot in the owner’s standings, having been in 6th previously.
• Team No. 19 for Joe Gibbs, driven by Martin Truex Jr., was not even competing in the owner’s championship after being eliminated by the hands of Chase Elliott.
• Team No. 24 for Rick Hendrick, driven by William Byron, now leads the owner’s standings. Thanks to Byron’s strong finish and Larson’s disappointment in Miami.
• Team No. 11 for Joe Gibbs, driven by Denny Hamlin, drops down to the 6th spot in the owner’s standings after Hamlin’s race ended prematurely. The #11 team was previously in the 3rd spot.
• Team No. 45 for Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, driven by Tyler Reddick, remains in the 5th spot after a decent performance in Miami.
• Team No. 20 for Joe Gibbs, driven by Christopher Bell, moves up to the 2nd spot in the owner’s standings after Bell’s victory secured a place in the season finale.
• Team No. 17 for Brad Keselowski, driven by Chris Buescher, remains in the 7th spot in the owner’s standings after another disappointing outing.
• Team No. 9 for Rick Hendrick, driven by Chase Elliott, stays in the 8th spot after an average day in Miami with a P15 finish.

The manufacturers’ championship adds another layer of intrigue to the NASCAR season. As we approach the season’s penultimate race at Martinsville, it’s worth noting how the manufacturers have fared.

• Chevrolet maintains its lead in the manufacturer standings with 1257 points and an impressive 17 wins.
• Toyota sits in 2nd place with 1183 points and 10 wins under its belt.
• Ford brings up the rear in the standings with 1164 points and 7 wins to its name.

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The stage is set for a thrilling showdown at Martinsville, as drivers, owners, and manufacturers vie for supremacy. With the Championship 4 in sight and the finish line at Phoenix looming, the excitement is palpable.