Heading into NASCAR’s penultimate race of the regular season at Daytona, Harrison Burton found himself in 34th place in points among his full-time Cup competitors, the lowest position. In a fierce battle with veteran Kyle Busch, Burton managed to edge ahead as they crossed the finish line with the checkered flag waving, securing his place in the history books. This victory not only earned Burton a permanent spot in the 2024 NASCAR Cup playoffs but also shook up the fight for the remaining guaranteed spots at the regular season finale in Darlington on Sunday.
Not long ago, Burton’s win would not have qualified him for the playoffs due to NASCAR’s previous top-30 rule, which remained in place until after the 2022 season. However, the rules have since changed, allowing victories like Burton’s to count towards playoff eligibility.
Harrison Burton, Wood Brothers Racing, DEX Imaging Ford Mustang
Photo by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Images
With 13 playoff spots already secured, Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs have comfortable points margins. Chris Buescher currently holds the 16th and final spot, enjoying a 21-point lead over Bubba Wallace. Buescher only needs an average performance at Darlington to secure his playoff spot, provided there is no new winner.
Burton’s victory has significantly impacted the points battle around the playoff cutoff line. If a driver like Christopher Bell had won at Daytona, the battle for points would be much closer. Wallace would be in the 16th spot, just six points ahead of Ross Chastain. Now, both drivers are faced with the challenge of likely needing a win at the Southern 500 to make the playoffs.
Bubba Wallace deems playoff predicament “unacceptable”
After the Daytona race, Wallace expressed his disappointment, labeling his teammate Tyler Reddick’s fight for the regular-season championship while he languished on the bubble as “unacceptable.” Wallace, from the 23XI Racing team, acknowledged his own failure to secure wins throughout the season, putting more pressure on himself to perform well at Darlington in the upcoming race.
Chastain seems to be the most likely driver below the cutoff line to contend for a victory at Darlington, given his past performances at the track. Despite an average showing earlier this year, Chastain has been a strong contender in previous years with notable finishes and competitive racing.
Here is a breakdown of how the playoff bubble shifted following Burton’s victory:
Driver
Current Points Margin
Points Without New Winner at Daytona
Martin Truex Jr.
14th: +58 points
13th: LOCKED IN
Ty Gibbs
15th: +39 points
14th: +45 points
Chris Buescher
16th: +21 points
15th: +27 points
Bubba Wallace
17th: -21 points
16th: +6 points
Ross Chastain
18th: -27 points
17th: -6 points
