NASCAR Cup Series standings: Chris Buescher goes back-to-back

On a Monday in Michigan, Chris Buescher was able to hold off the points leader in the NASCAR standings for back-to-back wins. He pulled a reverse Kevin Harvick from 2022. With Richmond and Michigan flip-flopped from last year to this year, the two-race sweep at those tracks was once again completed by a Ford.

However, there is a lot more to it than just another Buescher win. The NASCAR standings had a number of drivers make big moves to increase their chances of making the playoffs. There is also the battle for the regular season that has become a little one-sided at this point.

After finishing P2 at Michigan, Martin Truex Jr. leads the standings with 799 points. Denny Hamlin follows at 742, while the DNF for Byron keeps him at 703 points. Christopher Bell leads Kevin Harvick 677 to 663 to round out the top-5.

NASCAR Cup Series standings after Michigan. Truex Jr. increases his points lead and Bubba Wallace moves 58 points above the cutline. pic.twitter.com/BJBG1p8l8y

— Jonathan Howard (@Jondean25) August 7, 2023

Kyle Busch was an early DNF and has fallen all the way to ninth overall in the NASCAR standings. Here is an interesting note, while Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is locked into the playoffs, Bubba Wallace has passed him in the points standings for 14th overall.

Michigan was delayed after just 74 laps on Sunday. While Monday races aren’t always the most fun, this one gave us quite a show. There were 16 different leaders, the most all-time, with 26 lead changes to go with it.

NASCAR standings: On the playoff bubble

The big winner this weekend had to be Bubba Wallace. The longer he can hold onto his points lead on the cutline, or improve it, he should be fine. Three weeks remain in the regular season and Wallace can’t afford a DNF or another mistake in any of those races.

Meanwhile, it is interesting to see Ty Gibbs make this push to the playoff bubble. The rookie officially passed Michael McDowell by just three points. He’s pushed ahead of Daniel Suárez, AJ Allmendinger, and others in recent weeks.

As for Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott, the Hendrick drivers both had DNF finishes, just like Byron. Bowman is in 20th place and 44 points under the cutline. Meanwhile, Elliott sits in 22nd place and 55 points below the cutline. Those two drivers are in must-win situations as the NASCAR standings show they will not have a real path to point their way in.

Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace didn’t get the finishes they were looking for. Reddick finished really far back after another pit road issue. But right now, 23XI is looking at a two-car playoff situation. What surprises wait for us to end the regular season?