Three more NASCAR Cup Series drivers lock into playoffs at Indianapolis

Three drivers locked into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs following Sunday’s Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

Aric Almirola, Denny Hamlin and Michael McDowell locked in after A.J. Allmendinger, who is ineligible for the playoffs, won Sunday.

Almirola won at New Hampshire and McDowell won the Daytona 500, which locked each of them into the playoffs.

Hamlin locked into the playoffs on points. He is 198 points ahead of Kevin Harvick, who is the next highest winless driver in the points.

Harvick, who currently holds the 15th playoff spot, is 95 points ahead of Austin Dillon.

Harvick can lock into the playoffs at Michigan if there is a repeat or non-playoff-eligible winner.

Tyler Reddick, who holds the 16th and final playoff spot, is 28 points ahead of Dillon.

Reddick must win a race or not have a repeat winner in the next two races, in order to lock into the playoffs.

The next race for the NASCAR Cup Series is the August 22 FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway (3 p.m. ET; TV: NBCSN, Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

In 2020, the track hosted an August 8-9 doubleheader weekend. Kevin Harvick is the defending NASCAR Cup Series winner at the track.

SOURCES:
NASCAR
Racing-Reference.Info