With just three races remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, the battle for the final playoff spots is heating up — and the intensity is as high as it’s been all year.

So far, 23 of the 26 regular season races have been decided, and NASCAR now heads to Watkins Glen, Richmond, and Daytona for the final playoff push.

So, as the series heads into its final stretch before the playoffs, who has the best chance to race — or win — their way into the field of 16? Let’s break down the contenders on the bubble and the dark horses ready to shake things up.

Here’s a look at how things currently stand:

Thirteen drivers have already locked themselves into the postseason with at least one win this year.

The three spots remaining are occupied by Tyler Reddick (45), Alex Bowman (48), and Chris Buescher (17).

Throughout this article, I will touch on which drivers I think can jump the cutline based on points and which drivers need to win to get in.

TYLER REDDICK

We’ll start with the 23XI Toyota driver Tyler Reddick. Currently 122 points above the cutline, it would take something catastrophic for the No. 45 team to miss the playoffs.

Reddick is likely the only driver who can feel comfortable on points — as long as he avoids wrecks or disastrous finishes.

For Reddick to be eliminated, there would have to be three new winners in these final three races.

While that’s not entirely impossible, I think Reddick could feel comfortable for the time being.

ALEX BOWMAN

With a 63 point lead, you would think a guy like Alex Bowman could also feel comfortable. However, that’s not the case.

Of the final three races, two are considered wildcards.

So, what does Bowman need to do the next few weeks? Be consistent.

If Bowman can’t outrace Reddick, and we see at least two new winners, that would bump him out of the playoffs.

Last year we saw Harrison Burton jump from 30th in the points standings to the top 16 after winning at Daytona. Furthermore, we saw Chase Briscoe win his way into the playoffs in the final race of the 2024 regular season at Darlington.

We haven’t seen the consistency out of the 48 camp as much as we normally do. However, if they can string together a solid few races, pick up lots of points in stages and finish well, then I could see Bowman in the field of 16, but it’s going to be tight.

CHRIS BUESCHER AND RYAN PREECE

RFK Racing teammates Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece are separated by just 23 points for the final playoff spot.

I just mentioned Chris Buescher winning last year’s Watkins Glen race, and he is one of my top picks to do it again this weekend.

Not only did he win, he beat the Cup Series’ best road course racer, Shane Van Gisbergen.

A talented driver with a lot on the line, he will have a lot to race for this weekend.

As for Ryan Preece, he had a shot at it this weekend in Iowa, but came up short.

A successful Wheelen Modified Tour racer is strong on the short tracks, and we have Richmond sandwiched between Watkins Glen and Daytona. Could he pull off the upset and race his way in there?

Preece has never won in the Cup Series and to go along with it, he hasn’t had the best luck at Daytona. So it feels like for the driver of the #60, it’s now or never these next couple weeks.

KYLE BUSCH AND AUSTIN DILLON

Will he ever get that final win? Many fans are hopeful.

Kyle Busch led a lot of laps at the first road course race this season, and came up a few yards short last year at Daytona.

If Busch can bring that “Rowdy” side of him back, there could be a lot of fans happy in the next few races.

It’s no secret that Richard Childress Racing has not been strong this year, in both of their cars.

This will be a huge test for both owner and driver coming up. If they can deliver speed, their drivers can win races.

Austin Dillon’s win at Richmond last year came in controversial fashion Ultimately he was penalized for intentionally wrecking Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano on the final lap. He was able to keep the win, but was not given a playoff spot.

2023 was the last time Austin Dillon made the playoffs, and that was in thanks to a Daytona win in the final race of the regular season.

The narrative for RCR: bring speed, let the drivers do the rest.

TY GIBBS

Ty Gibbs had a rough start to the year, but has since found speed.

The only Joe Gibbs Racing driver without a win this season, Gibbs is looking to win his way in as he faces an 87 point deficit.

I think it could come this weekend. Gibbs is a solid road course racer and if he can dethrone SVG and Buescher, look out for that 54 team to sneak into the playoffs.

THE WILDCARDS

I have two more wildcard racers who could steal a win the next three races.

The first one is AJ Allmendinger. All of his Cup Series wins come on road courses.

In 2014, Allmendinger won at Watkins Glen and has shown speed every year there as well. Can he do it again this weekend? I think he can.

The final wildcard I have is Brad Keselowski. Another driver who had an abysmal start to the season, but has since shown promise.

Keselowski is in a deep hole, and there aren’t enough races remaining to point himself into the playoffs. However, after coming oh-so-close at Atlanta and not being able to finish the job at Iowa, Keselowski looks to get another win at two of three tracks he’s won at before.

The NASCAR Cup Series push for the playoffs continues this weekend at Watkins Glen, Sunday at 2:00 PM ET on USA.

Thanks for reading, make sure to check out our YouTube Channel and join the conversation. Our Discord is the perfect place to talk all things sports!