With the 26-race Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regular season nearing the halfway point, there are basically three groups of drivers now.
There are eight drivers who’ve won races already and know they are all but locked into NASCAR’s season-ending, 10-race playoff round.
These eight all know they will race for the championship along with eight more drivers who will earn playoff berths over the next 15 races.
Then there is a vast middle class of maybe 12-15 drivers who know that they have good enough equipment that if things fall their way, they can win a race and make the playoffs.