Ross Chastain among NASCAR drivers handed playoff boost

Trackhouse Racing star Ross Chastain is among several NASCAR Cup Series drivers handed a major playoff boost this past weekend.

Chastain's teammate Shane van Gisbergen showed his road course excellence once again at Watkins Glen, taking his fourth victory of the season to add to his ever-growing playoff points tally.

However, his win also had huge consequences for several of his competitors. It is now impossible for there to be 16 different race winners this season and a regular season champion that has not won a race.

This means that all drivers who have one win so far this season - Chastain, Josh Berry, Austin Cindric, Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace, Chase Briscoe, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott - are now officially locked into the playoffs.

Although it has never happened since the playoff format was introduced, if there were more than 16 race winners this season, NASCAR would begin to take points into account, which could have seen one of the above names miss out, with those lowest in the standings the most vulnerable for obvious reasons.

However, all can now breathe a sigh of relief and start to plan ahead for playoff action, which kicks off at Darlington Raceway on August 31.

NASCAR HEADLINES: Kyle Larson addresses Hendrick Motorsports beef as Cup Series driver open to huge switch

Cup Series playoff standings after Watkins Glen

Here is the full playoff picture heading into the final two races of the regular season:

READ MORE: NASCAR Cup Series star issues retirement verdict after huge official announcement

Related

NASCAR 2025

NASCAR team confirms mid-season driver release

• 2 hours ago

NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR star slams Cup Series rivals for loser mentality

• 3 hours ago