Brad Keselowski, the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion, has seen his playoff hopes evaporate after three straight races ended without a finish, known in racing terms as DNFs. The slump dropped him four points below the playoff cutoff, pushing the veteran out of the 16‑driver postseason field.
Playoff Race Tightens Ahead of San Diego Showdown
His place in the provisional playoff bracket was taken by Erik Jones, who secured the spot with a sixth‑place finish at Pocono Raceway. Jones now shares the 15th position in the point standings with Austin Cindric, but the tiebreaker favors Jones because of his higher season‑best finish.
The points battle remains tight behind them. Joey Logano sits 17 points behind Keselowski and 21 points adrift of the cutoff, while Ryan Preece is 12 points behind Logano and eight points under the line, even after accounting for a 25‑point penalty that was applied to his tally.
The next NASCAR Cup Series event, the Anduril 250, is scheduled for June 21 at the Qualcomm Circuit in San Diego, California. The race will be the first chance for drivers on the bubble to move up or fall further, with the playoff picture set to crystallize in the weeks that follow.
Teams such as RFK Racing, Legacy Motor Club, Team Penske and Joe Gibbs Racing continue to shape the competitive landscape, each fielding drivers who are either fighting to stay alive or to solidify their positions as the season progresses.