Alex Bowman fell short of overtaking Austin Dillon in the final moments of last Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway. With Dillon securing the win, Bowman now approaches this Saturday’s regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway in a critical situation where a victory is essential to keep his postseason hopes alive. The recent Austin Dillon NASCAR race winner has intensified the competition for the last playoff spots.
Bowman currently sits ninth in the points standings, boasting 14 top-10 finishes—the second highest among Cup Series drivers this season. Despite his consistency, he has yet to reach Victory Lane. Bowman holds the final playoff position, narrowly leading the cutoff line by 60 points, but veteran driver Kevin Harvick is doubtful he will hold onto it after Daytona.
I felt like the 48 had a shot. And I feel like they’re in a bad spot now,
Harvick commented on his Happy Hour podcast.
With Austin Dillon winning this race — I look at Alex Bowman +60 — I just don’t think that spot’s gonna be there after this weekend. I think there’s a good possibility that we see somebody else outside of those 14 guys that’s locked in win at Daytona.
—Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver
The Battle for Playoff Positions Intensifies Ahead of Daytona
This season has produced 14 different race winners. Tyler Reddick currently occupies the 15th and final playoff spot, holding a 29-point advantage over Bowman with a 89-point cushion above the cutline. The scenario is straightforward: if a new race winner emerges at Daytona, only one of these two drivers—Reddick or Bowman—will advance to the playoffs. Conversely, if no new winner arises, both will secure playoff berths.
Last year’s Daytona victory by Harrison Burton, who was 34th in the points standings at the time, demonstrated that any driver can clinch a playoff spot by winning at the superspeedway. This adds pressure on Bowman and intensifies the stakes for those fighting just outside the locked-in group.
Experienced Drivers Seen as Major Threats at Daytona
Harvick expressed concerns about Bowman’s ability to win at Daytona, pointing out a group of seasoned drivers with proven superspeedway success who could claim victory and jeopardize Bowman’s position. According to Harvick, drivers like Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, and Chris Buescher possess the necessary skills and track records to win on a superspeedway.
I think going into Daytona that being brave and taking chances and putting yourself in a position to win is something that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. can do, Brad Keselowski can do, Kyle Busch can do, Chris Buescher can do. … Those guys have already done it on a superspeedway, and they’ve done it multiple times on a superspeedway,
said Harvick. He further noted that with Austin Dillon’s recent win and RCR’s focus on Dillon’s No. 3 car for Daytona, the team will have a strong superspeedway presence.
I don’t know, it just has that feeling that there’s a high possibility of someone outside the top 14 winning. And I think that puts Bowman in a bad spot. Having to try figure out how to gain those points on Tyler Reddick is going to be a tall task.
—Kevin Harvick, NASCAR Driver
Implications for the NASCAR Playoffs after Regular Season Finale
The final race of the regular season at Daytona International Speedway will be pivotal for drivers like Bowman trying to secure their place in the NASCAR playoffs. The presence of numerous experienced drivers with superspeedway prowess, combined with the possibility of a surprise winner, means the cutoff could shift dramatically after the race.
Kevin Harvick’s warnings highlight how the competitive intensity has escalated, making it increasingly difficult for drivers without a win like Bowman to maintain their playoff spots. As the season finale approaches, every move on the track will be under close scrutiny, with the Austin Dillon NASCAR race winner’s momentum possibly influencing the entire playoff landscape.
