Bubba Wallace’s breakthrough win at the Brickyard 400 held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway has significantly impacted the NASCAR playoff landscape, intensifying pressure on Kyle Busch, Ryan Preece, and Ty Gibbs. With this milestone victory, Wallace secured his playoff spot, but the result left Busch, Preece, and Gibbs on the brink of elimination as the Cup Series heads to Iowa Speedway this weekend.
With just four regular-season races remaining, these three drivers face a daunting challenge: without a win soon, their chances of making the playoffs are nearly extinguished. Before the Brickyard, all three were still actively in contention, but Wallace’s success has shifted the playoff bubble, putting Preece, Busch, and Gibbs in precarious positions.
The Rising Difficulty for Busch, Preece, and Gibbs to Secure a Playoff Spot
By claiming the Indy win, Wallace became the 13th different winner this season, reducing the number of drivers who can earn a playoff spot purely by points to three. Wallace’s guaranteed playoff berth means drivers below the cutoff must now chase a steep points gap. Chris Buescher currently holds the final playoff position, leading Ryan Preece by 42 points after the Brickyard 400 — a gap that has more than doubled since Wallace’s victory, which shifted the baseline from Wallace to Buescher.
Kyle Busch’s situation is particularly tough. After finishing 25th at Indy, the two-time Cup champion trails Buescher by 81 points and is 39 points behind Preece. Given that a driver can earn a maximum of 60 race points during a typical event, Busch faces a substantial deficit that may require extraordinary performances over the next four races to overcome.
Ty Gibbs also slipped further from playoff contention despite winning the NASCAR In-Season Challenge at Indianapolis. Finishing 21st at the Brickyard put him 95 points behind Buescher, effectively placing him in a must-win scenario as well as requiring him to surpass both Preece and Busch to claim the final playoff spot.
Other Winless Drivers Hold Stronger Positions Near the Playoff Cutoff
While Buescher sits at the cutoff without a win, two other winless drivers maintain more comfortable positions with enough points to secure a playoff chance. Alex Bowman leads Buescher by 21 points and holds a 63-point advantage over Preece, while Tyler Reddick boasts the highest points total among winless drivers at 138 points ahead of Preece.
Reddick is currently in a secure playoff position barring unexpected surprises in the remaining four races. Bowman and Buescher remain relatively safe but cannot afford another first-time winner this season who might take a playoff spot away based on a victory.
For Busch, Preece, and Gibbs, the next four races essentially become a win-or-go-home scenario if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.