NASCAR Power Rankings: Who's safe and who should worry heading into the 2024 Bristol playoff race

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Bristol Motor Speedway for the cut-off race in the first round of the playoffs. The Bass Pro Shops Night Race is scheduled for this Saturday, September 21, at 7:30 PM ET.

Team Penske's Joey Logano secured his spot in the next playoff round with a victory at Atlanta, while non-playoff driver Chris Buescher claimed the win at Watkins Glen. As the series heads to Bristol, veteran NASCAR drivers Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., and Brad Keselowski, along with Harrison Burton, find themselves below the cutline.

Playoff drivers endured a tough outing at Watkins Glen, with many caught up in wrecks. Christopher Bell, Austin Cindric, and Alex Bowman hold a comfortable 40+ point cushion above the cutline and are relatively secure. However, Chase Briscoe and Ty Gibbs are just six points above the cutline.

Let us take a look at five noteworthy NASCAR playoff drivers who are in danger of getting eliminated in Bristol this weekend.

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5 NASCAR playoff drivers on the bubble

Ty Gibbs

In Picture:Ty Gibbs (Source: Imagn)

Ty Gibbs scored 22 points at the Glen and continues to hover around the cutline as the cutoff race at Bristol looms. Gibbs was the fastest driver at Bristol earlier this season, sweeping both stages and securing a top-10 result in a high tire degradation race. He has led more than 100 laps in his previous two visits to the half-mile oval.

The 21-year-old is a strong contender at Bristol and must avoid any slip-ups this weekend to advance to the Round of 12.

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Chase Briscoe

In Picture:Chase Briscoe (Source: Imagn)

After an unfortunate wreck in Atlanta, Chase Briscoe navigated the chaos at Watkins Glen to secure the highest finish among playoff drivers. This result has moved him above the cutline, though he holds a slim six-point advantage.

The #14 Stewart Haas Racing driver has failed to score a top-10 finish on the Bristol concrete oval, with three top-15 results in four starts. Briscoe needs to score stage points and a top finish to outscore the veterans on the bubble.

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Brad Keselowski

In Picture:Brad Keselowski (Source: Imagn)

Brad Keselowski, the 2012 NASCAR champion, had a forgettable outing at Watkins Glen, being involved in multiple wrecks and incurring penalties. He walked away with 11 points, sitting 12 points below the cutline heading into the cut-off race.

A three-time winner at Bristol, Keselowski has finished inside the top 10 in six of the last eight races. The #6 RFK Racing driver will need to replicate his strong early-season performance at Bristol, where he scored 50 points, to boost his chances of advancing to the next round of the playoffs.

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Martin Truex Jr.

In Picture: Martin Truex Jr. (Source: Getty)

Bad Luck continues to plague Martin Truex Jr. and the #19 team, with a 20th-place finish at Watkins Glen marking their best result in the last eight races. Now 14 points below the cutline, Truex Jr. faces a tough challenge heading into the cut-off race at Bristol.

Although the 2017 NASCAR Cup champion scored a runner-up finish at Bristol earlier this season, his results at the half-mile oval have been inconsistent. Truex Jr. needs a reversal in fortunes to advance to the next round.

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Denny Hamlin

In Picture: Denny Hamlin (Source: Imagn)

Denny Hamlin's playoff strategy has backfired, leaving the #11 JGR team in a precarious position in the first round of the NASCAR playoffs. Heading into Bristol, Hamlin finds himself on the bubble, six points below the cutline.

The Bristol race provides Hamlin a chance to redeem himself, as he has won four times at the concrete oval, including the last two races at the track. The 43-year-old will be keen to get his campaign back on track this weekend, with a victory or a strong top-five finish.