In previous years, guys like Josh Berry and Ty Dillon still would’ve entered the Coke Zero Sugar 400 with dreams of a playoff berth.

This year, no shot.

NASCAR’s revamped postseason format, the Chase, relies on season-long point totals rather than the win-and-in system of the last decade. All but the top 18 drivers in standings arrive at Daytona International Speedway having already been mathematically eliminated.

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Sixteen will crack the playoff field, meaning two will leave Florida with a broken heart this weekend. The regular-season finale will kick off around 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Before then, let’s check who’s in, who’s out and who’s residing in the bubble.

NASCAR drivers who clinched playoff berths before Daytona

  • 1. Denny Hamlin, 1,001 points
  • 2. Ryan Blaney, -77 behind Hamlin
  • 3. Ty Gibbs, -121
  • 4. Tyler Reddick, -141
  • 5. Christopher Bell, -263
  • 6. Chase Briscoe, -274
  • 7. Kyle Larson, -293
  • 8. Chase Elliott, -294
  • 9. Joey Logano, -319
  • 10. Chris Buescher, -325
  • 11. Carson Hocevar, -329
  • 12. William Byron, -357
  • 13. Daniel Suarez, -363
NASCAR drivers still looking to secure a Chase spot

  • 14. Bubba Wallace, -371
  • 15. Austin Cindric, -402
  • 16. Shane van Gisbergen, -415

Cutline

  • 17. Ryan Preece, -446
  • 18. Brad Keselowski, -481
NASCAR drivers eliminated from Chase contention

  • 19. Ross Chastain, -496
  • 20. Erik Jones, -511
  • 21. Michael McDowell, -517
  • 22. AJ Allmendinger, -545
  • 23. Todd Gilliland, -557
  • 24. Zane Smith, -559
  • 25. Austin Dillon, -596
  • 26. Riley Herbst, -599
  • 27. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., -603
  • 28. John Hunter Nemechek, -607
  • 29. Josh Berry, -615
  • 30. Alex Bowman, -639
  • 31. Noah Gragson, -667
  • 32. Cole Custer, -699
  • 33. Ty Dillon, -707
  • 34. Connor Zilisch, -742
  • 35. Cody Ware, -802

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR playoff picture: Who's in, who's out entering Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona

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