5 NASCAR drivers whose 2025 playoff hopes take a major hit after Michigan
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoff battle has intensified with six spots left and 11 races to go in the regular season. Nine drivers have already locked postseason berths with wins and the pressure begins to rise on the drivers hovering near the cutline.
Denny Hamlin won the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan after a perfectly executed fuel strategy. The Joe Gibbs Racing veteran took the lead from William Byron with four laps to go, as the latter was forced to pit for fuel. However, for some drivers, Michigan put a potential dent in their playoff hopes.
It's increasingly likely that some of the remaining playoff berths will go to winless drivers on points. That means the ones already on the bubble or sliding must capitalize quickly. Here are five NASCAR Cup Series drivers whose playoff chances took a major hit at Michigan.
#1. Alex Bowman – Hendrick Motorsports No. 48
While he is above the playoff cutline at 13th, Alex Bowman's chances to qualify remain in a precarious position. Josh Berry and Austin Cindric, who have already qualified, are below him in the standings and Michigan presented a golden opportunity for the #48 driver. But his day ended in disaster.
Bowman made contact with Cole Custer on Lap 67, which sent him into the barriers. While he fortunately walked away without injury, it marked his seventh finish outside the top 25 in his last nine races.
While all his Hendrick Motorsports teammates sit at the top of the standings, he continues to struggle in the 48 Chevrolet.
#2. Carson Hocevar – Spire Motorsports No. 77
Michigan was shaping up to be a fairy tale for Carson Hocevar. The Michigan native returned to his home track riding high from a career-best runner-up finish in Nashville. He led a personal-best 32 laps on Sunday (June 8) and scored points in both stages, looking poised to fight for his first Cup Series win.
However, a flat left tire sent Hocevar to the pit road with 18 laps to go. What should've been a breakout win ended in a disappointing 29th-place finish. Sitting just outside the playoff picture at 18th, Hocevar needs a win to qualify.
#3. Michael McDowell – Spire Motorsports No. 71
Veteran Michael McDowell entered Michigan with playoff hopes that were already slim, and a 30th-place finish did little to improve them. He dropped two spots in the standings and now sits 23rd with 285 points. While he's still within striking distance, McDowell hasn't managed a single top-five finish this season.
With road courses on the horizon, including NASCAR's Mexico event, McDowell may have one final lifeline. He's a proven winner on road courses, and his best chance at qualifying may rest on stealing a win in one of those events.
#4. John Hunter Nemechek – Legacy Motor Club No. 42
John Hunter Nemechek's Michigan weekend began with optimism after showing a long-run pace in practice. But the race unraveled quickly. He qualified 21st and slipped back early in the race. He then made contact with the wall on Lap 60, forcing the No. 42 car to retire for the first time this season.
Nemechek eventually finished 34th and dropped to 26th with 270 points in the updated NASCAR standings. With one top-five finish and limited playoff upside on points, the pressure is now on him to secure an improbable race win in the next nine races.
#5. Todd Gilliland – Front Row Motorsports No. 34
Todd Gilliland's Michigan race ended in heartbreak after he spun his car into the wall in Turn 2. He was running top 20 when he was forced to retire after damaging his rear. He finished 33rd, completing 146 of the 200 laps.
The result dropped him four places to 27th in the NASCAR standings. Gilliland's only realistic path to the playoffs is to find a win, something that looks increasingly unlikely unless he can capitalize on the chaotic road course races to follow.