2014 NASCAR standings: Winless Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman solidify Chase positions

When conceptualized at the beginning of the year, the new qualifying formula for the Chase for the Sprint Cup was supposed to reduce, if not eliminate, the practice of points racing. However, with five regular season races remaining it is becoming increasingly obvious some drivers will gain entry into the Chase not by winning but via their points position.

On the year 11 different drivers have earned a win, which as it stands now would allow five drivers to qualify based solely points. Sitting fourth and fifth in the standings, respectively, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman are most assuredly playoff bound even if a couple of new winners emerge in the next five weeks.

Among the 13 drivers caught up in a multi-car wreck, Kenseth finished 38th in the GoBowling.com 400 Sunday at Pocono Raceway. Nonetheless, he remains 79 points ahead of the Chase cutoff. Newman placed 11th and is 53 points to the good.

Less assured are Clint Bowyer, Kyle Larson and Greg Biffle, all of whom could be passed in the standings or unseated if a new winner emerges. Biffle was the biggest benefactor Sunday. By finishing fifth he jumped three spots from 16th to 13th, one point ahead of Kasey Kahne and two in front of Austin Dillon.

“We had a 20th-place car and got track position and drove our butt off,” Biffle said. “We did everything we could. We had a good strategy there and we might have been able to sneak one out.”