By Flashnews 
After three Next Gen seasons, NASCAR is seeing the desired pandemonium in the playoffs. Since the current playoffs edition debuted in 2017, there have been fewer playoff drivers scoring in the top 10 and more drivers finishing 25th or worse during the first half of this year’s competition. Three of the five races in this round of the playoffs, including both of these events, have already been won by drivers who are not in the playoffs. As a result, going into Sunday’s elimination race at the Charlotte Roval (2 p.m. ET on NBC), William Byron is the only driver who has guaranteed a spot in the next round.
On Sunday, two of the top four drivers in the standings at the conclusion of the regular season might be removed. The regular season champion, Tyler Reddick, is 14 points above of the cutline. The final transfer spot goes to Chase Elliott, who was third in the regular season standings going into Sunday’s race. Thirteen points over the cutoff, he is. Elliott claims he still enjoys this part of the season despite the craziness. Before the postseason started last month, he stated, “I certainly have a lot of pleasure in the last 10 weeks only because there is something on the line.” Being a competitor and turning out every week is something I do enjoy since it might be a be the weekend that makes or breaks you. You know, I think that’s kind of fun.
Well, just because you either do or you don’t,” Elliott said. “That is fun to me. You go to a race and your back is against the wall and you have to perform. You either show up and get it done or if you didn’t, you get your report card that day and you didn’t do a good enough job. And I like that.
“I like that aspect of that there are intense moments over the course of that stuff. Am I a fan of all the aspects of it, maybe not necessarily, but I do enjoy the fun meter of being a competitor in the last 10 weeks that it brings me.”