Following Chris Buescher’s victory Saturday in the 2023 COKE ZERO SUGAR 400, the sixteen drivers entering the 2023 Cup Series playoffs are set. With his third win of the year, Buescher’s ELO rating increases to 2057 (revision 3.0.5) and lands him atop of the NASCAR ACTIVE DRIVERS LIST.
Brad Keselowski (1946) sits second in the ELO standings behind Chris Buescher, his RFK Racing teammate.
Bubba Wallace (1831) and Kevin Harvick (1820) are currently rated eighth and ninth respectively by the objective ELO rating. However, Wallace and Harvick are both listed as bubble drivers to advance to the next round by virtue of their NASCAR points. The other two bubble drivers, Michael McDowell (1715) and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (1582), are in the bottom ELO quartet of the playoff drivers along with Kyle Larson (1655) and Ryan Blaney (1630). Drivers have the upcoming Darlington, Kansas, and Bristol races to amass enough points to avoid the next playoff cut.
The playoffs begin Sunday 6:00 PM ET at the Darlington Speedway. Check back Monday night for updated driver ratings.
| Playoff Driver | Current ELO Rating |
| Chris Buescher | 2057 |
| Brad Keselowski | 1946 |
| William Byron | 1903 |
| Christopher Bell | 1874 |
| Joey Logano | 1863 |
| Martin Truex Jr. | 1848 |
| Bubba Wallace | 1831 |
| Kevin Harvick | 1820 |
| Denny Hamlin | 1816 |
| Kyle Busch | 1772 |
| Ross Chastain | 1754 |
| Tyler Reddick | 1746 |
| Michael McDowell | 1715 |
| Kyle Larson | 1655 |
| Ryan Blaney | 1630 |
| Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 1582 |