Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Jamie McMurray left Talladega Superspeedway with their championship hopes hanging in the balance Sunday.
Busch, who finished 27th Sunday, is ranked ninth in the standings, seven points behind Jimmie Johnson for the final transfer spot from the Round of 12, which concludes with the Oct. 22 cutoff race at Kansas Speedway.
Kenseth (14th Sunday) is eight points out in 10th. Stenhouse (26th) is 22 points behind, and McMurray, who finished 37th after causing the first caution on the 26th lap, is 29 points out and virtually needs a victory to advance.
Charlotte winner Martin Truex Jr. and Talladega winner Brad Keselowski are the only drivers ensured of advancing to the Round of 8. The other six drivers who currently are above the cut line: Kyle Larson (plus 29), Kevin Harvick (plus 22), Denny Hamlin (plus 21), Chase Elliott (plus 20), Ryan Blaney (plus 9) and Johnson (plus 8).