Column: NASCAR playoff field set as wonky season nears end
Austin Dillon celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Austin Dillon celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Aug. 28, 2022 05:16 PM EDT
Chase Briscoe (14) lifts and spins in the air along the front stretch after coming out of Turn 4 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)

Chase Briscoe (14) lifts and spins in the air along the front stretch after coming out of Turn 4 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)

Aug. 28, 2022 02:13 PM EDT
Chris Buescher (17), Daniel Suarez (99), Denny Hamlin (11), Justin Haley (31), Ty Dillon (42), Aric Almirola (10) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47) are involved in a multi-car accident between turns 1 and 2 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Dow Graham)

Chris Buescher (17), Daniel Suarez (99), Denny Hamlin (11), Justin Haley (31), Ty Dillon (42), Aric Almirola (10) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47) are involved in a multi-car accident between turns 1 and 2 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Dow Graham)

Aug. 28, 2022 01:25 PM EDT
Chris Buescher (17), Daniel Suarez (99), Denny Hamlin (11), Justin Haley (31), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), Aric Almirola (10) and others get involved in a multi-car accident between Turns 1 and 2 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)

Chris Buescher (17), Daniel Suarez (99), Denny Hamlin (11), Justin Haley (31), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), Aric Almirola (10) and others get involved in a multi-car accident between Turns 1 and 2 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)

Aug. 28, 2022 05:31 PM EDT
Austin Dillon (3) takes the checkered flag ahead of Tyler Reddick (8) and Austin Cindric (2) to win a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)

Austin Dillon (3) takes the checkered flag ahead of Tyler Reddick (8) and Austin Cindric (2) to win a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/David Graham)

Aug. 28, 2022 05:29 PM EDT
Ryan Blaney, left, and Bubba Wallace share a laugh during driver introductions before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

Ryan Blaney, left, and Bubba Wallace share a laugh during driver introductions before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

Aug. 28, 2022 02:04 PM EDT