Erik Jones is just on the outside looking in for the postseason at the moment, but he won't gain any ground on anyone in the standings after crashing out at New Hampshire.
Jones hit the wall hard in his No. 77 car on Lap 41 at the Overton's 301, and his day came to an end.
Hard hit for playoff contender @Erik_Jones! He's out of the race early at @NHMS!
Watch on @NBCSN or stream: https://t.co/yhK5rorNGS pic.twitter.com/tSWyAKTxc7
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 16, 2017
Related: Joe Gibbs Racing makes a decision on Matt Kenseth's future
"It's going to be really tough to make the playoffs, now." @Erik_Jones will come home with a last-place finish at @NHMS. #NASCARonNBCSN pic.twitter.com/ldqvycafCZ
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 16, 2017
"It's going to be really tough to make the playoffs, now," Jones said after the race. "We were really working hard to get ourselves in contention and we didn't need a day like this.
Jones is currently No. 14 in the points, but if the playoffs started today then he would just miss the cut. Jones is 52 points behind Matt Kenseth for the last spot, and he is 45 points behind Joey Logano.
Jones will likely fall even further behind depending on how the drivers in front of him do at New Hampshire. And if the winner today is someone other than the 10 drivers who have already won this season, Jones will be in even more trouble as far as the playoffs are concerned.