Which drivers will be eliminated from the NASCAR playoffs at Kansas?

Round 2 of the Cup Series playoffs concludes Sunday at Kansas Speedway, with four drivers eliminated from NASCAR’s postseason.

Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski are locked into spots in the Monster Energy Cup Series semi-finals by virtue of winning the past two weeks at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, respectively.

Although without the same level of security, Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott should feel good about their chances. While conceivable that one of these four could stumble, it would take a combination of circumstances for anyone of them to not advance.

That effectively leaves two spots available to be decided among the six remaining playoff-eligible drivers in the Round 2 elimination race Sunday at Kansas Speedway. Ryan Blaney (nine points ahead of the cut off) and Jimmie Johnson (two points) provisionally occupy the final two transfer slots, though the slim margin means both could easily find themselves on the outside looking in when the Hollywood Casino 400 concludes.

Ryan Blaney

Points: Nine points ahead of the cut line

Best Kansas finish: Second (May, 2017)

Outlook: Intermediate tracks have been the strong suit for Blaney and Wood Brothers Racing this season, which bodes well Sunday. In the spring Kansas race, Blaney started on the pole, led 83 laps and finished fourth. If he can replicate that performance, he’ll remain in the championship picture for another round.

Jimmie Johnson

Points: Two points ahead of the cut line

Best Kansas finish: First

Outlook: Normally, Johnson would be a surefire bet to advance. Except the defending series champion is having a down season (by his lofty standards) where he’s led all of 21 laps and has just a single top-five finish over the past 18 races. Unless crew chief Chad Knaus and the No. 48 team can find its missing mojo, Johnson’s quest to win a record-breaking eighth title may have to wait until next year.

Kyle Busch

Points: Seven points behind the cut line

Best Kansas finish: First

Outlook: It’s been a miserable second round for someone expected to make a deep postseason run and regarded as a championship favorite. Consecutive crashes erased Busch’s once sizeable points cushion (+41) where he’s now seven points behind Johnson. Nonetheless, Busch is still well situated to move on and put behind him a trying bracket. He’s finished fifth or better in the previous five Kansas races and drives a Toyota, the dominant manufacturer.

Matt Kenseth

Points: Eight points behind the cut line

Best Kansas finish: First

Outlook: As Kenseth’s finding out, moderate consistency will only get you so far. He’s winless on the year whereas his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Busch and Hamlin have a combined six victories, with those bonus points they’ve accumulated aiding their cause to skirt playoff elimination. But Kenseth excels at Kansas -- two career wins and the track record-holder in laps led -- and another top-10 finish Sunday may be enough if Blaney and Johnson both slipup.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Points: 22 points behind the cut line

Best Kansas finish: 11th

Outlook: Stenhouse came into the playoffs as a Cinderella and his best chance to earn automatic advancement was by winning last week at Talladega Superspeedway. That didn’t happen. Instead, he’ll need a victory to stave off elimination. But with Roush Fenway Racing mediocre on intermediate tracks, Stenhouse doesn’t have the speed necessary to be competitive. The clock strikes midnight on Sunday.

Jamie McMurray

Points: 29 points behind the cut line

Best Kansas finish: Seventh

Outlook: McMurray’s playoff run essentially ended when he had a miscue and crashed while trying to get onto pit road at Talladega. Considering he’s buried in points and hasn’t won on a non- restrictor-plate track since 2010, his championship prospects appear bleak.