Paul Menard

Ten races. Sixteen drivers. One Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Stock car racing’s national playoff begins Sunday out in Las Vegas. An inaugural second race at the 1.5-mile speedway has already seen the cream rise to the top; all 16 title contenders qualified inside the top 18. (Jamie McMurray, 12th quickest, is the first non-playoff driver.)

Pocono Raceway holds court this weekend to a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff race that’s... a little dormant. Seven drivers have already clinched their spot by virtue of at least one victory; another eight are at least 95 points above the cutline.

At first glance, there’s nothing unique about this weekend’s NASCAR race at Chicagoland. This cookie-cutter 1.5-miler has been on the schedule since 2001 and produced little in the way of memorable finishes.

Imagine this scenario. You’re working full-time with a company, settled with a family and have long-term plans to stay with the job. Then, out of nowhere the company confirms they’re looking to sell. Your future could now go one of several different directions, from outright promotion to pink slip.