The most anticipated auto racing event of the year, the NASCAR Playoffs will begin this weekend. The NASCAR Cup series champion is all set to be crowned. The final 10 weeks have arrived after a gruelling season of 26 regular races. The season peaked in Kansas when the closest finish in Cup History took place with 34 full-time drivers scoring at least one top-10 finish.
Here's a preview of the postseason including the format details and the scheduling along with drivers competing-
Playoff Field
16 drivers qualify, including regular season race winners and the top two drivers in the points standings without a win (14 winners + 2 on points).
Seeding: Based on playoff points earned during the season
- 5 points for each race win
- 1 point for each stage win
- Points for regular season standings: 15 points for 1st place, 10 for 2nd, 8 for 3rd, down to 1 point for 10th.
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Playoff Format
Round 1 (Round of 16)- 3 races
Round 2 (Round of 12)- 3 races
Round 3 (Round of 8)- 3 races
Round 4 (Championship 4)- 1 race
Advancement
Drivers automatically advance by winning a race in their current round. At the end of each round, the four drivers with the fewest points are eliminated, except those who won a race in that round.
Standings Reset: At the start of each new round, standings are based on cumulative playoff points earned throughout the season.
Championship Race: In the final round, the Cup championship goes to the driver who finishes highest among the final four contenders in the last race, with no playoff points influencing the outcome.
Who is in the NASCAR Playoffs?
The 16-driver playoff field includes six former champions and two first-time participants. All three manufacturers are represented, with six Ford drivers, five Chevy drivers and five Toyota drivers in the mix. Additionally, there are drivers from eight different organizations in the playoffs.
Here’s a look at the 2024 NASCAR playoff drivers.
1. Kyle Larson
2. Christopher Bell
3. Tyler Reddick
4. William Byron
5. Ryan Blaney
6. Denny Hamlin
7. Chase Elliott
8. Brad Keselowski
9. Joey Logano
10. Austin Cindric
11. Daniel Suarez
12. Alex Bowman
13. Chase Briscoe
14. Harrison Burton
15. Ty Gibbs
16. Martin Truex Jr.
Here’s the full 2024 NASCAR playoff schedule:
1. Atlanta Motor Speedway at Quaker State 400 on Sept. 8.
2. Watkins Glen International at Go Bowling at The Glen on Sept. 15.
3. Bristol Motor Speedway at Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Sept. 21.
4. Kansas Speedway at Hollywood Casino 400 on Sept. 29.
5. Talladega Superspeedway at YellaWood 500 on Oct. 6.
6. Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval at Bank of America ROVAL 400 on Oct. 13.
7. Las Vegas Motor Speedway at South Point 400 on Oct. 20.
8. Homestead-Miami Speedway at Straight Talk Wireless 400 on Oct. 27.
9. Martinsville Speedway at Xfinity 500 on Nov. 3.
10. Phoenix Raceway at NASCAR Cup Series Championship on Nov. 10.
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