Since the days of Richard Petty's domination in the NASCAR Cup Series, the race for the championship has been one of the most coveted prizes in motorsports. In recent years, NASCAR has introduced a playoff system to spice up the competition and stir the drama towards the end of the road. The last four seasons have seen two pairs of teammates take the the crown, but it remains to be seen who that driver will be this season.
There are sixteen spots for the NASCAR playoffs. When a driver wins a race during the course of the season, they guarantee themselves a spot in the first round of the playoffs. After that, the drivers with the most points towards the championship will take up the remaining spots (there has been a scenario recently where fifteen drivers won and only spot was left).
The points reset every round and the drivers then add their "playoff points" that they've accumulated through winning "stages", winning races, and their finish in the standings amongst other playoff drivers. The regular season champion automatically gains an advantage over the rest of the field because they will have the most playoff points and will need less points to move onto the next round. However, if a playoff driver wins a playoff race, they will automatically advance to the next round. Thus, in the final two rounds of the playoffs, it really comes down to winning races.
Here are the twenty drivers in the playoffs discussion with six races left in the regular season:
Locked Into the Playoffs (Race Win)
Kyle Larson - #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
A former NASCAR champion and one of the best drivers in the series, Larson emerges as the points leader. However, he did not start Charlotte as he attempted "Double Duty" where a driver runs both the Charlotte race and the Indianapolis 500 in the same day. He was unable to make it to the start of the Charlotte race due to a rain delay at Indianapolis, though he did make it to the track before the race ended. He was granted a waiver by NASCAR to remain eligible for the playoffs. Regardless, Larson has been dominant this season winning at Las Vegas, Sonoma, and in the closest finish in NASCAR history at Kansas over Chris Buescher. He was on the podium three other times as well. As a side note, he was also the Rookie of the Year at the Indy 500. He has become a racing icon.
Chase Elliot - #9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Another former NASCAR champion for Rick Hendrick with a redemption story to fulfill. Elliot missed seven races last season due to injury and a one race suspension. Thus, he was ineligible for the playoffs and he never won a race. That is highly unusual for Elliot and the rest of the Hendrick Motorsports team. He is back to make it known that the #9 car belongs in victory lane at the end of the season. Elliot has been very consistent with seven top five finishes and four podiums this year, but has only seen victory lane once at Texas. Among the questions for Chase will be whether or not he can get the job done down the stretch. A Championship Four is foreseeable, but you have to win the final race to win it all..
Tyler Reddick - #45 23XI Racing Toyota
Reddick is having the best season of his career. The 28-year-old Californian is co-owned by one of the most famous athletes of all-time: Michael Jordan. Reddick is no stranger to the front of the pack. He has been a playoff driver in each of the previous three seasons and made it to the final eight last year. Now, he sits in a position to make it to the final four on points. He has a win at Talladega and four podiums, including the last two races. He might just be peaking at the right time, but he needs to get to the very front at the end if he wants to win the whole thing.
Denny Hamlin - #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
This has to be frustrating for Denny Hamlin. Since the playoff system was revamped in 2014, Hamlin has made it to the round of eight a total of eight times, and he's been to the Championship Four a total of four times. He's coming off back-to-back 5th place finishes in the Cup Series. A three time Daytona 500 champion, Hamlin is the best driver without a championship. He's been with Joe Gibbs Racing in the #11 car nearly the entire way through. He co-owns the car one spot ahead of him! We all know that Denny Hamlin is capable of winning this championship. He has been in the top five seven times this year and has four podiums. What really makes me excited about Hamlin is that he's won three times. Denny won at Bristol, Richmond, and Dover this year. Maybe this is the year that Hamlin claims his title at last.
William Byron - #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
After losing out on a well earned fight for a championship last year, Byron is on his own redemption path at Hendricks Motorsports. If you thought the #24 wasn't serious, he won the 2024 Daytona 500 to make a point that he was ready for the playoffs at race one this year. Byron has three wins (Daytona, COTA, and Martinsville) and six podiums this year. That puts him in an excellent spot to win the championship. He will be in the hunt for the win, and Rick Hendrick would love to have three champions on his team.
Ryan Blaney - #12 Team Penske Ford
The reigning Cup Series Champion has been extremely quiet this season, but he did the same thing last year. However, Blaney has five top five finishes, three podiums, and a win at Iowa. He's faced a lot of criticism from last year because he was so far behind at the start of the playoffs, but won his way to a championship. Blaney is back to prove that last season was not a fluke. He is a champion and he deserves to be a champion. Look out for Ryan Blaney.
Christopher Bell - #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Bell has been one of the up and coming stars over the last few years. Bell has three wins (Phoenix, Charlotte, and Now Hampshire), five podiums, and six top fives. That's more than enough of a resume to be crowned a champion. He lost out two years ago after winning the race before the Championship Four. He had all the momentum and still lost out. Bell is hungry for a championship and wants to deliver for Joe Gibbs. He knows how to win and he won't back down.
Brad Keselowski - #6 RFK Racing Ford
Keselowski got his first win in three years this year at Darlington. He's a former NASCAR champion and team owner with a lot of experience under his belt. He's a long shot, but don't count Keselowski out.
Alex Bowman - #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
He just won on 4th of July weekend in Chicago, so Bowman will be in the playoffs once again. He's made it as far as the top eight, but hasn't really shown that he can get to the Championship Four yet. However, don't count Bowman out. He could sneak in and steal the show in the playoffs like the former driver of the #48 did seven times.
Joey Logano - #22 Team Penske Ford
He won his second championship two years ago, so you know the Penzoil machine will be there once again. It would not surprise me at all if Logano gets to the Championship Four. He won recently in Nashville, so he's in a good spot. You also can't miss the #22 on the track. It's really obvious. It could bring home the trophy again.
Daniel Suarez - #99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Suarez won the most epic finish of the year in NASCAR. In a three wide photo finish in Atlanta, Suarez narrowly beat Kyle Busch and Ryan Blaney in a thriller. However, he hasn't won since and hasn't shown consistency. Trackhouse hasn't been as strong this year as they had been the last two years, so Suarez has lots of question marks heading into the playoffs.
Austin Cindric - #2 Team Penske Ford
The questions were looming about Austin getting into the playoffs, but a win at Gateway in St. Louis cleared that up. Austin Cindric won his very first NASCAR race by winning the 2022 Daytona 500. He has star potential, but his consistency is still developing. We'll see how far he goes.
In For Sure
Martin Truex Jr. - #19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
In Martin's final year in the NASCAR Cup Series, it will take a miracle for him to not be in the playoffs. The former NASCAR champion is looking to end in style as one of the greatest to ever drive a Cup car. He has yet to win this season which is very unusual. However, Truex is not out of gas yet and will continue to fight for his second title. This is his last chance.
Ty Gibbs - #54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
In his rookie season last year, Joe Gibbs finished 18th and barely missed the playoffs. This year, he should make it in comfortably. The grandson of Joe Gibbs will be interesting to watch in his playoff debut. He may surprise us yet.
On the Bubble
Ross Chastain - #1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
I'm shocked that Chastain is on the bubble. Two years ago, this man put his car on the fence and passed about seven or eight cars just to get into the Championship Four. Last year, while he was not a part of the Championship Four, he won the final race of the season at Phoenix. You would have expected that he would put it all together this year, but we haven't seen it yet. However, I could see him surprise a lot of people and go far still.
Chris Buescher - #17 RFK Racing Ford
Buescher has been denied a win all season this year. Most notably, he lost out to Kyle Larson in the closest finish in NASCAR history (it looked as if Buescher had won before the slow motion replay showed that Larson had actually won). Buescher is having a superb season and is in a position to play spoiler in the playoffs. He's in a tough spot right now, but he could get there.
Bubba Wallace - #23 23XI Racing Toyota
Bubba has been on the bubble before, so he really isn't worried. He can find a way to get the #23 into the playoffs somehow. His seat is not up for renegotiation after this year, you can count on that. Bubba could stir up some chaos this year.
Chase Briscoe - #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
In Stewart-Haas racing's final season, Chase is their last hope of making the playoffs. Briscoe has been as high as top eight before, so he could find a way to make things work, but it's a long shot. Though, he will need to do well as an audition for a new ride next year.
Kyle Busch - #8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
How is a two-time champion all the way back here? Well, the Childress team has had a tough time this season anyway (Austin Dillon has been nowhere close to the playoff in the #3 car). Besides him being sucker punched by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. after a race this year, rumors surrounding Kyle say he's moving teams again this year. Some say he could be returning to Joe Gibbs Racing and driving for Joe Gibbs again. Regardless, Kyle is not one who likes to lose, so watch for either his best driving or his hot temper. Either way, there's gonna be chaos.
Todd Gilliland - #38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
The surprise driver on this list has got to be Todd Gilliland. Gilliland has probably spent more time near the front his season than in his entire career. He's been phenomenal and he might get an opportunity for a top ride next season if one opens up. Gilliland's future is bright.
Overall, the series is bound to be chaotic over the next few months. We're all in for a treat!
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