The NASCAR Cup Series is rapidly approaching its 10-race playoff stretch, culminating in the championship race at Phoenix Raceway on November 10. Sixteen drivers will qualify for the playoffs, either by winning a regular-season race or by accumulating the most points among winless drivers after 26 races.
Once the playoffs begin, the field of 16 drivers will face elimination. After every third race, four drivers with the lowest points will be eliminated, narrowing down the competition until only four drivers remain to compete for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
A playoff driver who wins a race in any of the three rounds automatically advances to the next round. If a non-playoff driver wins, the advancement is determined by points accumulated during that round.
Here’s a breakdown of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and championship race:
Playoff Schedule:
- The playoffs kick off on Sunday, September 8, at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with the race set to start at 3 p.m. ET, broadcast on USA Network.
Total Races in the Playoffs:
- There are 10 races in total, with the final race being the championship race on November 10. These follow 26 regular-season races.
Playoff Rounds:
- The playoffs consist of three rounds, each with three races. The third, sixth, and ninth races will serve as elimination events.
Number of Drivers:
- Sixteen drivers will compete in the playoffs, striving to win the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series championship. Non-playoff drivers will also race in each event, with the opportunity to win individual races.
Championship Race:
- The season’s final race will be held at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, November 10, at 3 p.m. ET, broadcast on NBC.
Full Playoff Schedule:
- Here is the schedule for the 10 races in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, with dates, locations, and broadcast details:
- Sunday, Sept. 8: Atlanta Motor Speedway, USA, 3 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 15: Watkins Glen International, USA, 3 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 21: Bristol Motor Speedway, USA, 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 29: Kansas Speedway, USA, 3 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 6: Talladega Superspeedway, NBC, 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 13: Charlotte Roval, NBC, 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 20: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NBC, 2:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 27: Homestead-Miami Speedway, NBC, 2:30 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 3: Martinsville Speedway, NBC, 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 10: Phoenix Raceway, NBC, 3 p.m.
Remaining Races Before Playoffs:
- Three races remain before the playoffs, including the conclusion of the rain-delayed race at Michigan International Speedway. The FireKeepers Casino 400 will resume on Monday, August 19, at 11 a.m. ET on USA Network. Following that, there are two more regular-season races.
Drivers Clinched for Playoffs:
- Drivers can secure a playoff spot by winning a regular-season race. Here are the 12 drivers who have at least one win this season (with the number of wins and points before the race at Daytona):
- Kyle Larson: 4 wins (782 points)
- William Byron: 3 wins (728 points)
- Denny Hamlin: 3 wins (711 points)
- Christopher Bell: 3 wins (703 points)
- Tyler Reddick: 2 wins (814 points)
- Ryan Blaney: 2 wins (732 points)
- Chase Elliott: 1 win (804 points)
- Brad Keselowski: 1 win (677 points)
- Alex Bowman: 1 win (627 points)
- Joey Logano: 1 win (561 points)
- Daniel Suarez: 1 win (526 points)
- Austin Cindric: 1 win (460 points)
Note: Austin Dillon won the August 11 race at Richmond Raceway but lost his automatic playoff berth after NASCAR reviewed the final lap. Dillon was penalized for wrecking Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin before crossing the finish line. The penalty was upheld by an appeals panel.