The regular 2024 NASCAR Cup series season may have closed at Darlington, crowning Tyler Reddick its champion, but the 2024 Series title is far from settled. That’s all determined in the next 10 races as part of the Cup playoffs. If you’re already lost, or a fan who needs a refresher, we’ve got you.
This year marks the 10th year with the knockout-style format. Originally called ‘The Chase’ in 2004 and involving ten drivers who simply tried to gather more points than the others over the course of the final ten races, the system has become something entirely different in the modern era. It was a decade ago that NASCAR did a a complete overhaul and introduced an expanded playoff field, eliminations, and ten races split into four distinct rounds to determine the Cup Series’ Season Champion.
So, how exactly does it work? Here’s a simplified breakdown of it all:
16 contenders
After the first 26 races, every full-time driver with a win is locked into the playoffs. The rest of the 16-driver field is made up of those with the most regular season points, but no wins during the year. In 2024, the only drivers to make it in on points alone were Martin Truex Jr. and Ty Gibbs.
Points reset: The standings then reset with every playoff driver awarded 2,000 playoff points. Bonus points accumulated during the regular season are added to the total — five points per race win, one point per stage win, and a handful of additional points for the ten highest drivers in the standings before the reset. This includes a whopping 15 for the regular season champion. However, they won’t be alone out on the track. All of the drivers who failed to make the playoffs will still be competing and doing so with one goal in mind — steal race wins.
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing, zone / GetGo Chevrolet Camaro
Photo by: Ben Earp / NKP / Motorsport Images
Three rounds of elimination
Round of 16: The first three races of the playoffs make up the Round of 16, where the four lowest drivers in points (usually 13th through 16th) will be eliminated from title contention. Like the regular season, a win by any playoff driver — no matter how few points, automatically advances them into the following round.
2024 races: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Watkins Glen International, Bristol Motor Speedway
What to expect: This is the round where many of the ‘pretenders’ fall out of the playoffs, such as those who aren’t normally competitive but managed to find their way…
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