Two races in the second round of the NASCAR The Cup Series playoffs are scheduled and two drivers can breathe a sigh of relief ahead of next weekend’s playoff race.
Ryan Blaney won Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway and clinched a place in the third round with William Byron, who won the opening round at Texas Motor Speedway.
The series now heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for a race on the Roval – the part-road, part-oval course that will conclude the round of 16.
The four playoff drivers with the fewest points after the Roval race will be eliminated from competition, leaving eight drivers to continue their progression toward the championship.
How are the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs going?
THE playoffs consist of 10 racesstarting with 16 drivers. The first nine races are divided into three rounds of three races each, with the winners automatically advancing to the next round. Four drivers will be eliminated after the third, sixth and ninth races, leaving the final four to fight for the championship on November 5 at Phoenix Raceway.
What are the standings after the fifth race of the playoffs?
Here are the points after Sunday’s race at Talladega, the second race of the second round (*-former champion; X-secured a place in the round of 16):
- X-William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports — 3,136 points
- X-Ryan Blaney, Team Penske — 3,078 points
- Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing — 3,108 points
- Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing – 3,080 points
- Chris Buescher, RFK Racing – 3,077 points
- Martin Truex Jr.*Joe Gibbs Racing — 3,075 points
- Kyle Larson*Hendrick Motorsports — 3,073 points
- Brad Keselowski*RFK Racing — 3,060 points
- Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing – 3,058 points
- Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing – 3,051 points
- Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing — 3,050 points
- Kyle Busch*Richard Childress Racing — 3,034 points
What TV channels are the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs on?
The final five races of the playoffs will be broadcast on NBC.
Will there be live broadcasts of the NASCAR Cup Series playoff races?
All elimination races can be streamed live on the NBC Sports website and the NBC Sports app.
What is the schedule for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
With dates, track, time and TV network; All times are Eastern.
Sunday September 3: Darlington Raceway (1.366 mile oval). Winner: Kyle Larson
Sunday September 10: Kansas Speedway (1.5 mile oval). Winner: Tyler Reddick
Saturday September 16: Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533 mile oval). Winner: Denis Hamlin
Sunday September 24: Texas Motor Speedway (1.5 mile oval). Winner: William Byron
Sunday October 1: Talladega Superspeedway (2.66 mile oval). Winner: Ryan Blaney
Sunday October 8: Charlotte Motor Speedway (2.28-mile road course/oval), 2 p.m., NBC
Sunday October 15: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval), 2:30 p.m., NBC
Sunday October 22: Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5-mile oval), 2:30 p.m., NBC
Sunday October 29: Martinsville Speedway (0.526-mile oval), 2 p.m., NBC
Sunday November 5: Phoenix Raceway – championship race (1-mile oval), 3 p.m., NBC
