Two drivers have dropped out and two places remain in contention for 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
Christopher Bell joined Kyle Larson in Championship 4 after overcoming two mediocre first stages Sunday to win the playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Larson won the round of 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Last weekend.
The series now heads to Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR’s oldest and smallest track, for the penultimate race of the 2023 season before the championship race on Nov. 5 at Phoenix Raceway. For the six remaining playoff drivers, Martinsville will either be a raucous celebration or a day of despair.
If any of these six drivers win next Sunday at the Virginia short track, they will punch their championship ticket, leaving the final Championship 4 spot for the driver with the most points in the winless third round. However, if Larson, Bell or a non-playoff driver won at Martinsville, then the final two championship contenders would both be determined by points.
How are the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs going?
THE playoffs consist of 10 races, starting with 16 pilots. 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 eighth race of the playoffs?
Here are the points after Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the first race of the third round (*-former champion; X-secured a place in Championship 4):
- X-Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing — 4,110 points
- X-Kyle Larson*Hendrick Motorsports — 4,105 points
- William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports — 4,126 points
- Ryan Blaney, Team Penske — 4,106 points
- Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing — 4,096 points
- Martin Truex Jr.*Joe Gibbs Racing — 4,089 points
- Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing — 4,089 points
- Chris Buescher, RFK Racing – 4,063 points
What TV channels are the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs on?
The final two playoff races will be televised 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). Winner: AJ Allmendinger
Sunday October 15: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.5 mile oval). Winner: Kyle Larson
Sunday October 22: Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5 mile oval). Winner: Christopher Bell
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
