By Reggie Gatlin-Holt
NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Bank of America ROVAL 400
The Place: Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
Track Type: 2.28 Mile Asphalt Road Course
The Date: Sunday, October 13
The Time: 2 p.m. ET
The Purse: $8,056,677
TV: NBC, 1:30 p.m. ET
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 248.52 miles (109 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 25),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 50), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 109)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of North Carolina
The Place: Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
Track Type: 2.28 Mile Asphalt Road Course
The Date: Saturday, October 12
The Time: 4 p.m. ET
The Purse: $1,419,755
TV: CW, 3:30 p.m. ET
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 152.76 miles (67 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 20),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 40), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 67)
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Next Race: Baptist Health 200
The Place: Homestead-Miami Speedway
Track Type: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval
The Date: Saturday, October 26
The Time: 12 p.m. ET
The Purse: $769,881
TV: FS1, 12 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
Distance: 201 miles (134 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 134)
NASCAR Cup Series
Playoff competitors face Round of 12 elimination race at the Charlotte ROVAL
The intense NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12 comes down to this weekend at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course for the Bank of America ROVAL 400 elimination-race at 2 p.m. ET this Sunday, October 13 on NBC, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90). The 12-driver Playoff field will be cut to eight as four driver’s title hopes will come to an end this weekend.
Ever since the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course has joined the NASCAR Cup Series postseason in 2018, it has proven to be a wildcard event with twists and turns that challenge the competitors along its multi-elevational 2.28-miles.
Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron has accumulated enough pints this round to clinch his spot into the Round of 8, leaving seven of the eight spots still available on Sunday at Charlotte.
Currently below the Round of 8 cutline heading into this weekend are two-time series champion and Team Penske driver Joey Logano (-13), Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez (-20), Team Penske’s Austin Cindric (-29) and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe (-32).
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2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings Outlook |
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Following Talladega Superspeedway – October 6, 2024 |
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Round of 12 – Race No. 5 of 10 |
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Rank |
Driver |
Vehicle |
Points |
Race Wins |
Stage Wins |
Playoff Pts |
+/- Cutoff |
|
1 |
William Byron |
24 |
3,122 |
3 |
2 |
23 |
In On Points |
|
2 |
Christopher Bell |
20 |
3,105 |
3 |
10 |
32 |
57 |
|
3 |
Kyle Larson |
5 |
3,100 |
5 |
12 |
47 |
52 |
|
4 |
Denny Hamlin |
11 |
3,078 |
3 |
6 |
15 |
30 |
|
5 |
Alex Bowman |
48 |
3,074 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
26 |
|
6 |
Ryan Blaney |
12 |
3,073 |
2 |
4 |
19 |
25 |
|
7 |
Tyler Reddick |
45 |
3,062 |
2 |
3 |
28 |
14 |
|
8 |
Chase Elliott |
9 |
3,061 |
1 |
1 |
14 |
13 |
|
9 |
Joey Logano |
22 |
3,048 |
2 |
2 |
12 |
-13 |
|
10 |
Daniel Suarez |
99 |
3,041 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
-20 |
|
11 |
Austin Cindric |
2 |
3,032 |
1 |
4 |
9 |
-29 |
|
12 |
Chase Briscoe |
14 |
3,029 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
-32 |
Construction began on Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) in 1959, and the track’s first NASCAR Cup Series race was held on June 19, 1960 – won by Joe Lee Johnson in a Chevrolet.
It wasn’t until 2017, that the track underwent renovations to add what is now known as the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (ROVAL), a 2.28-mile, 17-turn, multi-elevational road course that incorporates the oval portion of the track.
All the NASCAR Cup Series on-track action kicks off with a pair of practices at 12:30 p.m. ET and 1:15 p.m. ET followed by Busch Light Pole Qualifying at 2 p.m. ET (USA, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Charlotte ROVAL Clinch Scenarios: Advancing to the Round of 8
The Bank of America ROVAL 400 (Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) is the last chance for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff contenders to secure their spot in the Round of 8. After Races at Kansas and Talladega, only one driver has locked themself into the Round of 8 – William Byron (clinched on points) – heading into this weekend leaving 11 Playoff contenders vying for just seven positions.
Already Clinched
The following driver has clinched a spot in the 8-driver field of the next round: William Byron.
Can Clinch Via Points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 9th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among William Byron, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick or Chase Elliott.
- Christopher Bell: Would clinch regardless of finish
- Kyle Larson: Would clinch with 4 points
- Denny Hamlin: Would clinch with 26 points
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch with 30 points
- Ryan Blaney: Would clinch with 31 points
- Tyler Reddick: Would clinch with 42 points
- Chase Elliott: Would clinch with 43 points
- Joey Logano: Could only clinch with help
- Daniel Suarez: Could only clinch with help
- Austin Cindric: Could only clinch with help
- Chase Briscoe: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Joey Logano or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 8th winless driver in the standings.
- Christopher Bell: Would clinch with 11 points
- Kyle Larson: Would clinch with 16 points
- Denny Hamlin: Would clinch with 38 points
- Alex Bowman: Would clinch with 42 points
- Ryan Blaney: Would clinch with 43 points
- Tyler Reddick: Would clinch with 54 points
- Chase Elliott: Would clinch with 55 points
- Joey Logano: Could only clinch with help
- Daniel Suarez: Could only clinch with help
- Austin Cindric: Could only clinch with help
- Chase Briscoe: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Daniel Suarez, Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe
Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in the Playoffs
This season is the seventh-time the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course has hosted a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race. (2018-2024).
In total, the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course has occupied two positions on the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs schedule. From 2018-2019, the Charlotte Road Course hosted the third race in the Cup Series Playoffs (the Round of 16 elimination race), and from 2020-2024, the Charlotte Road Course has hosted the sixth race in the Cup Series Playoffs (the Round of 12 elimination race).
The 2024 season marks just the fifth-time the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course has hosted the sixth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2020-2024) – the elimination race of the Round of 12.
The Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (2020-2024) is the fourth different track to host the sixth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2004-Present); joining Martinsville Speedway (2004-2010), Talladega Superspeedway (2011, 2013-2016) and Kansas Speedway (2012, 2017-2019).
A total of five different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, led by Hendrick Motorsport’s Chase Elliott with two victories (2019, 2020).
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Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course Playoff Race Winners (2018-2023) |
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Date |
Race Winner |
Crew Chief |
Organization |
Race Number |
|
Sunday, September 30, 2018 |
Ryan Blaney |
Jeremy Bullins |
Team Penske |
29 |
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Sunday, September 29, 2019 |
Chase Elliott |
Alan Gustafson |
Hendrick Motorsports |
29 |
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Sunday, October 11, 2020 |
Chase Elliott |
Alan Gustafson |
Hendrick Motorsports |
32 |
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Sunday, October 10, 2021 |
Kyle Larson |
Cliff Daniels |
Hendrick Motorsports |
32 |
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Sunday, October 9, 2022 |
Christopher Bell |
Adam Stevens |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
32 |
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Sunday, October 8, 2023 |
AJ Allmendinger |
Matt Swiderski |
Kaulig Racing |
32 |
Twice the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course has gone on to win the championship later that same season – 2020 and 2021.
- In 2020, Chase Elliott won at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, then the sixth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title later that season. It was the first of three wins during his 2020 postseason run.
- In 2021, Kyle Larson won at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, then the sixth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title later that season. It was the second of his record tying five Playoff wins during the 2021 postseason.
The worst finish by a driver in the Playoff race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course that went on to win the NASCAR Cup Series title that same season was 18th by Joey Logano in 2022, then the sixth race of the Playoffs. Last season’s champion, Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, finished 12th in the NASCAR Cup Series Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course Playoff race (sixth race of the Playoffs) and went on to win the title.
Only once has a non-Playoff driver won the NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at the Charlotte ROVAL – in 2023, AJ Allmendinger won the Playoff race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, he was ranked 21st in the series standings at the time of the win.
Performing in the sixth race in the Playoffs is imperative
A total of 13 different drivers have won the sixth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson with four postseason victories – all at Martinsville Speedway (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008). Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers with three victories (2009, 2010, 2019) in the sixth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
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Race No. 6 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race Winners (2004-2023) |
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Date |
Track |
Race Winner |
Crew Chief |
Organization |
Race Number |
|
10/24/2004 |
Martinsville |
Jimmie Johnson |
Chad Knaus |
Hendrick Motorsports |
32 |
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10/23/2005 |
Martinsville |
Jeff Gordon |
Steve Letarte |
Hendrick Motorsports |
32 |
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10/22/2006 |
Martinsville |
Jimmie Johnson |
Chad Knaus |
Hendrick Motorsports |
32 |
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10/21/2007 |
Martinsville |
Jimmie Johnson |
Chad Knaus |
Hendrick Motorsports |
32 |
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10/19/2008 |
Martinsville |
Jimmie Johnson |
Chad Knaus |
Hendrick Motorsports |
32 |
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10/25/2009 |
Martinsville |
Denny Hamlin |
Mike Ford |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
32 |
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10/24/2010 |
Martinsville |
Denny Hamlin |
Mike Ford |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
32 |
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10/23/2011 |
Talladega |
Clint Bowyer |
Shane Wilson |
Richard Childress Racing |
32 |
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10/21/2012 |
Kansas |
Matt Kenseth |
Jimmy Fennig |
RFK Racing |
32 |
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10/20/2013 |
Talladega |
Jamie McMurray |
Kevin Manion |
Chip Ganassi Racing |
32 |
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10/19/2014 |
Talladega |
Brad Keselowski |
Paul Wolfe |
Team Penske |
32 |
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10/25/2015 |
Talladega |
Joey Logano |
Todd Gordon |
Team Penske |
32 |
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10/23/2016 |
Talladega |
Joey Logano |
Todd Gordon |
Team Penske |
32 |
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10/22/2017 |
Kansas |
Martin Truex Jr |
Cole Pearn |
Furniture Row Racing |
32 |
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10/21/2018 |
Kansas |
Chase Elliott |
Alan Gustafson |
Hendrick Motorsports |
32 |
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10/20/2019 |
Kansas |
Denny Hamlin |
Christopher Gabehart |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
32 |
|
10/11/2020 |
Charlotte RC |
Chase Elliott |
Alan Gustafson |
Hendrick Motorsports |
32 |
|
10/10/2021 |
Charlotte RC |
Kyle Larson |
Cliff Daniels |
Hendrick Motorsports |
32 |
|
10/9/2022 |
Charlotte RC |
Christopher Bell |
Adam Stevens |
Joe Gibbs Racing |
32 |
|
10/8/2023 |
Charlotte RC |
AJ Allmendinger |
Matt Swiderski |
Kaulig Racing |
32 |
Hendrick Motorsports leads all organizations in wins in the sixth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with eight victories (2004-2008, 2018, 2020 and 2021).
Four times a non-Playoff drivers have won the sixth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – 2005, 2011, 2013 and 2023.
- In 2005, Jeff Gordon won the Playoff race at Martinsville Speedway he was ranked 15th in the series standings at the time of the win.
- In 2011, Clint Bowyer won the Playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway he was ranked 13th in the series standings at the time of the win.
- In 2013, Jamie McMurray won the Playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway he was ranked 14th in the series standings at the time of the win.
- In 2023, AJ Allmendinger won the Playoff race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course he was ranked 14th in the series standings at the time of the win.
Six-times the winner of the sixth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs has gone on to win the championship later that same season – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2017, 2020 and 2021.
- In 2006, Jimmie Johnson won at Martinsville Speedway, then the sixth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title later that season. His only victory in the 2006 postseason.
- In 2007, Jimmie Johnson won at Martinsville Speedway, then the sixth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series title later that season. His first of four-straight wins in the 2007 postseason (Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas and Phoenix).
- In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won at Martinsville Speedway, then the sixth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series title later that season. It was his second of three wins in the 2008 postseason.
- In 2017, Martin Truex Jr. won at Kansas Speedway, then the sixth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title later that season. It was the third of four wins for him in the 2017 postseason.
- In 2020, Chase Elliott won at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, then the sixth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title later that season. It was the first of his three wins during the 2020 postseason run.
- In 2021, Kyle Larson won at the Charlotte Road Course, then the sixth race in the Playoffs, and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title later that season. It was the second of his record tying five Playoff wins during the 2021 postseason.
The worst finish by a driver in the sixth Playoff race that went on to win the NASCAR Cup Series title that same season was:
- At Kansas Speedway (2012, 2017-2019) it has happened twice – Brad Keselowski in 2012 and Joey Logano in 2018 each finished eighth in the sixth race of the Playoffs at Kansas Speedway and then went on to win the title later those same seasons.
- At Talladega Superspeedway (2011, 2013-2016) – Jimmie Johnson in 2016 finished 23rd in the sixth race of the Playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway and went on to win the title later that season.
- At Martinsville Speedway (2004-2010) – Jimmie Johnson in 2010 and Kurt Busch in 2004 each finished fifth in the sixth race of the Playoffs at Martinsville Speedway and then went on to win the title later that same season.
- At the Charlotte Road Course (2020-2023) – Joey Logano in 2022 finished 18th in the sixth race of the Playoffs at the Charlotte ROVAL and then went on to win the title later that same season.
When the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course hosted the third race in the Playoffs (2018-2019) the winner in 2019, Chase Elliott, finished the season 10th in the final championship standings and the 2018 Charlotte ROVAL winner, Ryan Blaney, also finished the season 10th in the final standings.
This weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs elimination race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course will be 109 laps (248.52 miles) and will be broken up into three stages. The first to stages will be 25 laps each and the final stage is scheduled for 59 laps.
Playoff Crunch Time: Logano, Suarez, Cindric, Briscoe face elimination
For the drivers facing elimination this weekend in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs currently under the Round of 8 cutline – Joey Logano (-13), Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez (-20), Team Penske’s Austin Cindric (-29) and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Chase Briscoe (-32) – it all comes down to this Sunday’s 109 scheduled laps around the ROVAL.
Following last weekend’s wild Talladega Superspeedway Playoff race that saw Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron lock into the Round of 8 on points, at the other end of the standings is Byron’s Hendrick teammate Chase Elliott, who resides in the eighth and final transfer spot on points to the next round, just 13 points up on the cutline.
Below is a closer look at the four drivers below the Round of 8 cutline.
Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford)
· Heads to the Charlotte Roval ranked ninth in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs outlook with 3,048 points, back -13 points from the Round of 8 cutline.
· This is his 11th postseason appearance and 10th since the elimination-style format was introduced in 2014, and he has advanced to the Round of 8 in eight of his appearances (2022, ’21, ’20, ’19, ’18, ’16, ’15, ’14).
· Has made six series starts at the Charlotte Roval posting two top fives and six top 10s.
Daniel Suarez (No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet)
· Heads to the Charlotte Roval ranked 10th in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs outlook with 3,041 points, back -20 points from the Round of 8 cutline.
· This is his second postseason appearance (2024, ‘22).
· Did not advance to the Round of 8 in his only other appearance in the Playoffs (2022).
· Has made six series starts at the Charlotte Roval posting a best finish of 13th in 2021.
Austin Cindric (No. 2 Team Penske Ford)
· Heads to the Charlotte Roval ranked 10th in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs outlook with 3,032 points, back -29 points from the Round of 8 cutline.
· This is his second postseason appearance (2024, ‘22).
· Did not advance to the Round of 8 in his only other appearance in the Playoffs (2022).
· Has made two series starts at the Charlotte Roval posting a best finish of 21st in 2022.
Chase Briscoe (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford)
· Heads to the Charlotte Roval ranked 10th in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs outlook with 3,029 points, back -32 points from the Round of 8 cutline.
· This is his second postseason appearance (2024, ‘22).
· Has advanced to the Round of 8 in his only other appearance in the Playoffs (2022).
· Has made three series starts at the Charlotte Roval posting one top-10 finish.
Cup Series Playoff Dozen at the Charlotte ROVAL
Playoff elimination races amp up the intensity and this weekend at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course is no different.
Here is a quick look at the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12 drivers and how they have performed at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course:
|
Rank |
Driver |
Races |
Poles |
Wins |
Top Fives |
Top 10s |
DNFs |
Average Finish |
Driver Rating |
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|
1 |
William Byron |
6 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
12.5 |
106.6 |
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|
2 |
Christopher Bell |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
12.0 |
90.4 |
||
|
3 |
Kyle Larson |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
17.4 |
95.8 |
||
|
4 |
Denny Hamlin |
6 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
16.8 |
74.8 |
||
|
5 |
Alex Bowman |
5 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
6.4 |
86.3 |
||
|
6 |
Ryan Blaney |
6 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
10.2 |
92.2 |
||
|
7 |
Tyler Reddick |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
7.0 |
106.4 |
||
|
8 |
Chase Elliott |
6 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
8.2 |
111.2 |
||
|
9 |
Joey Logano |
6 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
8.7 |
95.9 |
||
|
10 |
Daniel Suárez |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
27.0 |
65.2 |
||
|
11 |
Austin Cindric |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
23.0 |
61.6 |
||
|
12 |
Chase Briscoe |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
19.7 |
65.9 |
It’s Not Over Yet: Drivers that have raced their way into the Round of 8
Since the introduction of the ‘elimination style’ format of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2014, several drivers have raced their way into the Round of 8 in the sixth and final cutoff race of the Round of 12.
2014: Heading to Talladega (sixth race of the Playoffs) in 2014, Matt Kenseth was ranked ninth in the Playoff standings, one point back from the Round of 8 cutoff and Brad Keselowski was ranked 10th in the Playoff standings, 19 points behind the Round of 8 cutoff. Brad Keselowski won the race at Talladega and automatically advanced to the next round. Matt Kenseth finished second at Talladega and advanced on points to the Round of 8 knocking Kasey Kahne (12th-place finish at Talladega) and Kyle Busch (40th-place finish at Talladega) out of the Playoffs. Heading into the elimination race, Kyle Busch was second in the Playoff standings 26 points above the cutline and Kasey Kahne was eighth in the Playoff standings just one point above the Round of 8 cutoff.
2015: Heading to Talladega (sixth race of the Playoffs) in 2015, Kyle Busch was ranked ninth in the Playoff standings just six points back from the Round of 8 cutoff. Kyle Busch finished 11th at Talladega and advanced on points knocking his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin (37th-place finish at Talladega due to an incident) out of the Playoffs. Heading into the elimination race, Denny Hamlin was second in the Playoff standings, 18 points above the Round of 8 cutoff.
2016: Heading to Talladega (sixth race of the Playoffs) in 2016, Denny Hamlin was ranked 10th in the Playoff standings, six points back from the Round of 8 cutoff. Hamlin went on to finish third at Talladega and advanced on points knocking Martin Truex Jr. (40th-place finish at Talladega due to an engine failure) out of the Playoffs. Heading into the elimination race, Martin Truex Jr. was sixth in the Playoff standings, 13 points above the Round of 8 cutoff.
2017: Heading to Kansas (sixth race of the Playoffs) in 2017, Kyle Busch was ranked ninth in the Playoff standings, seven points back from the Round of 8 cutoff. Busch went on to finish 10th at Kansas and advanced on points knocking Kyle Larson (39th-place finish at Kansas due to an engine failure) out of the Playoffs. Heading into the elimination race, Kyle Larson was third in the Playoff standings, 29 points above the Round of 8 cutoff.
2018: The four drivers below the Round of 8 cutline heading into the sixth race of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Kansas Speedway – Brad Keselowski (-1 point from cutoff), Ryan Blaney (-5), Kyle Larson (-19) and Alex Bowman (-51) – all failed to advance to the Round of 8 and were eliminated from the Playoffs following the Kansas race. At Kansas, Larson finished third, Keselowski finished sixth, Blaney finished seventh and Bowman finished ninth.
2019: Heading to Kansas Speedway (sixth race of the Playoffs) in 2019, Chase Elliott was ranked 10th in the Playoff standings, 15 points back from the Round of 8 cutoff. Elliott went on to finish second at Kansas and advanced on points knocking Brad Keselowski (19th-place finish at Kansas) out of the Playoffs. Heading into the elimination race, Keselowski was fifth in the Playoff standings, nine points above the Round of 8 cutoff.
2020: Heading to the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (sixth race of the Playoffs) in 2020, Kurt Busch was ranked 10th in the Playoff standings, five points back from the Round of 8 cutoff. Kurt Busch went on to finish fourth in the Charlotte Road Course race and advanced on points knocking Austin Dillon (19th-place finish at the Charlotte ROVAL) out of the Playoffs. Heading into the elimination race, Dillon was eighth in the Playoff standings tied with Kyle Busch (ninth) on points (3,053 each) along the Round of 8 cutline.
2021: The four drivers below the Round of 8 cutline heading into the sixth race of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course – Kevin Harvick (-9 points from cutoff), Christopher Bell (-28), William Byron (-44) and Alex Bowman (-52) – all failed to advance to the Round of 8 and were eliminated from the Playoffs following the Charlotte ROVAL race. At the Charlotte Road Course, Harvick finished 33rd, Bell finished eighth, Byron finished 11th and Bowman finished 10th. Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch were tied in points for the final two position in the Round of 8 heading into Charlotte and both held on and advanced.
2022: Heading to the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (sixth race of the Playoffs) in 2022, William Byron was ranked 10th in the Playoff standings, 11 points back from the Round of 8 cutoff and Christopher Bell was ranked 11th, 33 points back in a must win situation. Bell would go on to win the race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course to advance to the Round of 8. Byron would finish the event 16th and advanced on points. Bell and Byron would knock Kyle Larson (35th-place finish at the Charlotte ROVAL) and Daniel Suarez (36th-place finish) out of the Playoffs. Heading into the elimination race, Larson was sixth in the Playoff standings up 18 points on the Round of 8 cutline and Suarez was ranked seventh in the Playoff standings, up 12 points on the Round of 8 cutoff.
2023: Heading to the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (sixth race of the Playoffs) in 2023, Tyler Reddick was ranked ninth in the Playoff standings, two points back from the Round of 8 cutoff. Reddick would go on to finish sixth the race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course to advance to the Round of 8. Reddick would knock Brad Keselowski (18th-place finish at the Charlotte ROVAL) out of the Playoffs. Heading into the elimination race, Keselowski was eighth in the Playoff standings up just two points on the Round of 8 cutoff.
NASCAR Cup Series continues stat-filled 2024 season
This is season has been filled with memory-making races that are chalk-full of great statistics. Here is a quick look at some of this season’s superlatives.
- The NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway finished with a Margin of Victory of 0.006-second – the third closest Margin of Victory at Talladega in the Cup Series and tied with the 2001 Atlanta race for the seventh closest finish in series history.
- The 2024 season has produced three of the top-seven closest finishes since the introduction of electronic scoring in 1993, the only season to have more than one finish ranked in the top-10.
- With the introduction of the Next Gen car (2022-2024), the NASCAR Cup Series has produced seven finishes that rank inside the 30 closest finishes since the introduction of electronic scoring (1993-2024), including the closest finish of all-time – 0.001-second at Kansas Speedway on May 5, 2024.
- The NASCAR Cup Series has produced 18 different winners this season, the second-most different winners through the first 31 Cup races of a season in the Modern Era (1972-2024) – the record is 19 different winners set in 2022 (first year of the Next Gen car).
- And to boot, since the Olympic break a different organization has won each of the Cup races – Richmond (Richard Childress Racing), Michigan (23XI Racing), Daytona (Wood Brothers Racing), Darlington (Stewart-Haas Racing), Atlanta (Team Penske), Watkins Glen (RFK Racing), Bristol (Hendrick Motorsports), Kansas (Trackhouse Racing) and Talladega (JTG Daugherty Racing).
- This season 13 Cup races have finished in Overtime – a new single season record, previous record was 11 set in 2017.
- This season has produced an average of 11.42 different lap leaders per race – the second-most in the Modern Era (1972-2024), behind only the 2011 season (12.55).
- The 2024 Cup season has produced the series-most in Green Flag Passes for the Lead (1,979) and Total Green Flag Passes (157,206) through 31 races since the Loop Data stat was introduced in 2005.
- Both Green Flag Passes for the Lead and Total Green Flag Passes are up significantly year-over-year (24.2% and 22.9%, respectively).
At Talladega:
- The NASCAR Cup Series Talladega Superspeedway race produced a new series and track record of 368 Green Flag Passes for the Lead – up +5.7% from this same race last season with 348 Green Flag Passes for the Lead. The 368 Green Flag Passes for the Lead are the most ever produced in a single NASCAR Cup Series event; the previous most GFPL in a single race was 348 set in lasts season’s Talladega Playoff race.
- The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway produced 66 lead changes, sixth-most at the track all-time. The series record for lead changes at Talladega is 88 set in 2010 and 2011.
- The Talladega race produced 24 lap leaders, tied with 2023 Playoff race for seventh-most at the track, the record is 29 set in 2010.
NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.
Multi-Platinum Recording Artists Eli Young Band Added to Bank of America ROVAL 400 Concert Lineup – GRAMMY Award-nominated Eli Young Band is set to electrify America’s Home for Racing with a high-energy pre-race concert ahead of the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course on Sunday, Oct. 13.
“We’re thrilled to bring our sound to America’s Home for Racing and to get fans revved up before the green flag drops at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” said Mike Eli of Eli Young Band. “There’s nothing like the energy of a race track so we’re going to bring a party to the fans that no one will want to miss.”
The 14-time billboard charting group is slated to perform a 60-minute set, pulling from their wide range of singles like platinum “Love Ain’t,” Academy of Country Music Award Song of the Year and five-time platinum “Crazy Girl” and three-time platinum hit, “Even if it Breaks Your Heart.”
Starting as college roommates 20 years ago, this Texas-rooted band of brothers, Mike Eli, James Young, Jon Jones and Chris Thompson write their own songs, play their own instruments and continuously sell out venues from coast to coast. From sharing the stage with some of country music’s biggest legends such as Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and more, the Eli Young Band will headline Charlotte Motor Speedway’s infield pre-race stage as they rock the ROVAL™, following a concert earlier in the day by NASCAR fan-favorite Tim Dugger.
“The biggest race in NASCAR’s Playoffs deserves the biggest entertainment lineup off the track as well,” said Charlotte Motor Speedway President and General Manager Greg Walter. “With the Eli Young Band added to Sunday’s slate of music and fun, fans are once again in for a weekend to remember here at America’s Home for Racing.”
The concerts are free for all fans with a Sunday Bank of America ROVAL 400 ticket.
NASCAR Cup Series milestones to watch – Below is a look at some of the anticipated NASCAR Cup Series milestones to watch for this week and the rest of the season.
Starts
- Joey Logano is expected to make his 575th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
- William Byron is expected to make his 250th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
- Michael McDowell is expected to make his 500th NASCAR Cup Series career start at Martinsville Speedway.
Poles
- Kyle Busch currently has 34 NASCAR Cup Series poles, if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett for 21st on the all-time pole winners list with 35 poles each.
- Joey Logano currently has 31 NASCAR Cup Series poles (tied with Kevin Harvick), if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famers Fireball Roberts and Fred Lorenzen for 24th on the all-time pole winners list with 32 poles each.
- Martin Truex Jr. currently has 23 NASCAR Cup Series poles (tied with Ken Schrader and Jack Smith), if he were to win another pole, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Alan Kulwicki for 33rd on the all-time pole winners list with 24 poles each.
Wins
- Denny Hamlin currently has 54 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace for 11th on the all-time wins list with 55 victories each.
- Brad Keselowski currently has 36 NASCAR Cup Series wins, if he were to win another race, he would tie Bobby Isaac for 23rd on the all-time wins list with 37 victories each.
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Elimination time: Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course up next
The stakes are high for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff contenders as they head to the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course for the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by BlueCross & BlueShield of North Carolina on Saturday, October 12 at 4 p.m. ET (The CW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) – the first elimination race of the Playoff season.
This weekend’s race will be the seventh time the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course has hosted a NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff race (2018-2024). The Charlotte Road Course has occupied two spots on the postseason schedule – in 2018 and 2019, the Charlotte ROVAL hosted the second race in the Round of 12 and then from 2020 to 2024, the 2.32-mile road course hosted the Round of 12 elimination race (the third race in the Playoffs).
There have been six Xfinity Series races at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, producing three different race winners and four different pole winners. A.J. Allmendinger leads the series with wins on the Charlotte road course with four (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022) while Chase Briscoe won the inaugural race in 2018, and Playoff contender Sam Mayer took the checkered flag in last year’s race.
With only one race left in the Round of 12, drivers will be sure to be all gas, no brakes for practice on Saturday, October 12 at 10 a.m. ET followed by qualifying at 11 a.m. ET on the USA Network and streamed on the NBC Sports App.
Playoff Bubble: Allgaier, Van Gisbergen, Mayer, Kligerman under the cusp
Following the second race of the Round of 12 at Talladega Superspeedway, Sammy Smith (by virtue of win) and Chandler Smith (by virtue of points), clinched their way into the Round of 8,
As the series heads to the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, Cole Custer (37 points above the cutline), Austin Hill (+37), Sheldon Creed (+32), Jesse Love (+22), Riley Herbst (+20), and A.J. Allmendinger (+7) hold the remaining six Playoff spots, but a lot can change, especially on a road course.
Seven points point below the cutline is Justin Allgaier who is no stranger to competing in the Playoffs, having participated in every postseason since the Playoffs started in 2016. Shane van Gisbergen, who is in his first season in the Xfinity Series and his first Playoff appearance, sits 10 points below the cutline. Sam Mayer, who made it all the way to the Championship 4 Round in the Playoffs last season sits 13 points behind the cutline while Parker Kligerman sits 16 points back.
|
NASCAR Xfinity Series Driver Playoff Point Standings Projection Following Talladega Superspeedway – 10-5-24 |
|||||||
|
Rank |
Driver |
Vehicle |
Points |
Race Wins |
Stage Wins |
Playoff Pts |
+/- Cutoff |
|
1 |
Sammy Smith (P) |
8 |
2,066 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
In On Wins |
|
2 |
Chandler Smith (P) |
81 |
2,122 |
2 |
7 |
25 |
In On Points |
|
3 |
Cole Custer (P) |
00 |
2,095 |
2 |
3 |
28 |
37 |
|
4 |
Austin Hill (P) |
21 |
2,095 |
3 |
4 |
26 |
37 |
|
5 |
Sheldon Creed (P) |
18 |
2,090 |
0 |
1 |
7 |
32 |
|
6 |
Jesse Love # (P) |
2 |
2,080 |
1 |
4 |
13 |
22 |
|
7 |
Riley Herbst (P) |
98 |
2,078 |
1 |
2 |
10 |
20 |
|
8 |
AJ Allmendinger (P) |
16 |
2,065 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
|
9 |
Justin Allgaier (P) |
7 |
2,058 |
2 |
14 |
34 |
-7 |
|
10 |
Shane van Gisbergen # (P) |
97 |
2,055 |
3 |
2 |
17 |
-10 |
|
11 |
Sam Mayer (P) |
1 |
2,052 |
2 |
2 |
12 |
-13 |
|
12 |
Parker Kligerman (P) |
48 |
2,049 |
0 |
1 |
-2 |
-16 |
Clinch scenarios heading into the Charlotte Roval
With only one opportunity left to advance to the Round of 8, let’s take a look at what it’s going to take for each driver to advance:
Already Clinched
The following 2 drivers have clinched a spot in the 8-driver field of the next round: Chandler Smith, Sammy Smith.
Can clinch via points
If there is a repeat winner or a win by a driver who cannot advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 8th winless driver in the standings. The same point requirements listed below would hold true if a new win comes from among Chandler Smith, Cole Custer, Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed, Jesse Love, Riley Herbst or AJ Allmendinger.
- Cole Custer: Would clinch with 19 points
- Austin Hill: Would clinch with 19 points
- Sheldon Creed: Would clinch with 24 points
- Jesse Love: Would clinch with 34 points
- Riley Herbst: Would clinch with 36 points
- AJ Allmendinger: Would clinch with 49 points
- Justin Allgaier: Could only clinch with help
- Shane Van Gisbergen: Could only clinch with help
- Sam Mayer: Could only clinch with help
- Parker Kligerman: Could only clinch with help
If there is a new winner from Justin Allgaier or another winless driver lower in the standings but still eligible to advance to the next round, the following drivers could clinch by being ahead of the 7th winless driver in the standings.
- Cole Custer: Would clinch with 26 points
- Austin Hill: Would clinch with 26 points
- Sheldon Creed: Would clinch with 31 points
- Jesse Love: Would clinch with 41 points
- Riley Herbst: Would clinch with 43 points
- AJ Allmendinger: Could only clinch with help
- Justin Allgaier: Could only clinch with help
- Shane Van Gisbergen: Could only clinch with help
- Sam Mayer: Could only clinch with help
- Parker Kligerman: Could only clinch with help
Can clinch via win
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
- Cole Custer, Austin Hill, Sheldon Creed, Jesse Love, Riley Herbst, AJ Allmendinger, Justin Allgaier, Shane Van Gisbergen, Sam Mayer, Parker Kligerman
Scouting the Playoff field: Charlotte Roval edition
Drivers have one shot to advance to the Round of 8 starting at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next weekend. Let’s see how they have performed at the 2.28-mile road course.
Sammy Smith: Already clinched into the Round of 8 with his win last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, he heads to the Charlotte Roval with one start under his belt (2023), posting an 11th-place finish.
Chandler Smith: Clinched into the Round of 8 on points, Smith heads to the Charlotte road course having made one previous start where he finished in 12th.
Cole Custer: He has made three starts at the track, posting one top five (a runner-up finish in 2023) and three top 10s.
Austin Hill: He has made four starts, posting one top-10 finish.
Sheldon Creed: He has made two starts, posting one top-10 finish.
Jesse Love: He will be making his debut on the Charlotte Roval this weekend.
Riley Herbst: He has made four starts on the Charlotte road course, posting one top five and one top 10.
A.J. Allmendinger: He is undefeated at the Charlotte Roval, having posted a win in all four of his starts.
Justin Allgaier: He has made six starts at the track, posting two top fives and three top 10s.
Shane van Gisbergen: He will be making his debut at the track this weekend.
Sam Mayer: He has made three starts, posting one win (2023), one top five and two top 10s.
Parker Kligerman: His only start at the track was in 2023 where he finished in sixth.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Etc.
Sunoco Rookie of the Year Update – Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love and Kaulig Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen have been battling for the rookie lead in this postseason, but Love has once again found himself on top with 2,080 points with Van Gisbergen not far behind with 2,055 points.
Sliding into third is Young’s Motorsports’ Leland Honeyman Jr with 426 points and rounding out the competition is Hailie Deegan with 174 points.
|
NXS Sunoco Rookie of the Year Standings |
|
|
|
Rookies |
Points |
Awards |
|
Jesse Love |
2,080 |
14 |
|
Shane van Gisbergen |
2,055 |
10 |
|
Leland Honeyman |
426 |
3 |
|
Hailie Deegan |
174 |
1 |
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs continue in South Florida
The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series competitors will have three weeks off to regroup and go over strategy before heading to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the second race of the Round of 8 on Saturday, October 26 at 12 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio.
The 1.5-mile oval has hosted 27 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races since its inaugural CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event on March 17, 1996 – a race won by Dave Rezendes piloting the No. 7 Geoffrey Bodine Motorsports Ford. Notably, there have been 24 different race winners. Kyle Busch leads the series with three wins at the track.
The 2024 season marks the first time the speedway has hosted the second race in the Round of 8.
Homestead had played host to the Round of 8 finale the past two seasons (2022-2023). The track was home to the championship race from 2016-2019 before landing a spot on the regular season schedule for 2020-2021 season.
Of those six previous races, only three Playoff drivers have won: Brett Moffitt (2018), Ty Majeski (2022), and Carson Hocevar (2023). Brett Moffitt is the only driver to have won the championship.
On-track activity for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway kicks off with practice at 2:35 p.m. followed by Cometic Gasket Pole Qualifying at 3:05 p.m. EST on Friday, October 25.
Playoff Bubble: Caruth, Gray, Sanchez, and Ankrum outside Championship 4 cutline
With one spot in the Championship 4 secured by Grant Enfinger, the rest of the competitors are certainly starting to feel the heat. As the Round of 8 finale looms closer, the drivers sitting below the cutline are Rajah Caruth, Taylor Gray, Nick Sanchez, and Tyler Ankrum.
Spire Motorsport’s Rajah Caruth, in his first Playoff appearance, finished fourth at Talladega Superspeedway and left the 2.66-mile paved oval five points back from the Championship 4 cutline.
Another driver in his first Playoff appearance below the cutline is TRICON Garage’s Taylor Gray. Despite finishing second at ‘Dega, the 19-year-old is 13 points back from the final transfer position. The Denver, North Carolina native will look to bounce back from the heartbreak at Homestead in three weeks.
Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez had a rough day at Talladega finishing 22nd after starting on the front row. The 323-year-old now sits 20 points back from the cutline. The driver of the No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet made it to the Round of 8 for a second consecutive season.
As the Miami, Florida native returns to his home track, he hopes to capture the checkered flag and secure his spot in the Championship 4 for the first time.
McAnally-Hilgemann’s Tyler Ankrum heads to Homestead ranked eighth in the Playoff stands – 23 points back from the fourth and final spot in the championship round.
Currently, ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski is in the fourth and final position to transfer to the championship round. Just ahead of Majeski in third is McAnally-Hilgemann driver Christian Eckes, up +39 points on the Championship 4 cutline.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Outlook Following Talladega Superspeedway (10-4-24)
|
Rank |
Driver |
Points |
Starts |
Race Wins |
Stage Wins |
Playoff Pts |
+/- Cutoff |
|
1 |
Grant Enfinger (P) |
3,066 |
20 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
In On Win |
|
2 |
Corey Heim (P) |
3,078 |
20 |
6 |
8 |
48 |
30 |
|
3 |
Christian Eckes (P) |
3,077 |
20 |
3 |
9 |
39 |
29 |
|
4 |
Ty Majeski (P) |
3,053 |
20 |
2 |
6 |
24 |
5 |
|
5 |
Rajah Caruth (P) |
3,048 |
20 |
1 |
1 |
10 |
-5 |
|
6 |
Taylor Gray (P) |
3,040 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
-13 |
|
7 |
Nick Sanchez (P) |
3,033 |
20 |
2 |
1 |
18 |
-20 |
|
8 |
Tyler Ankrum (P) |
3,030 |
20 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
-23 |
Survive and Advance: Round of 8 Experts
In the NACAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs, every lap counts if you want to have a fighting chance to make it into the Championship 4.
Only two of the remaining eight championship contenders are familiar with finding a way to survive and advance to the Championship 4 Round. One of which has already secured his spot to race for the championship.
Let’s take a closer look at those two drivers’ elimination history:
Corey Heim (No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota)
- Finished the 2023 season third in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff standings after being eliminated in the Championship 4 Round.
Grant Enfinger (No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet)
- Finished the 2023 season runner‐up in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff standings after making the Championship 4 Round.
- Finished the 2022 season fifth in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff standings after being eliminated in the Round of 8.
- Finished the 2020 season fourth in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff standings after making the Championship 4 Round.
- Finished the 2019 season seventh in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff standings after being eliminated in the Round of 8.
- Finished the 2018 season fifth in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff standings after being eliminated in the Round of 6.
Of the two competitors, Grant Enfinger is the only one locked into the Championship 4 Round.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Etc.
2024 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Manufacturers Championship breakdown – Following 20 races, Chevrolet leads the OEMs in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Manufacturers Championship with 10 wins and 745 points on the season.
|
Manufacturers Championship Standings |
|
|
|
OEMs |
Wins |
Points |
|
Chevrolet |
10 |
745 |
|
Toyota |
6 |
703 |
|
Ford |
4 |
670 |
2024 Sunoco Rookie of the Year update – Layne Riggs continues to dominate the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings following 20 races in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
The driver of the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford has two wins on the season (Milwaukee, Bristol) and sits 358 points over Connor Jones and 387 points over Thadd Moffitt.
|
NCTS Sunoco Rookie of the Year Standings |
|
|
|
Rookies |
Points |
Awards |
|
Layne Riggs |
515 |
13 |
|
Connor Jones |
157 |
4 |
|
Thadd Moffitt |
128 |
3 |
COURTESY NASCAR COMMUNICATIONS
