NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Championship Races: 2024 Schedule, Details
Frankie Muniz explains why the NASCAR playoffs benefited the sport as a whole
Actor Frankie Muniz has dedicated the last few years of his life to a career in auto racing and explains why he loves NASCAR’s current playoff former.
Sports Seriously, USA TODAY
The NASCAR Cup Series is moving ever closer to its ten playoff races, which will culminate with the championship race at Phoenix Raceway on November 10.
Sixteen drivers qualify for the playoffs based on a win in the regular season or the most points among winless drivers after 26 races.
Once the playoffs begin, the four drivers with the fewest points among the 16 drivers will be eliminated after the conclusion of the third race. Four more will be eliminated after the sixth race and four more after the ninth, leaving four drivers competing for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series championship.
If a playoff driver wins a race in any of the three rounds, he automatically advances to the next round. However, if non-playoff drivers win those races, playoff drivers advance based on points earned in each of the three rounds.
Here you can find more information about the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs and championship race:
When and where do the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs start?
The first race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs will take place on Sunday, September 8, at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. ET and will be televised by USA Network.
How many races are in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
The NASCAR playoffs include a total of 10 races, including the NASCAR Cup Series championship race on November 10. The 10 playoff races are followed by 26 regular season races.
How many rounds are there in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs consist of three rounds of three races each. The third, sixth and ninth races are elimination races.
How many drivers make it to the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
Sixteen drivers will compete in the playoffs, with each of them trying to advance and win the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series championship. However, drivers who are not in the playoffs will still race every weekend and can win races even if they are not in the playoffs.
When is the NASCAR Cup Series championship race?
The final race of the season will take place on Sunday, November 10th at 3:00 p.m. ET at Phoenix Raceway. NBC will broadcast the championship race.
What is the full schedule for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
Here is the schedule with dates, tracks, times and TV broadcasts for each of the 10 races of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (the race can also be streamed on Fubo):
(All times Eastern Time)
- Sunday, September 8: Atlanta Motor Speedway, USA, 3 p.m.
- Sunday, September 15: Watkins Glen International, USA, 3 p.m.
- Saturday, September 21st: Bristol Motor Speedway, USA, 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, September 29th: Kansas Speedway, USA, 3 p.m.
- Sunday, October 6: Talladega Superspeedway, NBC, 2 p.m
- Sunday, October 13th: Charlotte Roval, NBC, 2 p.m.
- Sunday, October 20: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NBC, 2:30 p.m.
- Sunday, October 27: Homestead-Miami Speedway, NBC, 2:30 p.m
- Sunday, November 3rd: Martinsville Speedway, NBC, 2 p.m.
- Sunday, November 10th: Phoenix Raceway, NBC, 3 p.m.
How many races are left before the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin?
There are three races left before the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin, including the final race at Michigan International Speedway, which was suspended due to rain. The FireKeepers Casino 400 resumes on Monday, August 19, at 11 a.m. ET, broadcast on the USA Network. Here are the final two races of the regular season:
- Saturday, August 24th: Daytona International Speedway, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
- Sunday, September 1st: Darlington Raceway, 6:00 p.m. ET (US)
Which drivers have already secured a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs?
Drivers can earn a playoff spot by winning the regular season. Here are the 12 drivers who have at least one win this season (with number of wins and points before the Cup Series race at Michigan):
Kyle Larson 4 (779); Denny Hamlin 3 (758); Christopher Bell 3 (701); William Byron 3 (678); Ryan Blaney 2 (702); Tyler Reddick 1 (774); Chase Elliott 1 (773); Brad Keselowski 1 (636); Alex Bowman 1 (615); Joey Logano 1 (557); Daniel Suarez 1 (497); Austin Cindric 1 (451).
NOTE: Austin Dillon won the race on August 11 at Richmond Raceway, but three days later NASCAR stripped him of his automatic playoff spot after reviewing the final lap of the race and communications from the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing team. Dillon wrecked Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on the final lap before seeing the checkered flag. RCR has appealed the penalty.
We occasionally recommend products and services of interest. If you make a purchase through one of the links, we may receive an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this does not influence our reporting.
