How NASCAR Cup playoff works: a simplified guide

The regular season ended at the Detona International Speedway, and William Bayran has already won the regular season title. 14 drivers have won their way in the playoffs, and the last two spots will be fixed at the end of this week. But if you are already lost, or a fan who needs refresher, do not look forward.

This year marks the eleventh year with a knockout-style format. Originally called ‘The Chase’ in 2004 and included ten drivers, who tried to gather more points than others during the last ten races, the system is completely different in the modern era. It was a decade ago when NASCAR decided to do AA full overhul and divided into four separate rounds to determine an extended playoff field, elimination, and ten races to determine the champion of the Cup series.

So, how does it really work? Here all this is a simplified breakdown:

Resetting points with 16 contenders

After the first 26 races, every full -time driver with a win is closed in the playoffs. The remaining 16-driver area is made up of people with the most regular season points, but there is no win during the year. Entering Detonona, Tyler Radic and Alex Boman are currently alone alone only drivers, but a new winner in Detona can knock either of them. Once Detona passes, the playoff grid is closed for the last ten races of the year.

Issue reset: Standing will offer 2,000 playoff points with all 16 playoff drivers. The accumulated bonus points are added to the total during the regular season – win five points per race per step, and a handful of additional points for ten highest drivers in standing before reset. This includes 15 for the regular season champion. However, they will not be alone on the track. All the drivers who fail to make the playoffs will still compete with every race weekend. What are they running for? Well, there is still a race to win and a high finishing position to reach the points. Anything is running for a job next year, such as Daniel Suarez.

Three rounds of elimination

Round of 16: The first three races of the playoff creates a round of 16, where the four lowest driver in the points (usually 13th through 16th) will be abolished by the title controversy. Like a regular season, a win by any playoff driver – no matter how many digits, automatically carry them forward in the following round.

2025 races: Darlington Raceway, World Wide Technology Reswe, Bristol Motor Speedway

what to expect: This is the period where many ‘priests’ get out of the playoffs, such as those who are not normally competitive, but managed to find their way for victory lane at one point during a regular session. In 2025, the Gateway will be part of the playoffs for the first time, while the prestigious Southern 500 playoffs in Darlington will open. Bristol is known for chaos, but it has been a taler in the next gene era because it has become difficult to pass it. This is the period where you just want to avoid any unexpected errors. Those who make mistakes and fail to finish the race will be eliminated.

Round of 12: The points are resetted up to 3,000 with bonus points added by 3,000, as well as any additional bonus points earned during the 16 round. The format between these rounds is very similar with one and three races, four drivers have been removed with minimal points (9th through 9th). When this round ends, half of the original playoff field will run.

2025 races: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway Rowl

what to expect: The middle-point of the playoffs is known for its proper part of stunning exhaust, as it becomes difficult to fall back on the bonus points with only eight moving. Whether they should be made in this era, the playoff spiiler Shane Van Gisbergen will be clear favorite, while Kansas is known as one of the most wild intermediate tracks. The NHMS also returns to the playoffs for the first time in many years, and with the same soft tires used in Richmond, the strategy will be important.

Round of 8: Points reset up to 4,000, including bonus digits for another three-half stretch. It goes into the prevailing race of the season where the lower four drivers will once again be terminated (5th through 5th) without winning. During this round, one of the remaining eight drivers automatically ensures them a shot on the title in concluding them. At least one driver will be transferred to points, it depends on who wins these races.

2025 races: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Taldga Supersedway, Martinsville Speedway

what to expect: This round is known for its play near Championship Drawing. It showed many physical changes among the title fighters, especially in 2014 when there was an all-out dispute between the teams. Jeff gordon And Brad KeselovskyIn 2015, Matte canceth Was deliberately suspended after debris Joy logano Out of the playoff controversy in Peback for the previous incident. The list includes, including Now banned wall-riding maneuver He launched Ross chastean In 2022 Championship 4 and made it a viral sensation. This round is usually the climax of the season, even more than the title disorder. But in 2025, it should also be crazy because Tald will first go to 8 times. This is a radical change, and one will make it easier for a stunning driver to win his way in the title-disorder.

Comment: During these rounds, any points will break from the highest finish of the driver during the three races within that individual round.

Championship 4

Winner-Le-All Finale. As expected, it is one of the most controversial aspects of the current playoff format. You may dominate the entire season, but a mistake in this race means that you will end the best year of the year. In Phoenix, the remaining four driver will take it out in the 36th and final race of the season as the points are reset to 5,000. During the race, no platform points have been provided for the Championship 4 drivers. The format becomes very straight here – whoever finishes the highest, wins the title. A tie, which took place in the old format during the 2011 season, is no longer possible. In addition, wherever they are qualified, four contenders are guaranteed to select their pit box before the rest of the region.

Host track: Phoenix racewe

what to expect: Since the establishment of the current format eleven years ago, the champion had to win the finale in every season by 2023. The Chasten became the first non-playoff driver in the knockout era to spoil the party and capture the checker flag in title-vision, Ire drawing of 2023 champions Ryan Blani As he did so. Team Penske is also undefined as the next gene car was first introduced in 2022. Joy Logano won the title that year, then Blanne won the second place in ’23, and then Logano again with Bleni last year. If any pension driver removes it, they will become automatic favorite.

Phoenix has hosted concluding since 2020, known for its wild restart, where entire field fans they cut the frontstretch apron in a bizarre, but perform completely legal. Four of the last five champions have started all on the front line Phoenix, so qualifying will be important. Blanyy is outer, winning the title from the 15th on the grid in 2023.

And one last thing to keep in mind about the current format: anything can happen and may. The major driver is guaranteed anything and the underdogs are given the opportunity to write their names in history books. This is certainly not the most fair way to crown a season champion because the leading driver is a mistake from their title expectations, but this is never a shortage for the play. Negotiations are going on about the conclusion of one-wheeler in the future, but for now, this is the only way NASCAR has crowned all three of its National Division Champion.