The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs will have some new tracks in the lineup, but the same format will be followed as in previous years. Darlington, which used to be the playoff opener, will now be the regular-season finale due to its traditional Labor Day date falling on the 26th race weekend of the season. Atlanta, now a drafting track, will be the opening race of the playoffs, followed by Watkins Glen, which will add a road course to the first round. The Glen will replace Texas, which has been moved to the spring and was previously the opening race of the second round. Additionally, Kansas, which was the second race of the opening round, will now kick off the second round.
The playoff rounds for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series are as follows:
• First round: Atlanta, Watkins Glen, Bristol (Sept. 8-21)
• Second round (quarterfinal round): Kansas, Talladega, Charlotte road course (Sept. 29-Oct. 13)
• Third round (semifinal round): Las Vegas, Homestead, Martinsville (Oct. 20-Nov. 3)
• Championship: Phoenix (Nov. 10)
In terms of how the playoffs work, the 16-driver field will consist of the regular-season champion and 15 drivers based on the number of regular-season wins, with ties being broken by points. If there aren’t enough winners to fill all the slots, winless drivers with the highest points will make the field. Throughout the season, drivers can earn playoff points, with five playoff points for a race win and one playoff point for a stage win. These points are also awarded to the top 10 drivers in the regular-season standings.
At the beginning of each of the first three playoff rounds, drivers will have their points reset – 2,000 to start the opening round, 3,000 for the second round, and 4,000 for the third round – along with the playoff points they have accumulated up to that point. Four drivers will be eliminated in each round, with the possibility of advancing with a race win. In case of ties in points, the tiebreaker will be the best finish in the round.
For the championship race, each driver will have their points reset to 5,000 with no playoff points added. The championship drivers will not earn stage points during the championship race, with the highest finisher among those four drivers being declared the champion. Drivers eliminated during the playoffs will have their points reset, allowing them to finish anywhere from fifth to 16th in the standings.
Bob Pockrass, a NASCAR journalist for FOX Sports, provides coverage and insights into the NASCAR Cup Series. He has extensive experience covering motorsports and has been a part of numerous Daytona 500 races. You can follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass for more updates on NASCAR Cup Series.