NASCAR Playoff Picture: Breaking Down the Cup Series Points Standings After Bristol

Key Insights

• Chase Elliott takes the regular season championship and the top seed in the playoffs after a thrilling win at Bristol.
• Austin Cindric and William Byron secure the final two spots in the playoffs on points.
• Several drivers, including Ryan Blaney and Aric Almirola, miss the playoffs by a narrow margin.

Elliott Dominates Regular Season, Secures Top Seed

Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott capped off a dominant regular season with a victory at Bristol Motor Speedway. Elliott, who has won four races this season, finished second in the points standings last year and is now a top contender for the championship.

Cindric, Byron Claim Final Playoff Spots

Team Penske's Austin Cindric and Hendrick Motorsports' William Byron clinched the final two spots in the playoffs on points. Cindric, a rookie, has impressed in his first full-time Cup Series season, while Byron is a former Xfinity Series champion who has shown steady improvement this year.

Blaney, Almirola Miss Playoff Cut

Several drivers came up just short of making the playoffs. Team Penske's Ryan Blaney, who won the spring race at Bristol, missed the cut by 13 points. Stewart-Haas Racing's Aric Almirola, a former Daytona 500 winner, missed the playoffs by just 7 points.

Playoff Grid Finalized, Stage 1 Begins

With the regular season complete, the 16-driver playoff grid is now set. The playoffs will begin on September 4th at Darlington Raceway with the Southern 500. The playoffs will consist of three rounds, with the final four drivers competing for the championship in the Championship 4 race at Phoenix Raceway on November 6th.