NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup 2015: Playoff format, schedule, drivers, results and more

Kevin Harvick is in. Jimmie Johnson is not. The final race of NASCAR’s opening round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship playoff provided some interesting drama Sunday at Dover International Speedway.

Harvick needed a win to keep his run for a second consecutive championship alive after stumbling at New Hampshire. He ranked 15th of the 16-driver Chase field, 23 points behind the final transfer spot. He came through. Jimmie Johnson entered Dover looking pretty set at fifth-place in the standings with 27 points margin. A mechanical issue cost him any hope, resulting in a 41st-place finish 36 laps down.

Also eliminated was Jamie McMurray, who finished in a points deadlock for the final transfer position with Dale Earnhardt Jr. but a spot behind him at Dover to miss out on the tiebreaker, regular season victories, as Earnhardt won twice while McMurray went winless.

Paul Menard and Clint Bowyer also saw their championship hopes dashed.

Denny Hamlin won in Chicagoland and Matt Kenseth at New Hampshire to earn automatic advancement with wins. The points now reset, with the remaining 12 contenders beginning at 3,000. The Chase turns to Charlotte for the start of the second round.

After every three races, the four drivers lowest in points without a win are eliminated from Chase contention. The championship race is held at Miami-Homestead Speedway in November, with the highest-finishing driver among the four remaining awarded the title.

Drivers qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup playoffs automatically by winning a race during the regular season. If fewer than 16 drivers win races, points determine the rest of the field.*

* It’s a bit more complicated than this, but practically speaking that’s all you need to know.

The first three rounds (named Challenger 16, Contender 12, Eliminator 8) are each comprised of three races. The final round is just one race.

Win a race to advance to the next round automatically. Maintain a high points total to advance: four drivers are eliminated from contention after each round, based on having the four lowest points totals. The points reset each round for advancing drivers. There are no bonus points for wins.

Whichever of the four drivers still in the Chase at Homestead-Miami finishes highest wins the championship.

Sept. 20: Denny Hamlin wins at Chicagoland

Sept. 27: Matt Kenseth wins at New Hampshire

Oct. 4: Kevin Harvick wins at Dover

Oct. 10: Bank of America 500, Charlotte Motor Speedway, 7 p.m. NBC

Oct. 18: Hollywood Casino 400, Kansas Motor Speedway, 2:15 p.m. NBC

Oct. 25: Alabama 500, Talladega Superspeedway, 2:30 p.m. NBCSN

Nov. 1: Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500, Martinsville Speedway, 1:15 p.m., NBCSN

Nov. 8: AAA Texas 500, Texas Motor Speedway, 2 p.m., NBC

Nov. 15: Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500, Phoenix International Raceway, 2:30 p.m. NBC

Nov. 22: Ford EcoBoost 400, Homestead-Miami Speedway, 3 p.m. NBC