The 2017 NASCAR playoffs opened in Chicagoland on Sunday and have already helped us to get a better Monster Energy Cup Championship picture after the first race of 10. Martin Truex Jr. won to automatically advance to the next round, while Kurt Busch currently finds himself on the outside looking in. But that’s OK — he has another two races to go before four drivers are eliminated from playoff contention.
NASCAR playoffs 2017: Standings, schedule, drivers, format, and more
16 drivers. 10 races. One NASCAR champion.
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The 10 races are split into three rounds of three races each, followed by the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. After each round, four drivers are eliminated — first down to 12, then eight, then four for the final race in Miami.
NASCAR playoff standings
NASCAR playoff standings through 1 round
Rank | Driver | Points | Above/below cut | Race wins | Stage wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Truex Jr. | 2,102 | 76 | 1 | |
| 2 | Kyle Larson | 2,075 | 49 | ||
| 3 | Kevin Harvick | 2,067 | 41 | ||
| 4 | Brad Keselowski | 2,061 | 35 | ||
| 5 | Kyle Busch | 2,061 | 35 | 1 | |
| 6 | Chase Elliott | 2,059 | 33 | 1 | |
| 7 | Denny Hamlin | 2,058 | 32 | ||
| 8 | Jimmie Johnson | 2,046 | 20 | ||
| 9 | Matt Kenseth | 2,039 | 13 | ||
| 10 | Ryan Blaney | 2,034 | 8 | ||
| 11 | Jamie McMurray | 2,031 | 5 | ||
| 12 | Austin Dillon | 2,026 | 0 | ||
| - | Cut line | - | - | ||
| 13 | Kurt Busch | 2,026 | 0 | ||
| 14 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 2,022 | -4 | ||
| 15 | Kasey Kahne | 2,021 | -5 | ||
| 16 | Ryan Newman | 2,019 | -7 |
*Race and stage wins through the Round of 16 only. Kurt Busch would lose the tiebreaker to Austin Dillon.
NASCAR playoff schedule
Round of 16
Chicago
Martin Truex Jr. won the Tale of the Turtles 400 to automatically advance to the Round of 12. Also: Check out our three winners and two losers from Chicagoland.
New Hampshire
Race: ISM Connect 300
Date & time: Sunday, Sept. 24, 2 p.m. ET
Location: New Hampshire Motor Speedway | Loudon, NH
2016 winner: Kevin Harvick
TV: NBCSN
Dover
Race: Apache Warrior 400
Date & time: Sunday, Oct. 1, 2 p.m. ET
Location: Dover International Speedway | Dover, DE
2016 winner: Martin Truex Jr.
TV: NBCSN
Round of 12
Charlotte
Race: Bank of America 500
Date & time: Sunday, Oct. 8, 2 p.m. ET
Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway | Concord, NC
2016 winner: Jimmie Johnson
TV: NBC
Talladega
Race: Alabama 500
Date & time: Sunday, Oct. 15, 2 p.m. ET
Location: Talladega Superspeedway | Lincoln, AL
2016 winner: Joey Logano
TV: NBC
Kansas
Race: Hollywood Casino 400
Date & time: Sunday, Oct. 22, 3 p.m. ET
Location: Kansas Speedway | Kansas City, KS
2016 winner: Kevin Harvick
TV: NBCSN
Round of 8
Martinsville
Race: First Data 500
Date & time: Sunday, Oct. 29, 3 p.m. ET
Location: Martinsville Speedway | Ridgeway, VA
2016 winner: Jimmie Johnson
TV: NBCSN
Texas
Race: AAA Texas 500
Date & time: Sunday, Nov. 5, 2 p.m. ET
Location: Texas Motor Speedway | Fort Worth, TX
2016 winner: Carl Edwards
TV: NBCSN
Phoenix
Race: Can-Am 500
Date & time: Sunday, Nov. 12, 2:30 p.m. ET
Location: Phoenix International Raceway | Avondale, AZ
2016 winner: Joey Logano
TV: NBC
Championship 4
Miami
Race: Ford-EcoBoost 400
Date & time: Sunday, Nov. 19, 2:30 p.m. ET
Location: Homestead-Miami Speedway | Homestead, FL
2016 winner: Jimmie Johnson
TV: NBC
NASCAR playoff drivers
The 16 drivers vying for the 2017 title are Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Austin Dillon, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray.
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