RESOLVING THE LEDGER
RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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NASCAR playoff standings 2026: Updated points, scenarios for final Cup Series spots at Daytona originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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After a regular season filled with highlights, the Cup Series is mercifully approaching its crescendo — a 10-race postseason to determine who will hoist NASCAR's greatest prize, the Cup Series crown.
This year's playoff format is markedly different from its latest predecessors. The "win-and-in" format gave way to the Chase, popularized in the mid-to-late 2000s and early 2010s. The new layout rewards consistency as opposed to one-race excellence, offering a new path for riders who routinely place inside the top-five and top-10.
Toyota has shined in lieu of the change thus far — five of the top six performers helm the cockpits of the Japanese manufacturer, including regular-season champion Denny Hamlin.
Further down the standings, things remain compelling. Austin Cindric and Shane van Gisbergen are clinging to postseason berths heading into the final week of the regular season. They have more work to do to lock themselves into the Round of 16 and give themselves a chance at competing for the top-flight's signature prize.
Only 16 drivers can make it to NASCAR's biggest stage. Here's a look at how the postseason standings shake out prior to Saturday's race at Daytona, the Coke Zero Sugar 400.
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NASCAR playoffs standings 2026
Below is a current look at the top 16 drivers in the Cup Series playoff standings, based on regular season points.
This section will be updated as the Cup Series campaign nears its conclusion.
Rank Driver Points Points over cut line 1 Denny Hamlin* 1,001 +0 2 Ryan Blaney* 924 +0 3 Ty Gibbs* 880 +0 4 Tyler Reddick* 860 +0 5 Christopher Bell* 738 +0 6 Chase Briscoe* 727 +0 7 Kyle Larson* 708 +0 8 Chase Elliott* 707 +0 9 Joey Logano* 682 +0 10 Chris Buescher* 676 +0 11 Carson Hocevar* 672 +0 12 William Byron* 644 +0 13 Daniel Suarez* 638 +0 14 Bubba Wallace 630 +75 15 Austin Cindric 599 +44 16 Shane van Gisbergen 586 +31 * clinched playoff spot
Wallace will effectively clinch a postseason berth by starting Saturday's regular-season finale. Ryan Preece is the first man out, sitting 31 points behind Van Gisbergen. He'll need an impressive turnaround — and a major collapse by the road course superstar — to earn a berth in the Sweet 16.
NASCAR playoff race schedule 2026
Date Race Track Time (ET) Watch/Winner Sept. 6 Southern 500 Darlington Raceway 5 p.m. USA, DIRECTV Sept. 13 Enjoy Illinois 300 World Wide Technology Raceway 3 p.m. USA, DIRECTV Sept. 19 Bass Pro Shops Night Race Bristol Motor Speedway 7:30 p.m. USA, DIRECTV Sept. 27 Hollywood Casino 400 Kansas Speedway 3 p.m. USA, DIRECTV Oct. 4 South Point 400 Las Vegas Motor Speedway 5:30 p.m. USA, DIRECTV Oct. 11 Bank of America 400 Charlotte Motor Speedway 3 p.m. USA, DIRECTV Oct. 18 Freeway Insurance 500 Phoenix Raceway 3 p.m. USA, DIRECTV Oct. 25 Yellawood 500 Talladega Superspeedway 2 p.m. NBC, fubo, DIRECTV Nov. 1 Xfinity 500 Martinsville Speedway 2 p.m. NBC, fubo, DIRECTV Nov. 8 Cup Series Championship Race Homestead-Miami Speedway 3 p.m. NBC, fubo, DIRECTV
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