Following the completion of the final race of the regular season, the 16 driver field for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs has been set and ranked.
There were 10 drivers that won at least one race during the 2018 NASCAR regular season. Those drivers made to grid based on the “win and you’re in” clause in the modern era of NASCAR racing.
The remaining six spots on the grid were filled by the drivers that accumulated the most points during the 2018 NASCAR regular season without winning a race.
These 16 drivers had their point total re-set to 2000. NASCAR then added the “Playoff Points” each driver had won during the regular season and ranked them based on their totals. If drivers had the same point total as another their ranking was set based on how they ended the regular season point total.
If a driver in contention wins a race during the first three rounds of the playoffs (three races in each round), that driver will automatically advance to the next round.
At the end of the first two playoff rounds (Round of 16 and Round of 12) the four drivers with the lowest point totals will be eliminated from the playoffs and therefore from contention for the championship. The remaining drivers in those first two rounds will then have their point totals re-set again and have their “Playoff Points” added to their totals to being the next round in the NASCAR playoffs.
At the end of the third round (Round of Eight) the four drivers with the lowest point totals will be eliminated from the playoffs. The four remaining drivers will advance to the final round of the playoffs, the Championship Round.
The four drivers in the Championship Round will not have their point totals reset nor will their “Playoff Points” have any advantage for them. The Championship Round in a one race, winner takes all round. Whichever driver in the final four drivers in contention finishes the final race of the year ahead of the other three contenders wins the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin Sunday (9/16) with the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Below is how the 16 NASCAR playoff drivers will start that race as they begin their pursuit of a championship.
By: Buck Stevens
