2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs

See below for an explanation of the playoffs.

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Final Playoff Standings:
#18-Kyle Busch, 5040
#19-Martin Truex, Jr., 5035
#4-Kevin Harvick, 5033
#11-Denny Hamlin, 5027
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.

HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 17: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead Speedway on November 17, 2019 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 17: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead Speedway on November 17, 2019 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

2019 Playoff Bracket Final

2019 Race Winners

RACE TRACK WINNER (# wins)
1 Daytona International Speedway #11-Denny Hamlin (1)
2 Atlanta Motor Speedway #2-Brad Keselowski (1)
3 Las Vegas Motor Speedway #22-Joey Logano (1)
4 ISM Raceway #18-Kyle Busch (1)
5 Auto Club Speedway #18-Kyle Busch (2)
6 Martinsville Speedway #2-Brad Keselowski (2)
7 Texas Motor Speedway #11-Denny Hamlin (2)
8 Bristol Motor Speedway #18-Kyle Busch (3)
9 Richmond Raceway #19-Martin Truex, Jr. (1)
10 Talladega Superspeedway #9-Chase Elliott (1)
11 Dover International Speedway #19-Martin Truex, Jr. (2)
12 Kansas Speedway #2-Brad Keselowski (3)
13 Charlotte Motor Speedway #19-Martin Truex, Jr. (3)
14 Pocono Raceway #18-Kyle Busch (4)
15 Michigan International Speedway #22-Joey Logano (2)
16 Sonoma Raceway #19-Martin Truex, Jr. (4)
17 Chicagoland Speedway #88-Alex Bowman (1)
18 Daytona International Speedway #77-Justin Haley (not eligible)
19 Kentucky Speedway #1-Kurt Busch (1)
20 New Hampshire Motor Speedway #4-Kevin Harvick (1)
21 Pocono Raceway #11-Denny Hamlin (3)
22 Watkins Glen International #9-Chase Elliott (2)
23 Michigan International Speedway #4-Kevin Harvick (2)
24 Bristol Motor Speedway #11-Denny Hamlin (4)
25 Darlington Raceway #20-Erik Jones (1)
26 Indianapolis Motor Speedway #4-Kevin Harvick (3)
Playoff drivers: #18-Kyle Busch, #11-Denny Hamlin, #19-Martin Truex, Jr., #2-Brad Keselowski, #22-Joey Logano, #4-Kevin Harvick, #9-Chase Elliott, #1-Kurt Busch, #88-Alex Bowman, #20-Erik Jones, #42-Kyle Larson, #12-Ryan Blaney, #24-William Byron, #10-Aric Almirola, #14-Clint Bowyer, #6-Ryan Newman.
PLAYOFFS BEGIN – Round of 16
27 Las Vegas Motor Speedway #19-Martin Truex, Jr. (5)
28 Richmond Raceway #19-Martin Truex, Jr. (6)
29 Charlotte Motor Speedway #9-Chase Elliott (3)
Playoff drivers advancing: #18-Kyle Busch, #11-Denny Hamlin, #19-Martin Truex, Jr., #2-Brad Keselowski, #22-Joey Logano, #4-Kevin Harvick, #9-Chase Elliott, #88-Alex Bowman, #42-Kyle Larson, #12-Ryan Blaney, #24-William Byron, #14-Clint Bowyer.
Round of 12
30 Dover International Speedway #42-Kyle Larson (1)
31 Talladega Superspeedway #12-Ryan Blaney (1)
32 Kansas Speedway #11-Denny Hamlin (5)
Playoff drivers advancing: #11-Denny Hamlin, #42-Kyle Larson, #12-Ryan Blaney, #19-Martin Truex, Jr., #18-Kyle Busch, #4-Kevin Harvick, #22-Joey Logano, #9-Chase Elliott.
Round of 8
33 Martinsville Speedway #19-Martin Truex, Jr. (7)
34 Texas Motor Speedway #4-Kevin Harvick (4)
35 ISM Raceway #11-Denny Hamlin (6)
Championship 4 Drivers: #19-Martin Truex, Jr., #4-Kevin Harvick, #11-Denny Hamlin, #18-Kyle Busch.
Championship Race
36 Homestead-Miami Speedway #18-Kyle Busch (5) – 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion

Current Playoff Standings:

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings after Phoenix (after points reset):
[Race 3 of 3 in the Round of 8, 9 of 10 in the Playoffs]
#11-Denny Hamlin 5000
#4-Kevin Harvick 5000
#19-Martin Truex, Jr. 5000
#18-Kyle Busch 5000
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings after Phoenix (before points reset):
[Race 3 of 3 in the Round of 8, 9 of 10 in the Playoffs]
1) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. 4169 [win at Martinsville]
2) #4-Kevin Harvick 4151 [win at Texas]
3) #11-Denny Hamlin 4150 [win at Phoenix]
4) #18-Kyle Busch 4163, +7
eliminated from the Playoffs
5) #22-Joey Logano 4156, -7
6) #12-Ryan Blaney 4132, -31
7) #42-Kyle Larson 4130, -33
8) #9-Chase Elliott 4051, -112
See the Drivers Points Standings before reset and Owners Points Standings before reset.

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings after Texas:
[Race 2 of 3 in the Round of 8, 8 of 10 in the Playoffs]
1) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. 4133, locked in to Championship race
2) #4-Kevin Harvick 4113, locked in to Championship race
3) #18-Kyle Busch 4113, +22
4) #22-Joey Logano 4111, +20
outside the top 4
5) #11-Denny Hamlin 4091, -20
6) #42-Kyle Larson 4088, -23
7) #12-Ryan Blaney 4088, -23
8) #9-Chase Elliott 4033, -78
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings:
[after Martinsville – race 1 of 3 in the Round of 8, 7 of 10 in the Playoffs]
1) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. 4102, locked in to Championship race
2) #11-Denny Hamlin 4082, +24
3) #18-Kyle Busch 4075, +17
4) #22-Joey Logano 4072, +14
outside the top 4
5) #4-Kevin Harvick 4058, -14
6) #12-Ryan Blaney 4057, -15
7) #42-Kyle Larson 4048, -24
8) #9-Chase Elliott 4028, -44
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings after Kansas (after points reset):
[Race 3 of 3 in the Round of 12, Race 6 of 10 in the Playoffs]
1) #18-Kyle Busch 4046
2) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. 4042
3) #11-Denny Hamlin 4037
4) #22-Joey Logano 4030
outside the top 4
5) #4-Kevin Harvick 4028
6) #9-Chase Elliott 4024
7) #42-Kyle Larson 4011
8) #12-Ryan Blaney 4009
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings after Kansas (before points reset):
[Race 3 of 3 in the Round of 12, Race 6 of 10 in the Playoffs]
1) #11-Denny Hamlin 3167 [1 win in Round of 12]
2) #42-Kyle Larson 3092 [1 win in Round of 12]
3) #12-Ryan Blaney 3085 [1 win in Round of 12]
4) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. 3152, +51
5) #18-Kyle Busch 3140, +39
6) #4-Kevin Harvick 3127, +36
7) #22-Joey Logano 3110, +9
8) #9-Chase Elliott 3104, +3
eliminated from the Playoffs
9) #2-Brad Keselowski 3101, -3
10) #24-William Byron 3088, -16
11) #88-Alex Bowman 3084, -20
12) #14-Clint Bowyer 3083, -21
See the Drivers Points Standings before the reset and Owners Points Standings before reset.

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings after Talladega:
[Race 2 of 3 in the Round of 12, Race 5 of 10 in the Playoffs]
1) #42-Kyle Larson 3069 [1 win in Round of 12]
2) #12-Ryan Blaney 3056 [1 win in Round of 12]
3) #11-Denny Hamlin 3114, +56
4) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. 3106, +48
5) #18-Kyle Busch 3099, +41
6) #4-Kevin Harvick 3094, +36
7) #2-Brad Keselowski 3078, +20
8) #22-Joey Logano 3076, +18
outside the top 8
9) #88-Alex Bowman 3058, -18
10) #9-Chase Elliott 3054, – 22
9) #14-Clint Bowyer 3052, -24
10) #24-William Byron 3049, -27
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings after Dover:
[Race 1 of 3 in the Round of 12, Race 4 of 10 in the Playoffs]
1) #42-Kyle Larson 3063 [1 win in Round of 12]
2) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. 3095, +63
3) #18-Kyle Busch 3080, +48
4) #11-Denny Hamlin 3080, +48
5) #4-Kevin Harvick 3074, +42
6) #2-Brad Keselowski 3052, +20
7) #88-Alex Bowman 3049, +17
8) #24-William Byron 3032, -0
outside the top 8
9) #22-Joey Logano 3032, +0
10) #14-Clint Bowyer 3028, -4
11) #9-Chase Elliott 3025, -7
12) #12-Ryan Blaney 3010, -22
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings after Charlotte (after points reset):
1) #18-Kyle Busch 3046 pts
2) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. 3041
3) #11-Denny Hamlin 3030
4) #22-Joey Logano 3029
5) #4-Kevin Harvick 3028
6) #9-Chase Elliott 3024
7) #2-Brad Keselowski 3024
8) #42-Kyle Larson 3006
outside the top 8
9) #88-Alex Bowman 3005
10) #12-Ryan Blaney 3004
11) #24-William Byron 3001
12) #14-Clint Bowyer 3000
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings (before points reset):
[after Charlotte – race 3 of 3 in the Round of 16, 3 of 10 in the Playoffs]
1) #19-Martin Truex, Jr., 2175, +94 [2 wins in Round of 16]
2) #4-Kevin Harvick, 2163, +82
3) #2-Brad Keselowski, 2152, +71
4) #9-Chase Elliott, 2040, +59 [1 win in Round of 16]
5) #22-Joey Logano, 2135, +54
6) #11-Denny Hamlin, 2123, +42
7) #18-Kyle Busch, 2118, +37
8) #42-Kyle Larson, 2110, +29
9) #14-Clint Bowyer, 2098, +17
10) #12-Ryan Blaney, 2094, +13
11) #24-William Byron, 2094, +13
12) #88-Alex Bowman, 2086, +5
eliminated from the playoffs
13) #10-Aric Almirola, 2081, -5
14) #6-Ryan Newman, 2070, +16
15) #1-Kurt Busch, 2056, -30
16) #20-Erik Jones, 2009, -77
See the Drivers Points Standings before reset and Owners Points Standings before reset.

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings:
[after Richmond – race 2 of 3 in the Round of 16, 2 of 10 in the Playoffs]
1) #19-Martin Truex, Jr., 2141 [2 wins in Round of 16]
2) #4-Kevin Harvick, 2120, +69 [clinched spot in Round of 12 on points]
3) #18-Kyle Busch, 2117, +66 [clinched spot in Round of 12 on points]
4) #2-Brad Keselowski, 2106, +55
5) #11-Denny Hamlin, 2105, +54
6) #22-Joey Logano, 2101, +50
7) #9-Chase Elliott, 2088, +37
8) #42-Kyle Larson, 2076, +25
9) #6-Ryan Newman, 2065, +14
10) #12-Ryan Blaney, 2059, +8
11) #10-Aric Almirola, 2054, +3
12) #24-William Byron, 2053, +2
currently outside the Round of 12 cutoff
13) #88-Alex Bowman, 2051, -2
14) #14-Clint Bowyer, 2049, -4
15) #1-Kurt Busch, 2039, -14
16) #20-Erik Jones, 2008, -45
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings:
[after Las Vegas – race 1 of 3 in the Round of 16, 1 of 10 in the Playoffs]
1) #19-Martin Truex, Jr., 2082 [1 win in Round of 16]
2) #4-Kevin Harvick, 2079, +52
3) #22-Joey Logano, 2075, +48
4) #18-Kyle Busch, 2063, +36
5) #2-Brad Keselowski, 2058, +31
6) #9-Chase Elliott, 2057, +30
7) #11-Denny Hamlin, 2056, +29
8) #42-Kyle Larson, 2044, +17
9) #24-William Byron, 2040, +13
10) #12-Ryan Blaney, 2039, +12
11) #88-Alex Bowman, 2037, +10
12) #10-Aric Almirola, 2033, +6
currently outside the Round of 12 cutoff
13) #6-Ryan Newman, 2027, -6
14) #1-Kurt Busch, 2019, -14
15) #14-Clint Bowyer, 2012, -21
16) #20-Erik Jones, 2007, -26
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings after Indianapolis (after points reset):
1) #18-Kyle Busch [4 wins] 2045 pts
2) #11-Denny Hamlin [4 wins] 2030
3) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. [4 wins] 2029
4) #4-Kevin Harvick [3 wins] 2028
5) #22-Joey Logano [2 wins] 2028
6) #2-Brad Keselowski [3 wins] 2024
7) #9-Chase Elliott [2 win] 2018
8) #1-Kurt Busch [1 win] 2011
9) #88-Alex Bowman [1 win] 2005
10) #20-Erik Jones [1 win] 2005
11) #42-Kyle Larson 2005
12) #12-Ryan Blaney 2004
outside the top 12
13) #24-William Byron 2001
14) #10-Aric Almirola 2001
15) #14-Clint Bowyer 2000
16) #6-Ryan Newman 2000
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.

2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings after Indianapolis (before points reset):
1) #18-Kyle Busch [4 wins] 988 pts (points leader and regular season champion)
2) #11-Denny Hamlin [4 wins]
3) #19-Martin Truex, Jr. [4 wins]
4) #4-Kevin Harvick [3 wins]
5) #2-Brad Keselowski [3 wins]
6) #22-Joey Logano [2 wins]
7) #9-Chase Elliott [2 win]
8) #1-Kurt Busch [1 win]
9) #88-Alex Bowman [1 win]
10) #20-Erik Jones [1 win]
clinched playoff spot on points
11) #12-Ryan Blaney, 755
12) #42-Kyle Larson, 736
13) #24-William Byron, 718
14) #10-Aric Almirola, 698
15) #14-Clint Bowyer, 663
16) #6-Ryan Newman, 652
Did not make the playoffs:
17) #41-Daniel Suarez, 648, -4
18) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 609, -43
See the Drivers Points Standings and Owners Points Standings.

2018 Playoffs Information

Playoffs Explanation

  • The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs consist of 16 drivers.
  • Drivers automatically qualify for the playoffs with a win (as long as there are no more than 16 winners) in the first 26 races.
  • Any playoff positions not filled with a race winner are filled based on point standings.
  • There are 4 rounds of playoffs:
    • Sept 15 at Las Vegas, Sept 21 at Richmond and Sept 29 at Charlotte;
    • Oct 6 at Dover, Oct 13 at Talladega, and Oct 20 at Kansas;
    • Oct 27 at Martinsville, Nov 3 at Texas and Nov 10 at Phoenix;
    • The Championship race at Homestead on Nov 17.
  • A win during a playoff race automatically advances the driver to the next round.
  • The bottom 4 drivers at the end of each round are eliminated.
  • The highest finishing driver at Homestead is the Champion. Playoff drivers do not earn any stage points at Homestead.

Playoff Structure

  • After the third playoff race, there will be 12 drivers. After the sixth playoff race, the field will drop to eight drivers, and following the ninth playoff race, only four drivers will remain in championship contention.
  • Round of 16: The first round (races 27-29) is the Round of 16. If a playoff driver wins a race in this round, the driver automatically advances to the next round (Round of 12). The remaining available positions 1-12 that have not been filled based upon wins will be based on points. Each will then have their points reset to 3,000, with any awarded playoff points added.
  • Round of 12: The second round (races 30-32) is the Round of 12. Likewise, if a driver in the top 12 in points wins a race in this round, the driver automatically advances to the next round (Round of 8). The remaining available positions 1-8 that have not been filled based upon wins will be based on points. Each will then have their points reset to 4,000, with any awarded playoff points added.
  • Round of 8: The third round (races 33-35) is the Round of 8. If a driver in the top eight in points wins a race in this round, the driver automatically advances to the next round (Championship 4). The remaining available positions 1-4 that have not been filled based upon wins will be based on points. Each will then have their points reset to 5,000.
  • Additionally, drivers who are eliminated in the Round of 12 and Round of 8 will have their points readjusted. Each eliminated driver will return to the playoff-start base of 2,000 with any awarded playoff points and any accumulated points starting with race No. 27 added. This will allow all drivers not in contention for the title to continue to race for the best possible season-long standing, with final positions fifth-through-16th still up for grabs

Playoff Eligibility

  • The top 15 drivers with the most wins over the first 26 races will earn a spot in the playoffs – provided they have finished in the top 30 in points and attempted to qualify for every race (except in rare instances). The 16th playoff position will go to the points leader after race No. 26, if he/she does not have a victory. In the event that there are 16 or more different winners over 26 races, the only winless driver who can earn a playoff spot would be the points leader after 26 races.
  • If there are fewer than 16 different winners in the first 26 races, the remaining playoff positions will go to those winless drivers highest in points. If there are 16 or more winners in the first 26 races, the ties will first be broken by number of wins, followed by points.
  • Prior to the start of the playoffs, all playoff drivers will have their points adjusted to 2,000, with all playoff points added to their total.

Playoff Points

  • In addition to points awarded to drivers based on their finish at the end of stages and the race itself, the winner of a race stage is awarded one playoff point, and the race winner receives 5 playoff points.
  • At the end of the regular season, the points leader is awarded 15 playoff points. Second place receives 10 playoff points, 3rd place 8, 4th place 7, 6th place 5, 7th place 4; 8th place 3, 9th place 2, and 10th place 1 playoff point.
  • As the start of the playoffs, each eligible driver’s point total is reset to 2000 points, plus the total number of playoff points they earned during the regular season.
  • Playoff points are also awarded during each round of the playoffs.
  • At the start of each following round of the playoffs, the points are again reset (3000, 4000, and 5000) among eligible drivers and playoff points are added to that amount, with the exception of the Championship race at Homestead-Miami. For the championship race, the final four drivers start with 5000 points, earn no bonus points, and the highest finisher is the Champion.