NASCAR Playoffs at Charlotte: Qualifying results, standings, TV schedule, live stream, stage lengths
If he tallies his third straight win, Kyle Busch would be first to take checkered flag at every NASCAR track
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4 min read
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12 begins Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Point values have been reset and bonus points have been added as Martin Truex Jr. leads the pack.
Right behind Truex is Kyle Busch, who has won the past two playoff races. If Rowdy wins Sunday, he will not only clinch a spot in the Round of 8, but the 2015 champion would also become the first driver in history to take the checkered flag at every active NASCAR track. Busch finished second to Austin Dillon at Charlotte earlier this season and has won three straight races before in his championship season.
Another champion looking to make history Sunday will be Jimmie Johnson. The No. 48 already has a record eight wins at the track, and coming off a third-place finish at Dover Johnson has the momentum to do it again. In addition to the eight wins, Johnson also has 15 top fives, 19 top 10s and a 12.7 average finish. He currently sits fifth in the standings, already ahead of the Round of 8 cutoff line.
Denny Hamlin will be on the pole for the big race. Hamlin has been in the spotlight this week after making comments about how NASCAR drivers are underpaid and that he believes that they should be making money comparable with leagues such as the NFL and NBA. So far this week, Hamlin has put his money where his mouth is.
Drivers below the cutoff line include Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray. Elliott is coming off a strong runner-up showing at Dover, however the points reset moved him back to 10th. McMurray and Blaney join Kyle Larson and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as drivers advancing to the Round of 12 for the first time. Larson is in the best shape of the group, as he begins the round in third, 26 points above the first driver out Blaney.
As far as the non-playoff drivers go there are plenty of spoilers to go around. The first that comes to mind is Kasey Kahne. The No. 5 driver has four career wins at Charlotte. Former winners also include Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano and Dillon.
How to watch the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America 500
Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Date: Sunday, October 8
Time: 1 p.m. ET (moved up an hour from original 2 p.m. start time by track)
Length: 334 laps/501 miles
Stage 1: Ends on lap 90
Stage 2: Ends on lap 180
Final stage: Scheduled for lap 334
TV: NBC
Live stream: NBC Sports App
Bank of America 500 starting lineup
- Denny Hamlin
- Matt Kenseth
- Kevin Harvick
- Kyle Busch
- Clint Bowyer
- Brad Keselowski
- Chase Elliott
- Kurt Busch
- Kasey Kahne
- Kyle Larson
- Ryan Newman
- Danica Patrick
- Austin Dillon
- Daniel Suarez
- Ryan Blaney
- Michael McDowell
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Jamie McMurray
- AJ Allmendinger
- Paul Menard
- Chris Buescher
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Aric Almirola
- Jimmie Johnson
- Trevor Bayne
- Ty Dillon
- Joey Logano
- Matt DiBenedetto
- Landon Cassill
- David Ragan
- Cole Whitt
- BJ McLeod
- Reed Sorenson
- Gray Gaulding
- Timmy Hill
- Jeffrey Earnhardt
- Erik Jones
- Corey LaJoie
- Brett Moffitt
BOLD - indicates NASCAR Playoffs Round of 12 driver
Round of 12 drivers that have won at Charlotte:
- Jimmie Johnson (8 wins)
- Kevin Harvick (3 wins)
- Matt Kenseth (2 wins)
- Jamie McMurray (2 wins)
- Martin Truex Jr. (1 win)
- Brad Keselowski (1 win)
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12 standings
POSITION | DRIVER | CAR # | POINTS | BEHIND | WINS |
1. | Martin Truex Jr. | 78 | 3059 | LEADER | 5 |
2. | Kyle Busch | 18 | 3041 | -18 | 4 |
3. | Kyle Larson | 42 | 3034 | -25 | 4 |
4. | Brad Keselowski | 2 | 3020 | -39 | 2 |
5. | Jimmie Johnson | 48 | 3017 | -42 | 3 |
6. | Kevin Harvick | 4 | 3015 | -44 | 1 |
7. | Denny Hamlin | 11 | 3013 | -46 | 2 |
8. | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 17 | 3010 | -49 | 2 |
9. | Ryan Blaney | 21 | 3008 | -51 | 1 |
10. | Chase Elliott | 24 | 3006 | -53 | 0 |
11. | Matt Kenseth | 20 | 3005 | -54 | 0 |
12. | Jamie McMurray | 1 | 3003 | -56 | 0 |
While the Cup Series opens the Round of 12 on Sunday, the XFINITY Series closes its own Round of 12 on Saturday. When the checkered flag flies, eight drivers will move onto the next round. Justin Allgaier is in first followed by William Byron, Elliott Sadler, Cole Custer, Daniel Hemric, Brennan Poole, Matt Tifft and Ryan Reed above the cutline. Brendan Gaughan, Michael Annett, Blake Koch and Jeremy Clements are on the outside looking in.
Cup drivers Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon, Reed Sorenson, Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones, Corey LaJoie, Alex Bowman and last week's XFINITY winner, Ryan Blaney, are all entered. Bowman of course is preparing to replace Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro next season.
Angela Ruch will also be making her return to the series this weekend. Ruch is the only female competitor to make a start in the XFINITY Series this season and will attempt to qualify for Charlotte after running at Kentucky twice earlier in the year. She is among seven women all-time to compete in the series at the track, joining Patty Moise, Danica Patrick, Johanna Long, Shawna Robinson, Jennifer Jo Cobb and Tammy Jo Kirk.
How to watch the NASCAR XFINITY Series Drive for The Cure 300 Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Date: Saturday, Oct. 7
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Length: 200 laps/300 miles
Stage 1: Ends on lap 45
Stage 2: Ends on lap 90
Final stage: Scheduled for lap 200
TV: NBCSN
Live stream: NBC Sports App
*Qualifying is set for Saturday, October 7th at 12:05 p.m. on NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs Round of 12 standings
POSITION | DRIVER | POINTS | BEHIND | WINS |
1. | Justin Allgaier | 2107 | LEADER | 2 |
2. | William Byron | 2104 | -3 | 3 |
3. | Elliott Sadler | 2094 | -13 | 0 |
4. | Cole Custer | 2093 | -14 | 0 |
5. | Daniel Hemric | 2090 | -17 | 0 |
6. | Brennan Poole | 2082 | -25 | 0 |
7. | Matt Tifft | 2067 | -40 | 0 |
8. | Ryan Reed | 2055 | -52 | 1 |
9. | Brendan Gaughan | 2053 | -54 | 0 |
10. | Michael Annett | 2048 | -59 | 0 |
11. | Blake Koch | 2043 | -64 | 0 |
12. | Jeremy Clements | 2035 | -72 | 1 |
As for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, they are off this weekend after the race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last week. They're currently in the Round of 8 with the cutoff race set for next weekend at Talladega. Christopher Bell is in first place followed by Ben Rhodes, Matt Crafton, Johnny Sauter, Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric, Kaz Grala and John Hunter Nemecheck.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs Round of 8 standings
POSITION | DRIVER | POINTS | BEHIND | WINS |
1. | Christopher Bell | 2152 | LEADER | 5 |
2. | Ben Rhodes | 2105 | -47 | 1 |
3. | Matt Crafton | 2101 | -51 | 1 |
4. | Johnny Sauter | 2098 | -54 | 2 |
5. | Chase Briscoe | 2084 | -68 | 0 |
6. | Austin Cindric | 2082 | -70 | 1 |
7. | Kaz Grala | 2074 | -78 | 1 |
8. | John Hunter Nemecheck | 2068 | -84 | 2 |
The Truck Series will narrow to six cars after next week's race for three contests before the Championship 4 in late November.
