NASCAR playoffs format change? Next driver eliminations? Podcast
The guys discuss Chase Elliott’s Kansas win, Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace’s dust-up and upcoming NASCAR playoff changes, both in 2025 and beyond.
Tyler Reddick beat Shane van Gisbergen on a NASCAR road course …
… in qualifying.
Yes, the driver of the No. 45 car for 23XI Racing laid down the fastest time Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Charlotte Roval, besting van Gisbergen. SVG will start second, having claimed four straight roadies.
It’s Reddick’s second pole of the year and first since COTA in March.
Sunday’s race draws the curtain on the Round of 12 in NASCAR’s Cup Series playoffs. The playoff field is trimmed from 12 to eight drivers ahead of the Round of 8, which begins next weekend in Las Vegas.
Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott won the first two races in the Round of 12 and clinched Round of 8 berths. A Sunday win by playoff driver would do the same, while the other spots will be determined by the point standings.
With Blaney and Elliott already clinched, here are the current spots in third through eighth place, with the number of points above the dreaded ninth-place cutoff: Kyle Larson (+54), Denny Hamlin (+48), Christopher Bell (+44), William Byron (+40), Chase Briscoe (+21), Joey Logano (+13).
And the current outsiders in ninth through 12th, with the number of points they’re outside of eighth: Ross Chastain (-13), Bubba Wallace (-26), Reddick (-29), Austin Cindric (-48).
NASCAR starting lineup for playoff race at Charlotte Roval
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45
- Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54
- Kyle Larson, No. 5
- Chris Buescher, No. 17
- Michael McDowell, No. 71
- Christopher Bell, No. 20
- Chase Briscoe, No. 19
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16
- Ross Chastain, No. 1
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23
- William Byron, No. 24
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11
- Chase Elliott, No. 9
- Ty Dillon, No. 10
- Joey Logano, No. 22
- Cole Custer, No. 41
- Austin Cindric, No. 2
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99
- Justin Haley, No. 7
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6
- Riley Herbst, No. 35
- Zane Smith, No. 38
- Alex Bowman, No. 48
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77
- Kyle Busch, No. 8
- Ryan Preece, No. 60
- Noah Gragson, No. 4
- Todd Gilliland, No. 34
- Cody Ware, No. 51
- Josh Berry, No. 21
- Josh Bilicki, No. 66
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42
- Austin Dillon, No. 3
- Erik Jones, No. 43
How to watch NASCAR race at Charlotte Roval
Saturday: Xfinity Series race, 5 p.m. (CW).
Sunday: Cup Series race, 3 p.m. (USA).
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