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NASCAR Playoffs finalized after regular season ends at Southern 500

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•09/01/24•

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Darlington Raceway
Sep 1, 2024; Darlington, South Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) leads NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Briscoe (14), NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) and NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick (45) out of turn one during the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The NASCAR drivers just finished competing in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, and the field for the Cup Series playoffs is now set. The first race of the postseason will happen next Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Below is the entire playoff field.

The 16 drivers will battle in the next three races to determine which 12 will make the next round. Chase Briscoe won the Southern 500 to clinch his spot. Ty Gibbs also made his way to the playoffs afte the Darlington race. Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain and Bubba Wallace are the first three drivers who are out. Here’s a look at the drivers who are in the running to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship.

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During the race, Martin Truex Jr. clinched a playoff spot, which is fitting since he is competing in his final season as a full-time driver. Truex won the Cup Series title in 2017 and is a two-time winner of the regular season championship.

“It’s the right time for me. I’ve thought about it a lot for the last few seasons – just waited for that feeling in my mind to be positive, like ‘This is OK, I’m good, and I want to do something else,’” Truex said at the time of his retirement announcement. “In the 21 years that I’ve done this, I’ve never missed a race, I’ve never missed a practice, I’ve never been late for anything. I’ve never missed an appearance. You live your life by a schedule that somebody makes for you, and it’s just time for me to make my own schedule.

More on the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs

Tyler Reddick, who competed in the Southern 500 with an illness, had a strong regular season and has a strong chance to win it all. Last month, Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic talked about how Reddick is flying under the radar heading into the playoffs.

“I think now that he’s the championship points leader, that elevates your status,” Bianchi said. “… That adds more credence to it. And I think Denny Hamlin had a really good point in his postrace press conference when he said, ‘Hey, this is Week 24. You don’t lead the standings at Week 24 on a fluke.’ This isn’t early season, and you just had a couple good races, whatever. This is sustained consistency week in and week out. And now that you’re the point leader, now that you’re coming off a win, this is gonna put more shine on you. And I think you’re gonna hear a lot about Tyler Reddick in the next few weeks.