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2019 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs: 16-driver field set

By Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 08: Ryan Newman, driver of the #6 Acorns Ford, Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 McDonald's Chevrolet, Erik Jones, driver of the #20 STANLEY Wish For Our Heros Toyota, William Byron, driver of the #24 Liberty University Chevrolet, Martin Truex Jr, driver of the #19 AOI Toyota, Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Rush/Cummins Ford, Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Wabash National Ford, Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet, Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, Kurt Busch, driver of the #1 Monster Energy Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Discount Tire Ford, Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Mobil 1 Ford, Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield/Meijer Ford, pose for a photo with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series trophy to start the playoffs following the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 08, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 08: Ryan Newman, driver of the #6 Acorns Ford, Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 McDonald's Chevrolet, Erik Jones, driver of the #20 STANLEY Wish For Our Heros Toyota, William Byron, driver of the #24 Liberty University Chevrolet, Martin Truex Jr, driver of the #19 AOI Toyota, Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Rush/Cummins Ford, Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Wabash National Ford, Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA AUTO PARTS Chevrolet, Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, Kurt Busch, driver of the #1 Monster Energy Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Discount Tire Ford, Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Mobil 1 Ford, Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield/Meijer Ford, pose for a photo with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series trophy to start the playoffs following the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on September 08, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /
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The 16 drivers who are slated to compete in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs have been determined. How did they get here?

The 2019 NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard, officially set the stage for the four-round, 10-race playoffs that are set to commence this Sunday, September 15 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada with the South Point 400.

Which 16 drivers successfully advanced to the playoffs, and how did they become eligible to do so?

Of these 16 drivers, 10 won at least of the 26 races on the regular season schedule while six qualified for the playoffs based solely on their point totals.

The 2019 season marks the first season that did not result in anybody from outside the top 16 in the championship standings qualifying for the playoffs since the current playoff format was introduced ahead of the 2014 season.

Here’s a quick breakdown of this year’s 16 playoff drivers.

Kyle Busch, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

  • Won four races (Phoenix, Fontana, Bristol I, Pocono I)
  • Regular season champion (988 points)

Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford

  • Won two races (Las Vegas, Michigan I)
  • Second place in standings (971 points)

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Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Stewart Haas Racing Ford

  • Won three races (New Hampshire, Michigan II, Indianapolis)
  • Third place in standings (922 points)

Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

  • Won four races (Daytona I, Texas, Pocono II, Bristol II)
  • Fourth place in standings (911 points)

Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

  • Won four races (Richmond, Dover, Charlotte, Sonoma)
  • Fifth place in standings (872 points)

Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Team Penske Ford

  • Won three races (Atlanta, Martinsville, Kansas)
  • Sixth place in standings (833 points)

Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

  • Won two races (Talladega, Watkins Glen)
  • Seventh place in standings (808 points)

Kurt Busch, No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

  • Won one race (Kentucky)
  • Eighth place in standings (801 standings)

Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford

  • Ninth place in standings (755 points)

Kyle Larson, No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

  • 10th place in standings (736 points)

William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

  • 11th in standings (718 points)

Alex Bowman, No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

  • Won one race (Chicagoland)
  • 12th in standings (712 points)

Aric Almirola, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

  • 13th in standings (698 points)

Erik Jones, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

  • Won one race (Darlington)
  • 14th in standings (695 points)

Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

  • 15th in standings (663 points)

Ryan Newman, No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford

  • 16th in standings (652 points)

Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark

Tune in to NBC Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET this Sunday, September 15 for the NASCAR Cup Series playoff opener from Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

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