NASCAR Cup Series: 2019 opening playoff picture
By Asher Fair
How do the 16 playoff drivers stack up against one another heading into the playoffs now that the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series regular season is in the books?
The four-round, 10-race 2019 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are scheduled to begin this Sunday, September 15 following the conclusion of the 36-race regular season.
A total of 16 drivers qualified for these playoffs. Of these 16 drivers, 10 qualified by winning at least one of the regular seasonβs 26 races while the other six qualified on the strength of their point totals.
Throughout the course of the regular season, many of these drivers earned playoff points. Victories are worth five playoff points each while stage victories are worth one playoff point each.
Here is how the 16 playoff drivers stack up against one another in terms of the playoff points that they earned throughout the regular season.
Rank β Driver β Car, Team, Manufacturer β Playoff Points (Wins, Stage Wins)
1st β Kyle Busch, #18, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 30 (4, 10)
2nd β Martin Truex Jr., #19, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 23 (4, 3)
2nd β Denny Hamlin, #11, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 23 (4, 3)
4th β Kevin Harvick, #4, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 20 (3, 5)
5th β Brad Keselowski, #2, Team Penske, Ford: 19 (3, 4)
6th β Joey Logano, #22, Team Penske, Ford: 18 (2, 8)
7th β Chase Elliott, #9, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet: 14 (2, 4)
8th β Kurt Busch, #1, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet: 8 (1, 3)
9th β Alex Bowman, #88, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet: 5 (1, 0)
9th β Erik Jones, #20, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 5 (1, 0)
11th β Kyle Larson, #42, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet: 4 (0, 4)
12th β Ryan Blaney, #12, Team Penske, Ford: 2 (0, 2)
13th β William Byron, #24, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet: 1 (0, 1)
13th β Aric Almirola, #10, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 1 (0, 1)
15th β Clint Bowyer, #14, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 0 (0, 0)
15th β Ryan Newman, #6, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford: 0 (0, 0)
But heading into the playoffs, these playoff point totals are not necessarily the playoff totals with which the 16 playoff drivers will begin. Each of the 10 playoff drivers who finished the regular season in the top 10 in the championship standings were awarded additional playoff points based on where they finished.
Here is how these additional playoff points were awarded.
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Rank β Playoff Points
1st β 15
2nd β 10
3rd β 8
4th β 7
5th β 6
6th β 5
7th β 4
8th β 3
9th β 2
10th β 1
Here is how the 16 playoff drivers finished the regular season in the championship standingsΒ and how many additional playoff points they scored as a result of their finishes.
Rank β Driver β Car, Team, Manufacturer β Points β Extra Playoff Points
1st β Kyle Busch, #18, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 988 β 15
2nd β Joey Logano, #22, Team Penske, Ford: 971 β 10
3rd β Kevin Harvick, #4, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 922 β 8
4th β Denny Hamlin, #11, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 911 β 7
5th β Martin Truex Jr., #19, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 872 β 6
6th β Brad Keselowski, #2, Team Penske, Ford: 833 β 5
7th β Chase Elliott, #9, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet: 808 β 4
8th β Kurt Busch, #1, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet: 801 β 3
9th β Ryan Blaney, #12, Team Penske, Ford: 755 β 2
10th β Kyle Larson, #42, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet: 736 β 1
11th β William Byron, #24, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet: 718 β 0
12th β Alex Bowman, #88, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet: 712 β 0
13th β Aric Almirola, #10, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 698 β 0
14th β Erik Jones, #20, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 695 β 0
15th β Clint Bowyer, #14, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 663 β 0
16th β Ryan Newman, #6, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford: 652 β 0
Taking into account both lists, here are the playoff point totals for each of the 16 playoff drivers.
Rank β Driver β Car, Team, Manufacturer β Playoff Points
1st β Kyle Busch, #18, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota β 45
2nd β Denny Hamlin, #11, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota β 30
3rd β Martin Truex Jr., #19, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota β 29
4th β Kevin Harvick, #4, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford β 28
4th β Joey Logano, #22, Team Penske, FordΒ β 28
6th β Brad Keselowski, #2, Team Penske, Ford β 24
7th β Chase Elliott, #9, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet β 18
8th β Kurt Busch, #1, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet β 11
9th β Alex Bowman, #88, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet β 5
9th β Erik Jones, #20, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota β 5
9th β Kyle Larson, #42, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet β 5
12th β Ryan Blaney, #12, Team Penske, Ford β 4
13th β William Byron, #24, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet β 1
13th β Aric Almirola, #10, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford β 1
15th β Clint Bowyer, #14, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford β 0
15th β Ryan Newman, #6, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford β 0
As a result, here is the opening playoff picture.
Rank β Driver β Car, Team, Manufacturer β Points (Difference)
1st β Kyle Busch, #18, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota β 2045 (-)
2nd β Denny Hamlin, #11, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota β 2030 (-15)
3rd β Martin Truex Jr., #19, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota β 2029 (-16)
4th β Kevin Harvick, #4, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford β 2028 (-17)
4th β Joey Logano, #22, Team Penske, FordΒ β 2028 (-17)
6th β Brad Keselowski, #2, Team Penske, Ford β 2024 (-21)
7th β Chase Elliott, #9, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet β 2018 (-27)
8th β Kurt Busch, #1, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet β 2011 (-34)
9th β Alex Bowman, #88, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet β 2005 (-40)
9th β Erik Jones, #20, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota β 2005 (-40)
9th β Kyle Larson, #42, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet β 2005 (-40)
12th β Ryan Blaney, #12, Team Penske, Ford β 2004 (-41)
13th β William Byron, #24, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet β 2001 (-44)
13th β Aric Almirola, #10, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford β 2001 (-44)
15th β Clint Bowyer, #14, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford β 2000 (-45)
15th β Ryan Newman, #6, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford β 2000 (-45)
For additional information in terms of how regular points and playoff points are earned in addition to how they will transfer from round to round of the playoffs, click here.
The 2019 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are scheduled to begin with the South Point 400 this Sunday, September 15. Tune in to NBC Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET for the live broadcast of this race from Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. See a full playoff schedule here.