2019 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs: Round of 8 field set

Following the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, the round of 8 field of the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs is set.

The three-race round of 12 of the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs is in the books, and four of the 12 drivers who competed in it have been eliminated from championship contention.

The other eight drivers are slated to move on to the third round of the four-round, 10-race playoffs, the round of 8, the final round of the playoffs prior to the Championship 4 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin closed out the round of 12 by securing his fifth victory of the season at Kansas Speedway, as he took the checkered flag to win the Hollywood Casino 400.

How did the eight drivers who are slated to advance to the round of 8 put themselves in position to do so throughout the round of 12, which included races at Dover International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Kansas Speedway?

Here is a brief overview of the round of 8 field ahead of the First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway, which is scheduled to open up the round of 8 next Sunday, October 27.

Advanced

Denny Hamlin, #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Fifth place at Dover
Third place at Talladega
Won at Kansas
Average finish: 3.00
First place finish in round of 12 standings (first in playoff picture)

Kyle Larson, #42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

Won at Dover
39th place at Talladega
14th place at Kansas
Average finish: 18.00
Eighth place finish in round of 12 standings (second in playoff picture)

Ryan Blaney, #12 Team Penske Ford

35th place at Dover
Won at Talladega
21st place at Kansas
Average finish: 19.00
10th place finish in round of 12 standings (third in playoff picture)

Martin Truex Jr., #19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Second place at Dover
26th place at Talladega
Sixth place at Kansas
Average finish: 11.33
Second place finish in round of 12 standings (fourth in playoff picture)

Kyle Busch, #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Sixth place at Dover
19th place at Talladega
Third place at Kansas
Average finish: 9.33
Third place finish in round of 12 standings (fifth in playoff picture)

Kevin Harvick, #4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Fourth place at Dover
17th place at Talladega
Ninth place at Kansas
Average finish: 10.00
Fourth place finish in round of 12 standings (sixth in playoff picture)

Joey Logano, #22 Team Penske Ford

34th place at Dover
11th place at Talladega
17th place at Kansas
Average finish: 20.67
Fifth place finish in round of 12 standings (seventh in playoff picture)

Chase Elliott, #9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

38th place at Dover
Eighth place at Talladega
Second place at Kansas
Average finish: 16.00
Sixth place finish in round of 12 standings (eighth in playoff picture)

Eliminated

Brad Keselowski, #2 Team Penske Ford

11th place at Dover
25th place at Talladega
19th place at Kansas
Average finish: 18.33
Seventh place finish in round of 12 standings (ninth in playoff picture)

William Byron, #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

13th place at Dover
33rd place at Talladega
Fifth place at Kansas
Average finish: 17.00
Ninth place finish in round of 12 standings (10th in playoff picture)

Alex Bowman, #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Third place at Dover
37th place at Talladega
11th place at Kansas
Average finish: 17.00
11th place finish in round of 12 standings (11th in playoff picture)

Clint Bowyer, #14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

10th place at Dover
23rd place at Talladega
Eighth place at Kansas
Average finish: 13.67
12th place finish in round of 12 standings (12th in playoff picture)

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

NBC Sports Network is set to broadcast the opening race of the round of 8 of the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, the First Data 500, live from Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET next Sunday, October 27.

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