NASCAR: Full standings to start the 2021 playoffs

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are scheduled to get underway this Sunday at Darlington Raceway. Here are the full opening standings.

The 26-race 2021 NASCAR Cup Series regular season came to an end this past Saturday evening at Daytona International Speedway, setting the stage for the four-round, 10-race playoffs.

A total of 16 drivers qualified for this year’s postseason, with 13 doing so by winning at least one regular season race and the other three doing so on points.

All 16 playoff drivers had their point totals reset to 2,000 ahead of this Sunday evening’s playoff opener at Darlington Raceway, but points were added to those totals based on regular season success.

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All race wins are worth five playoff points, all stage wins are worth one playoff point, and any top 10 finish in the regular season point standings is worth additional playoff points (15-10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 from first through 10th place) as well.

So where do things stand heading into this Sunday’s 367-lap Cook Out Southern 500 at the four-turn, 1.366-mile (2.198-kilometer) egg-shaped oval in Darlington, South Carolina?

Here is a breakdown.

Rank – Driver – Points (Behind) – Wins, Stage Wins, Regular Season Finish
1 – Kyle Larson – 2052 (0) – 5 wins, 12 stage wins, 1st place
2 – Ryan Blaney – 2024 (-28) – 3 wins, 4 stage wins, 6th place
2 – Martin Truex Jr. – 2024 (-28) – 3 wins, 5 stage wins, 7th place
4 – Kyle Busch – 2022 (-30) – 2 wins, 5 stage wins, 4th place
5 – Chase Elliott – 2021 (-31) – 2 wins, 3 stage wins, 3rd place
6 – Alex Bowman – 2015 (-37) – 3 wins, 0 stage wins, 12th place
6 – Denny Hamlin – 2015 (-37) – 0 wins, 5 stage wins, 2nd place
8 – William Byron – 2014 (-38) – 1 win, 3 stage wins, 5th place
9 – Joey Logano – 2013 (-39) – 1 win, 5 stage wins, 8th place
10 – Kurt Busch – 2008 (-44) – 1 win, 3 stage wins, 14th place
10 – Brad Keselowski – 2008 (-44) – 1 win, 2 stage wins, 10th place
12 – Christopher Bell – 2005 (-47) – 1 win, 0 stage wins, 15th place
12 – Michael McDowell – 2005 (-47) – 1 win, 0 stage wins, 21st place
12 – Aric Almirola – 2005 (-47) – 1 win, 0 stage wins, 23rd place
15 – Tyler Reddick – 2003 (-49) – 0 wins, 3 stage wins, 11th place
16 – Kevin Harvick – 2002 (-50) – 0 wins, 0 stage wins, 9th place

Take a look at where each of these 16 drivers stand in regard to the cut line to get to the round of 12 ahead of the three-race opening round of 16.

Rank – Driver – Points (Behind)
1 – Kyle Larson – 2052 (+47)
2 – Ryan Blaney – 2024 (+19)
3 – Martin Truex Jr. – 2024 (+19)
4 – Kyle Busch – 2022 (+17)
5 – Chase Elliott – 2021 (+16)
6 – Alex Bowman – 2015 (+10)
7 – Denny Hamlin – 2015 (+10)
8 – William Byron – 2014 (+9)
9 – Joey Logano – 2013 (+8)
10 – Kurt Busch – 2008 (+3)
11 – Brad Keselowski – 2008 (+3)
12 – Christopher Bell – 2005 (+0)
—–ROUND OF 12 CUT LINE—–
13 – Michael McDowell – 2005 (-0)
14 – Aric Almirola – 2005 (-0)
15 – Tyler Reddick – 2003 (-2)
16 – Kevin Harvick – 2002 (-3)

Larson is listed by WynnBET as the favorite to win this year’s championship with odds of +260. No other driver has odds shorter than +650.

Make your pick now on WynnBET.

Tune in to NBC Sports Network at 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 5 for the live broadcast of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoff-opening Cook Out Southern 500 from Darlington Raceway. Start your free trial of FuboTV today if you have not already done so!