NASCAR: Full playoff standings after Bristol points reset

The round of 16 of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs is in the books following Saturday night’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Four drivers saw their 2021 NASCAR Cup Series championship hopes dashed on Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway in the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, while other drivers who survived and advanced to the round of 12 from the round of 16 still had their own drama to deal with.

Not advancing from the first three-race round of the playoffs to the second are Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Aric Almirola, Richard Childress Racing’s Tyler Reddick and Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell.

All 12 of the other playoff drivers remain eligible to win this year’s championship with seven races remaining on the 36-race calendar, and they all had their point totals reset to 3,000 ahead of the next round.

Like before the round of 16, however, bonus points were added to each of these 3,000-point totals.

These bonus points include five for each race win, one for each stage win, and between one and 15 depending on where, if at all, the driver finished inside the top 10 in the regular season point standings.

These bonus point totals don’t necessary match those entering the playoffs, as the round of 16 saw a number of drivers collect additional wins and/or stage wins. Those also count toward the updated totals.

So here are the full standings among the remaining 12 playoff drivers heading into the round of 12, which is scheduled to include races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.

Rank – Driver – Points (Behind) – Wins, Stage Wins, Regular Season Finish
1 – Kyle Larson – 3059 (0) – 6 wins, 14 stage wins, 1st place
2 – Martin Truex Jr. – 3029 (-30) – 4 wins, 5 stage wins, 7th place
3 – Ryan Blaney – 3024 (-35) – 3 wins, 4 stage wins, 6th place
3 – Denny Hamlin – 3024 (-35) – 1 win, 9 stage wins, 2nd place
5 – Kyle Busch – 3022 (-37) – 2 wins, 5 stage wins, 4th place
6 – Chase Elliott – 3021 (-38) – 2 wins, 3 stage wins, 3rd place
7 – Alex Bowman – 3015 (-44) – 3 wins, 0 stage wins, 12th place
8 – William Byron – 3014 (-45) – 1 win, 3 stage wins, 5th place
9 – Joey Logano – 3013 (-46) – 1 win, 5 stage wins, 8th place
10 – Brad Keselowski – 3008 (-51) – 1 win, 2 stage wins, 10th place
11 – Christopher Bell – 3005 (-54) – 1 win, 0 stage wins, 15th place
12 – Kevin Harvick – 3002 (-57) – 0 wins, 0 stage wins, 9th place

Take a look at where each of these 12 drivers stand in regard to the cut line to get to the round of 8 ahead of the three-race round of 12.

Rank – Driver – Points (Behind)
1 – Kyle Larson – 3059 (+46)
2 – Martin Truex Jr. – 3029 (+16)
3 – Ryan Blaney – 3024 (+11)
3 – Denny Hamlin – 3024 (+11)
5 – Kyle Busch – 3022 (+9)
6 – Chase Elliott – 3021 (+8)
7 – Alex Bowman – 3015 (+2)
8 – William Byron – 3014 (+1)
—–ROUND OF 8 CUT LINE—–
9 – Joey Logano – 3013 (-1)
10 – Brad Keselowski – 3008 (-6)
11 – Christopher Bell – 3005 (-9)
12 – Kevin Harvick – 3002 (-12)

Larson is still listed by WynnBET as the favorite to win this year’s championship after a round of 16 which saw him add to his series-high stage win total twice and add to his series-high race win total late in this past Saturday night’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Make your pick now on WynnBET.

Tune in to NBC Sports Network at 7:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 26 for the live broadcast of the round of 12-opening South Point 400 from Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Start your free trial of FuboTV today if you have not already done so!