After a competitive 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular season ended with William Byron taking home the Regular Season Championship — and the 15 playoff points that come with it — we’re turning the corner to the final straightaway of the season: the NASCAR Playoffs.
But how do the NASCAR playoffs work? Drivers earn one of 16 playoff spots through regular season wins and points and then battle through four elimination rounds until a postseason champion is crowned. Here’s everything you need to know about the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs right here, from how drivers qualify and how points carry over round-to-round to which 2025 drivers made the cut.
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What Are the NASCAR Playoffs?
NASCAR’s 75-year history shows that the sport isn’t afraid of changing things up. In fact, the organization has adjusted its point system 15 different times since 1949. And while that may sound like a lot of change, it’s all in an effort to make the sport as exciting and enjoyable as possible.
Before 2004, there were no NASCAR playoffs. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that the organization decided to implement the “Chase for the Cup” which was later renamed the NASCAR playoffs.
Today, the playoffs are an elimination style tournament in which the top 16 drivers from the regular season (determined by points and wins, which we’ll get into more below) compete in up to ten races in hopes of being crowned the postseason champion.
NASCAR Point System Explained: Regular Season vs. Playoffs
Starting in 2018, the NASCAR Cup Series regular season championship was awarded to the driver who got the most points in the 26 regular season races. But how do drivers win these points? And what’s the difference between regular season and playoff points?
Regular Season Points:
Drivers accumulate points in the regular season based on their finishing position in each race. With a maximum of 40 cars per race, drivers receive anywhere from 40 points for finishing first, to 1 point for finishing last. If one driver won every race of the season, they would accumulate 1,040 points from the wins alone.
Stage Points:
Another change to the NASCAR point system in 2018 was the addition of stage points. Races are split into three stages, and drivers can win additional points for their finishing place in Stages 1 and 2, ranging from 10 points for first down to one point for 10th. Stage points are added to a driver’s regular-season total, which makes every lap matter, even before the checkered flag falls.
And in 2025, the Xfinity Fastest Lap program was implemented, which awards one point to the driver with the fastest lap each race, adding even more intensity to the track.
Playoff Points:
Drivers also earn playoff points during the regular season that carry on to the postseason. Stage wins are worth one point each, a win is worth 5 playoff points and the top ten finishers in the regular-season standings are allotted bonus points (15 for champion, 10 for second, down to 1 for 10th).
These points don’t impact regular season standings; they only “activate” once the playoffs begin, when base points are reset.
Qualifying for the Playoffs:
The playoff field consists of 16 drivers, and for the most part, if you win, you’re in — a race win in the regular season guarantees a spot in the playoffs. If there are fewer than 16 race winners from the regular season, the remaining playoff spots are filled based on regular-season points. If there are more than 16 winners, the highest-point winners among them qualify.
How Points Reset in the Playoffs:
At the start of each playoff round (Round of 16, Round of 12, Round of 8), a driver’s base points reset (e.g., 2,000 for Round of 16, 3,000 for Round of 12, etc.), and then drivers’ banked playoff points are added back in. That’s why winning in the regular season gives a safety net in later rounds.
Exception: In the Championship 4, playoff points no longer matter. It’s truly winner-takes-all.
How Many Rounds of Playoffs Are There?
Once the top 16 drivers have been decided, there are four rounds of playoffs to determine the NASCAR Cup Series champion. The rounds are:
- Round of 16
- Round of 12
- Round of 8
- Championship 4
How Are Drivers Eliminated from the Playoffs?
Players are able to accumulate more playoff points during the playoff period, both for winning stages and races, just like in the regular season. The Round of 16, 12 and 8 consist of three races each. Drivers can move on to the next round of playoffs by either winning one of the three races or by having more cumulative points than competitors. The four drivers with the lowest number of points at the end of the round are then eliminated from the playoffs.
Finally, the last four drivers standing then battle it out for winner-takes-all NASCAR Cup Series Championship, with the first-place driver becoming the NASCAR champion.
Drivers that are eliminated during playoffs are then placed 5-16th, depending on their final point total.
2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Field
Here is the official Cup Series playoff field for the 2025 NASCAR season. The table also includes the drivers’ regular season point total and the playoff points they accumulated over the season:
| Rank | No. | Driver | Team | Qualification Method | Regular Season Points |
| 1 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Hendrick Motorsports | Wins (3) | 2032 |
| 2 | 24 | William Byron (Regular Season Champion) | Hendrick Motorsports | Wins (2) | 2032 |
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing | Wins (3) | 2029 |
| 4 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske | Wins (2) | 2026 |
| 5 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Joe Gibbs | Wins (3) | 2023 |
| 6 | 88 | Shane van Gisbergen | Trackhouse Racing | Wins (3) | 2022 |
| 7 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsport | Wins (1) | 2013 |
| 8 | 19 | Chase Briscoe | Joe Gibbs Racing | Wins (1) | 2010 |
| 9 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | 23XI Racing | Wins (1) | 2008 |
| 10 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Team Penske | Wins (1) | 2008 |
| 11 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Trackhouse Racing | Wins (1) | 2007 |
| 12 | 22 | Joey Logano | Team Penske | Wins (1) | 2007 |
| 13 | 21 | Josh Berry | Wood Brothers Racing | Wins (1) | 2006 |
| 14 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | 23XI Racing | Points | 2006 |
| 15 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing | Points | 2005 |
| 16 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports | Points | 2002 |
WHY DID NASCAR START THE PLAYOFFS?
According to NASCAR, they implemented the playoffs to make NASCAR’s mid-season races more competitive, as well as to increase fan excitement and viewership numbers. While there are some coincidences in the timing (i.e., Matt Kenseth’s win in 2003), NASCAR officials stand by their decision to put more emphasis on winning races than having a steady season.
HOW TO WATCH NASCAR CUP SERIES PLAYOFFS AT HOME
Check back here for the NASCAR Cup Series news you need to be ready for the next stage of the season. And make sure to catch the remaining races of the season on USA or NBC with your DIRECTV subscription.
If you aren’t a DIRECTV customer yet, now’s the time to make the switch! NASCAR playoffs, football preseason, college ball and more are in high gear, and DIRECTV has the best sports coverage. It’s a win-win!
Frequently Asked Questions
When do NASCAR Playoffs start?
The 2025 NASCAR Playoffs kicked off on Aug. 31, 2025.
How many races are there in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs?
The Cup Series Playoffs consist of 10 races (three in Round of 16, Round of 12, Round of 8 and one final Championship race).
How are drivers eliminated from the NASCAR Playoffs?
The final 16 drivers in the playoffs compete in an elimination style tournament, with the bottom four drivers being eliminated at the end of the first three rounds (Round of 16, Round of 12, Round of 8), until only the final four drivers are left.
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