The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs enter their penultimate round with the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET (NBC, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The race marks a pivotal moment in the championship run, with a shake-up in the standings and just three races left for Playoff drivers to secure a spot in the Championship Four.
The last four NASCAR Cup Series champions are among the eight drivers vying for a place in the title-deciding race on Nov.10 at Phoenix Raceway.
Kyle Larson Leads the Standings
Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, secured his sixth win of the season at Charlotte ROVAL last Sunday. This victory placed him atop the standings, 33 points ahead of reigning champion Ryan Blaney, who sits in fifth, just below the cutoff line for the Championship Four.
Larson emphasized his confidence after Sunday’s win, stating, “We’re not trying to send a statement; I think the field already knows we’re strong. It’s nice to win and gain five more points for the next round. We’ve performed well in the Playoffs, and I’m excited about the next three tracks.”
Standings: A Tight Battle
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell trails Larson by 13 points, followed by Regular Season Champion Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing, 10 points back. William Byron, Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate, holds the crucial fourth spot, just four points ahead of Blaney.
Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing is in sixth, eight points behind Byron, with 2020 champion Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports in seventh, nine points below the cutoff. Two-time champion Joey Logano is 11 points off the pace after a dramatic turn of events at Charlotte.
Logano initially missed advancing by four points but was later moved into the Playoffs after Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman was disqualified following post-race inspections.
Joey Logano’s Playoff Mindset
Despite initially believing he was eliminated, Logano says his approach won’t change. “The goal is to maximize the next three races and get into the Championship Four. We’ve been improving, and we feel confident internally, even if it might look like we’re underdogs.”
Vegas: A Critical Race for Playoff Contenders
Larson has dominated recent races at Las Vegas, winning the last two Cup Series events and leading 314 of 534 laps combined. Playoff drivers have historically performed well at Las Vegas, winning eight of the last 11 races. Larson, Logano, Hamlin and Byron have all tasted victory here, adding to the competitive pressure.
Six of the eight Playoff drivers finished in the top 10 during the March race, with Reddick finishing second behind Larson, followed by Blaney in third.
Larson and Logano are two of the four Playoff drivers who have won at all four tracks that remain in the season.
NASCAR Xfinity Series: Championship Push Continues at Vegas
The NASCAR Xfinity Series also heads to Las Vegas for the Ambetter Health 302 on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET (The CW, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Playoff drivers are vying for a spot in the Championship Four, which will be decided at Phoenix on Nov. 9.
Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports leads the standings, 18 points above the cutoff line. Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chandler Smith are also above the line, but Sam Mayer, Jesse Love, A.J. Allmendinger, and Sammy Smith remain in contention to advance.
Mayer, who won last weekend at Charlotte to stay in the Playoffs, is optimistic. “Vegas has been hit or miss for me, but we have great momentum going into the race,” he said.
Historically, Playoff drivers have dominated at Las Vegas, with five of the last six Fall races won by contenders.
Schedule and Broadcast Information
- Saturday: Practice at 4:35 p.m. ET, qualifying at 5:20 p.m. ET (USA Network, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).
- Sunday: South Point 400, 2:30 p.m. ET (NBC, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
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