NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs: At Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, the South Point 400 was the first race in the round of 8 for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports won this critical race and secured his spot in the Championship 4 for the second time in three years. It was a fantastic show of skill and determination.
Larson’s triumph was particularly significant because he won stages one and two, earning seven perfect playoff points. Throughout the regular season and the playoffs, drivers accumulate playoff points from race and background wins. Each race has seven playoff points up for grabs — five for race wins and one for each stage win. Additionally, playoff drivers finishing in the top 10 in the regular season standings gain extra playoff points on a scale from 15 to 1.
These playoff points play a vital role as they are added to each remaining playoff driver’s total at the start of each postseason round, following the reset of point totals. However, as the playoffs progress, these points become even more critical. In the game of 8, the point totals for the eight championship contenders are reset to 4,000. But, crucially, the seven playoff points Larson earned in this race and any further playoff points awarded in the upcoming round of 8 races at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Martinsville Speedway won’t impact the Championship 4 contenders.
The reason for this lies in the unique playoff format. Before the season finale at Phoenix, the point totals for the Championship 4 drivers are reset to 5,000. During the Phoenix race, the highest finisher among these four drivers is crowned the champion. At Phoenix, playoff and stage points no longer play a role; the focus shifts entirely to the driver’s performance on the track. However, stage points remain crucial at Homestead and Martinsville, as at least one Championship 4 spot is guaranteed to be awarded based on facts.
In essence, the road to the NASCAR Cup Series championship has become a battle not just for race wins but also for these precious playoff points that provide a strategic advantage throughout the season, especially in the high-stakes environment of the playoffs.
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