A general view of the grandstands at Martinsville Speedway.

Drivers below playoff elimination line to race into next round on points

By Pat DeCola | Published: October 23, 2025 18

David Jensen | Getty Images

1 of 18

David Jensen | Getty Images

William Byron, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott all enter the Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway below the cutline. However, anything can happen in the Cup Series, and the race also presents an opportunity for one of them to put on an epic performance and race their way into the Championship 4. It's been done before; scroll through to see which drivers have entered an elimination race below the bubble and came up clutch to advance to the next round on points.

RELATED: Weekend schedule | Playoff standings

2 of 18

Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media

Driver: Joey Logano

Year: 2024
Round: 12, Charlotte Roval
Entered: 9th, -11
Left: 8th, +20

3 of 18

Denny Hamlin races at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Brittney Wilbur | NASCAR Digital Media

Driver: Denny Hamlin

Year: 2024
Round: 16, Bristol
Entered: 13th, -6
Left: 6th, +7

4 of 18

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Martin Truex Jr.

Year: 2023
Round: 16, Bristol
Entered: 13th, -7
Left: 11th, +5

5 of 18

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images)

Driver: Bubba Wallace

Year: 2022
Round: 16, Bristol
Entered: 14th, -19
Left: 12th, +4

6 of 18

Logan Riely | Getty Images

Driver: Chase Briscoe

Year: 2022
Round: 16, Bristol
Entered: 15th, -9
Left: 10th, +14

7 of 18

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 18: William Byron Axalta Chevrolet, driver of the #24 Hendrick Motorsports, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 18, 2021 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Logan Riely | Getty Images

Driver: William Byron

Year: 2021
Round: 16, Bristol
Entered: 15th, -18
Left: 8th, +2

8 of 18

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 28: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Rush/Cummins Ford, practices for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on September 28, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Clint Bowyer

Year: 2019
Round: 16, Roval
Entered: 14th, -4
Left: 9th, +17

9 of 18

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 29: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Retirement Plans Chevrolet, races during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on September 29, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Alex Bowman

Year: 2019
Round: 16, Roval
Entered: 13th, -2
Left: 12th, +5

10 of 18

CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 30: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Mobil 1/Advance Auto Parts Ford, races during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on September 30, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Driver: Clint Bowyer

Year: 2018
Round: 16, Roval
Entered: 13th, -4
Left: 9th, +7

11 of 18

DOVER, DE - OCTOBER 01: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 AAA Chevrolet, practices for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Citizen Solider 400 at Dover International Speedway on October 1, 2016 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Michael Reaves | Getty Images

Driver: Austin Dillon

Year: 2016
Round: 16, Dover
Entered: 14th, -5
Left: 12th, +16

12 of 18

DOVER, DE - OCTOBER 04: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on October 4, 2015 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Driver: Kyle Busch

Year: 2015
Round: 16, Dover
Entered: 13th, -1
Left: 9th, +13

13 of 18

DOVER, DE - SEPTEMBER 28: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Freight Toyota, is interviewed by the media after afthe NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 28, 2014 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Matt Sullivan | Getty Images

Driver: Denny Hamlin

Year: 2014
Round: 16, Dover
Entered: 13th, -6
Left: 11th, +4

14 of 18

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS - OCTOBER 20: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Driver: Chase Elliott

Year: 2019
Round: 12, Kansas
Entered: 10th, -22
Left: 8th, +3

15 of 18

KANSAS CITY, KS - OCTOBER 22: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Halloween Toyota, pits during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 22, 2017 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Kyle Busch

Year: 2017
Round: 12, Kansas
Entered: 9th, -7
Left: 7th, +13

16 of 18

TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 23: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hellmann's 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23, 2016 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Driver: Denny Hamlin

Year: 2016
Round: 12, Talladega
Entered: 10th, -6
Left: 8th, +0

17 of 18

TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 25: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Halloween Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 25, 2015 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Patrick Smith | Getty Images

Driver: Kyle Busch

Year: 2015
Round: 12, Talladega
Entered: 9th, -6
Left: 8th, +3

18 of 18

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Home Depot Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 19, 2014 in Talladega, Alabama.

Getty Images

Driver: Matt Kenseth

Year: 2014
Round: 12, Talladega
Entered: 9th, -1
Left: 5th, +13