Setting the tone: Cup Series drivers to win opening playoff race

By Staff Report | Published: September 10, 2024 22

Geoff Burke | Getty Images for NASCAR

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LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Autotrader Ford, celebrates in victory lane by placing the Winner's Sticker on his car after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series SouthPoint 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 16, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Matt Sullivan | Getty Images

When Brad Keselowski pulled into Victory Lane at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2018, he became the first Cup Series driver to win three playoff-opening races. Since then, only Martin Truex Jr. has matched the incredible feat. Scroll through the gallery to see every winner of every opening race in the postseason era, with information provided by Racing Insights.

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LOUDON, NH - SEPTEMBER 19: Kurt Busch, driver of the #97 IRWIN Industrial Tools Ford, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Sylvania 300 on September 19, 2004 at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Gavin Lawrence/Getty Images). | Getty Images

Gavin Lawrence | Getty Images

Kurt Busch, 2004

Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Final season standing: Champion

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LOUDON, NH - SEPTEMBER 18: Ryan Newman, driver of the #12 Mobil Dodge, celebrates winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Sylvania 300 on September 18, 2005 at the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Rusty Jarrett | Getty Images

Ryan Newman, 2005

Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Final season standing: Sixth

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LOUDON, NH - SEPTEMBER 17: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #29 Reese's Chevvrolet, stands with the winners trophy in victory lane, following the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Sylvania 300 on September 17, 2006 at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jim McIsaac | Getty Images

Kevin Harvick, 2006

Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Final season standing: Fourth

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LOUDON, NH - SEPTEMBER 16: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet, climbs from his car after winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway on September 16, 2007 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Al Bello | Getty Images

Clint Bowyer, 2007

Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Final season standing: Third

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LOUDON, NH - SEPTEMBER 14: Greg Biffle, driver of the #16 Dish Network Turbo HD Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 14, 2008 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Jason Smith | Getty Images

Greg Biffle, 2008

Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Final season standing: Third

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LOUDON, NH - SEPTEMBER 20: Mark Martin, driver of the #5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 20, 2009 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR) | Getty Images

Geoff Burke | Getty Images

Mark Martin, 2009

Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Final season standing: Runner-up

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LOUDON, NH - SEPTEMBER 19: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet, celebrates with his crew after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 19, 2010 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Elsa | Getty Images

Clint Bowyer, 2010

Track: New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Final season standing: 10th

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Geoff Burke | Getty Images for NASCAR

Tony Stewart, 2011

Track: Chicagoland Speedway

Final season standing: Champion

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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, celebrates with his crew in victory lane after he won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 16, 2012 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Brad Keselowski, 2012

Track: Chicagoland Speedway

Final season standing: Champion

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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 15: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Dollar General Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Geico 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 15, 2013 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Todd Warshaw | Getty Images

Matt Kenseth, 2013

Track: Chicagoland Speedway

Final season standing: Runner-up

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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 14: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, places his name in the top twelve on The Chase Grid after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series MyAFibStory.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 14, 2014 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Brad Keselowski, 2014

Track: Chicagoland Speedway

Final season standing: Fifth

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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 20: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, poses with the myAFibRisk.com 400 trophy after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series myAFibRisk.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 20, 2015 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, 2015

Track: Chicagoland Speedway

Final season standing: Ninth

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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 18: Martin Truex Jr, driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, poses with the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 18, 2016 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Jeff Zelevansky | Getty Images

Martin Truex Jr., 2016

Track: Chicagoland Speedway

Final season standing: 11th

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JOLIET, IL - SEPTEMBER 17: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Tales of the Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 17, 2017 in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

Martin Truex Jr., 2017

Track: Chicagoland Speedway

Final season standing: Champion

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LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 16: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Autotrader Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series SouthPoint 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 16, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Matt Sullivan | Getty Images

Brad Keselowski, 2018

Track: Las Vegas Motor

Speedway Final season standing: Eighth

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 15: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, places the winner's sticker on his car after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 15, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

Martin Truex, 2019

Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Final season standing: Runner-up

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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 06: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Beer Throwback Ford, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 06, 2020 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Chris Keane/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Keane | Getty Images

Kevin Harvick, 2020

Track: Darlington Raceway

Final season standing: Fifth

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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 05: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Offerpad Toyota, celebrates in the Ruoff Mortgage victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 05, 2021 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Denny Hamlin, 2021

Track: Darlington Raceway

Final season standing: Third

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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

Erik Jones, 2022

Track: Darlington Raceway

Final season standing: 18th

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James Gilbert | Getty Images

Kyle Larson, 2023

Track: Darlington Raceway

Final season standing: Second

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Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Joey Logano, 2024

Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway

Final season standing: TBD