Playoff Grid 101: Projected standings, notes for all three NASCAR national series

The regular season is winding down for all three NASCAR national series, and the playoff picture is coming into focus. So, what does the Playoff Grid look like? We’re here to answer.

First, a note. The Playoffs standings you’ll see on our Standings page denote the race into the postseason. Only 16 drivers make it (12 for Xfinity, 10 for Craftsman Truck Series), and those standings show who has clinched via a win and then the points positions for the rest.

This Playoff Grid projection shows what the exact standings would look like if the postseason started today.

Here’s what we do:

– All playoff drivers have their points reset to 2,000 for the opening round.
– Each race win counts as 5 playoff points, which are then added to the 2,000. Kyle Larson has four wins, for example, so that gives him 20 playoff points via victories.
– Each stage win counts as 1 playoff point. Justin Allgaier has 13 stage wins, for example, so that gives him 13 playoff points via stage wins.
– This projection takes into account where the drivers are ranked in the regular-season standings. There are bonus points for finishing in the top 10. The regular-season champion earns 15 bonus playoff points. Second-place receives 10 bonus playoff points, and then third-place receives 8 bonus playoff points (etc., down to 1 point for 10th place). We use that here, too.

Here’s what the exact Playoff Grid looks like for all three national series heading into Darlington Raceway.

NASCAR Cup Series

Notable: Harrison Burton pulled off a stunner under the lights at Daytona International Speedway after winning the Coke Zero Sugar 400 to punch his ticket to the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs. In Wood Brothers Racing’s 100th victory, the No. 21 Ford team went from outside the top 30 in points into the top 16, with a chance to compete for the Bill France Cup. However, Burton’s win pushed 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace below the elimination line, who enters the regular-season finale at Darlington 21 points back. Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain sits at a 27-point deficit. While Wallace and Chastain could still make the playoffs on points, Kyle Busch (-106) and others behind the Richard Childress Racing driver in the standings will enter Darlington in a high-pressure must-win situation.

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Notable: AJ Allmendinger and Parker Kligerman worked together throughout the Xfinity Series race at Daytona up to the final lap. Both drivers were looking for their first trip to Victory Lane of the 2024 season. After the white flag waved, Kligerman gave Allmendinger a push heading toward Turn 1. Then, they made contact as Allmendinger’s No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet spun off Kligerman’s bumper and back up the track into traffic. Kligerman still finished third and enjoyed a solid points day, who now sits 44 points above the elimination line. On the other hand, Allmendinger is 113 points to the good, but a win would have given the No. 16 team some much-needed momentum ahead of the postseason.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Notable: While he did not get by Milwaukee race winner Layne Riggs for the checkered flag, ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski had another strong points day in his native Wisconsin. Majeski picked up his third consecutive top-two finish as the team appears to be getting hot down the stretch. With Christian Eckes and Corey Heim going back and forth during the Truck Series regular season, Majeski may emerge as someone who can challenge them for the championship. The No. 98 Ford driver’s runner-up finish at Milwaukee moved him into second in the standings, 16 points behind Eckes.