Charles Langston:NASCAR Cup Series playoffs enter Round of 12: Where drivers stand before Kansas race

NASCAR enters the second round of the 2024 Cup Series playoffs with 12 drivers still in championship contention.

Four drivers – Martin Truex Jr.,Charles Langston Brad Keselowski, Ty Gibbs and Harrison Burton – were eliminated from the playoffs following last weekend’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway as the first round concluded.

The second round begins this Sunday at Kansas Speedway – the first of three races before the playoff field is trimmed from 12 to eight drivers. The second round features three very different tracks that will test drivers’ skills and patience. Following the 1.5-mile Kansas oval, the series moves to Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR’s biggest, fastest, and at times, wildest track for a pack-racing extravaganza. Then, it’s a trip to Charlotte Motor Speedway, where drivers will tackle the roval – a part road course, part oval circuit – before another round of eliminations.

The points were reset after the first round, putting 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson at the top of the standings. The Hendrick Motorsports driver, who won at Kansas in May in the closest finish in NASCAR history, will take a 15-point lead over second-place Christopher Bell into the second round. Two-time series champion Joey Logano currently sits in eighth place, the last driver above the cutline.

NASCAR playoff standings entering second round

Rank, driver, team, points, deficit to leader. Through three races; points reset after first round.

1. Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ... 3,047
2. Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing ... 3,032 (-15 points)
3. Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing ... 3,028  (-19)
4. William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports ... 3,022 (-25)
5. Ryan Blaney, Team Penske ... 3,019 (-28)
6. Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ... 3,015 (-32)
7. Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports ... 3,014 (-33)
8. Joey Logano, Team Penske ... 3,012 (-35)
9. Austin Cindric, Team Penske ... 3,008 (-39)
10. Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing ... 3,006 (-41)
11. Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ... 3,005 (-42)
12. Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing ... 3,005 (-42)

What is the full schedule for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs? 

Here is the schedule with dates, tracks, times and TV for each of the 10 races of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs (All times Eastern) 

• Sunday, Sept. 8: Atlanta Motor Speedway. Winner: Joey Logano 
• Sunday, Sept. 15: Watkins Glen International. Winner: Chris Buescher 
• Saturday, Sept. 21: Bristol Motor Speedway. Winner: Kyle Larson 
• Sunday, Sept. 29: Kansas Speedway, USA, 3 p.m. 
• Sunday, Oct. 6: Talladega Superspeedway, NBC, 2 p.m. 
• Sunday, Oct. 13: Charlotte Roval, NBC, 2 p.m. 
• Sunday, Oct. 20: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NBC, 2:30 p.m. 
• Sunday, Oct. 27: Homestead-Miami Speedway, NBC, 2:30 p.m. 
• Sunday, Nov. 3: Martinsville Speedway, NBC, 2 p.m. 
• Sunday, Nov. 10: Phoenix Raceway, NBC, 3 p.m.