Here is a breakdown of the playoff situation for each of NASCAR’s three national series.
Monster Energy Cup Series
- One race remains in the regular season (Saturday at Richmond at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN)
- 13 drivers are locked into the playoffs with a win (Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Blaney, Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon and Kasey Kahne).
- Three drivers (Chase Elliott, Matt Kenseth, and Jamie McMurray) are the only drivers capable of making the playoffs on points.
- 17 drivers can still make the playoffs with a win,
- Martin Truex Jr has clinched the regular season championship and the 15 playoff points associated with it.
Xfinity Series
- Two races remain in the regular season (Friday at Richmond and Sept. 16 at Chicagoland).
- Four drivers are locked into the playoffs with a win (William Byron, Justin Allgaier, Ryan Reed and Jeremy Clements).
- Elliott Sadler, Brennan Poole and Daniel Hemric clinched a playoffs spot on points.
- Cole Custer is in the playoffs if there is not a new winner who is outside the current playoff cutoff
- At least three drivers will make the playoffs on points.
- Elliott Sadler will clinch the 2017 regular season championship if he has a 61-point lead over second place in points following Richmond (he enters with a 91-point lead).
Camping World Truck Series
- One race remains in the regular season (Sept. 15 at Chicagoland Speedway).
- Six drivers are locked into the playoffs with a win (Christopher Bell, Johnny Sauter, Matt Crafton, John Hunter Nemechek, Austin Cindric and Kaz Grala).
- Chase Briscoe has locked into the playoffs on points
- Only one spot remains in the playoffs at Chicagoland
- Only seven points separate the drivers currently eighth (Ben Rhodes) in playoff standings and ninth (Ryan Truex) in playoff standings