The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8: Who Made the Cut?

The field for the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 is now locked after New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen captured the checkered flag this weekend at the Bank of America ROVAL 400 in Charlotte, North Carolina. He may not be in contention for any hardware at the Cup Series Championship in Phoenix (exclusively airing on NBC and Peacock), but that didn’t stop the speedster from Down Under from seizing his fifth consecutive road-course victory.

As SVG continued to cement his legacy as the best road-course racer in NASCAR’s top flight, plenty of drama unfolded back in the pack during the climatic finish to the Round of 12, including multiple drivers crossing the finish line in reverse. Ross Chastain tried to conjure another spectacular finish with a move reminiscent of his epic “Hail Melon,” but the Florida wheelman instead spun into Denny Hamlin to end his day. Joey Logano clinched the final spot for the semifinal round, while Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick from 23XI Racing as well as Austin Cindric from Team Penske were all eliminated.

With the postseason contenders revving up for the South Point 400 this Sunday, October 12 on USA Network, here’s a look at the eight remaining drivers in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. The action returns to NBC and Peacock for the final three races of the postseason: the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 19, the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 26, and the Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 2.

Meet the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 Drivers1. Denny Hamlin – 4,036 points
No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Denny Hamlin rolls into the Round of 8 with nothing but the wind at his sails. Counting Las Vegas, Talladega and Martinsville, Michael Jordan’s business partner has amassed a total of nine career wins at the three tracks he’ll soon face in this round, including six victories on “The Paperclip” alone.

2. Ryan Blaney – 4,034 points
No. 12 Team Penske Ford

Just two points behind Hamlin is former Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney. He was unsuccessful this season on the three upcoming tracks he’ll see this round – he landed in 35th at Sin City and 37th at Talladega – but that hasn’t always been the case. He scored a crucial victory at Martinsville last year to advance, and he’s won three times previously at Talladega.

3. Kyle Larson – 4,032 points
No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Kyle Larson has history on his side as the Round of 8 begins. He may occasionally struggle on shorter tracks, but the wily vet is a three-time winner at Las Vegas. Though he’s never had an issue coping with the pressure of the postseason – or pressure in general – an early victory in Sin City would not only take the edge off ahead of Martinsville, it would lock Yung Money into the desert-bound Championship 4.

4. William Byron – 4,032 points
No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

William Byron knows what it takes to win at both Las Vegas and Martinsville, but he hasn’t been much of a threat so far in the playoffs. His speed’s been inconsistent and, due to an evolving, risk-averse nature on the track, we haven’t seen Willy B score more than his solo Top 5 finish this postseason.

5. Christopher Bell – 4,028 points
No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Last year, a controversial call ended Christopher Bell’s postseason run in the Round of 8 at Martinsville, but the Joe Gibbs Racing talent seems to have put it all in his rearview. Coming off back-to-back Top 3 finishes, Bell remains poised and focused on the track. That said, considering he crashed out in his last two Talladega races, his best shot at clinching a berth in the Championship 4 will most likely be back at Martinsville where he won in 2022 to advance.

6. Chase Elliott – 4,018 points
No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Like his HMS comrade Larson, nothing ever seems to ruffle Chase Elliott’s feathers. Though some might say his Kansas win catalyzed his confidence boost, he’s strutting into the Round of 8 with extra swagger for a reason. He bagged Top 5 finishes at Talladega and Martinsville earlier in the year, in addition to a Top 10 finish in Vegas.

7. Chase Briscoe – 4,018 points
No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Chase Briscoe has certainly defied expectations this season in the Cup Series, but he arguably faces his tallest task yet as he prepares for the Round of 8. Out of the next three tracks in the semifinal round, he’s notched only one Top 10 finish this season, and that was at Martinsville – the final race of the round.

8. Joey Logano – 4,008 points
No. 22 Team Penske Ford

Joey Logano may have just barely eked into the Round of 8, finishing 21st and 20th in the last two races, but the three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is headed back to comfortable territory. Last year, his Vegas victory propelled him to Phoenix, where he ultimately hoisted the Bill France Cup.

The NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8 motors into Las Vegas this Sunday, October 12 with the South Point 400, airing exclusively on USA Network. The action zooms to NBC and Peacock for the final three races of the postseason: the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 19, the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 26, and the Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 2.

The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8: Who Made the Cut?

Tags: