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Michael McDowell (No. 71 Spire Motorsports Group 1001 Chevrolet) and Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Ford) lead the start of the Pennzoil 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on March 16, 2025, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. (Photo by Marc Sanchez\/LVMS\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs have entered the Round of Eight, and the pressure increases dramatically. With eight drivers fighting for the final four positions in the November 2 NASCAR Championship Race at Phoenix International Raceway, the first step is Sunday\u2019s South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n
NBC Sports will present live coverage of the NASCAR Cup Series\u2019 opening Round of Eight playoff race with the South Point 400 from Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Sunday, October 12 at 5:30 p.m. ET on USA Network. Live pre-race coverage on USA Network begins at 5 p.m. ET with Countdown to Green. After this race, the final three races of the Cup Series Playoffs will be on NBC and Peacock.<\/p>\n
Can History Repeat In NASCAR Playoffs?<\/p>\n
Team Penske driver Joey Logano is hoping history repeats itself from 2024. <\/p>\n
One year ago, Logano thought he was the last driver to miss the cut after the BankofAmerica ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. But a few hours later, he was dealt a winning hand when he was informed that Alex Bowman\u2019s No. 48 Chevrolet had failed post-race technical inspection for being under weight and was out of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.<\/p>\n
Logano was back in.<\/p>\n
He made the most out of that second chance one week later by winning at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which guaranteed him a position in the Final Four at Phoenix.<\/p>\n
Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Pennzoil Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 20, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
Logano would ultimately hit the jackpot by winning that race and claiming his third NASCAR Cup Series Championship.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t ever feel like anything is owed to me,\u201d Logano said. \u201cYou just roll with whatever comes your way and it shows how unpredictable life is and sometimes you don\u2019t need to be going up and down with every wave. <\/p>\n
\u201cI remember the emotions leaving the track. I was bummed. I was like, \u2018Well, on one hand we did really good here last year,\u2019 so I was proud of the effort that we gave. I was bummed that we were just a little short, but it is what it is. That\u2019s how I am at the end of the race. It is what it is. I can\u2019t change it now and you just have to keep looking out the windshield and we went home. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe went home and had a fairly normal evening, and then I got a call, and it was like, \u2018Hey, honey, you ain\u2019t going to believe it. We\u2019re back in.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Logano had his reprieve and was determined to make the most out of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, the next seven days after that changed everything because we went from out to in to winning Vegas and in the Championship 4 and winning our third title, so just a quick turn of events, but that\u2019s NASCAR racing for you,\u201d Logano said. \u201cIt\u2019s unpredictable. Things can change really, really fast. You just have to keep rolling with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drama In Previous Round of NASCAR Playoffs<\/p>\n
During the October 5 BankofAmerica ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Logano was once again fighting off elimination. It came down to an in-race battle between Logano\u2019s No. 22 Shell\/Pennzoil Ford and Ross Chastain\u2019s No. 1 Busch Light Chevrolet <\/p>\n
Ross Chastain, driver of the No. 1 Busch Light Chevrolet, and Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Progressive Toyota, spin after an on-track incident to finish the race in reverse as Joey Logano (yellow car) sets up to pass both at the end the NASCAR Cup Series Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 05, 2025 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
When Denny Hamlin\u2019s No. 11 Progressive Toyota passed Chastain\u2019s on the final lap of the race, it moved Logano into the final transfer position. But Chastain tried to knock Hamlin\u2019s car off the track going through the final chicane in Turn 17 heading to the checkered flag and both cars spun backwards. Chastain threw his car into reverse to cross the finish line, but Logano\u2019s No. 22 beat him, and Logano was moving onto the next round of the Playoffs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still alive, baby,\u201d Logano said after climbing out of his car to some loud boos from the fans at Charlotte Motor Speedway. \u201cWe’re still going. I’m so excited.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch a close finish there. I knew it was within a point there. I knew we were going to be tied there at the end, and Ross was going to do whatever he had to do to make it happen. Geesh, just wasn\u2019t quite fast enough today with our car.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s the drama of the playoffs. If you want drama, the playoffs bring it every time. What an entertaining finish there to come down to, like I said, a tie there basically at the end before the wreck.\u201d<\/p>\n
NASCAR Playoffs Include Plenty Of Gambling<\/p>\n
Although Las Vegas is where the world comes to gamble, Logano\u2019s crew chief Paul Wolfe made a bold gamble late in the Charlotte race to sacrifice track position for fuel and a fresh set of tires when he ordered a late-race pit stop. That moved Logano way back in the field, but the fresh rubber and more fuel allowed the driver to stand on the throttle and make up the positions on the track.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud of Paul Wolfe. He made some really hard calls today. The stop at the end there, it was kind of an audible there at the end because our fall-off was a little too much. Making that call there at the end was ultimately what kept us there in the game with just a few left.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a championship performance from the team. I wish I was a little faster, but overall, I couldn\u2019t be more proud of the team. We still got a shot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Team Penske crew chief Paul Wolfe. (Photo by Chris Williams\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n
As the last one into the Round of Eight for the second year in a row, can Logano and Team Penske duplicate that success with another win at Las Vegas?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s one step at a time,\u201d Logano said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get through this week first. This week right now is the most important race of the season for us. We\u2019ve got to get through this one. Hopefully, we can continue to be in the championship race after this and at that point we\u2019ll look at Vegas.\u201d<\/p>\n
By now, Logano has looked long at hard at Las Vegas and the pressure that comes with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s way more stressful,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s the playoffs. There is more on the line. You\u2019re getting close, so for the eight that are still in it, absolutely there\u2019s more pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n
How To Watch NASCAR Playoffs Round Of Eight At Las Vegas<\/p>\n
A win in Las Vegas this weekend guarantees a spot in the Championship Four at the final race in Phoenix on Nov. 2. Shane van Gisbergen won last week\u2019s cutoff race in Charlotte, with defending Cup Series champion Joey Logano passing Ross Chastain after a collision on the last lap to solidify his advancement to the Round of 8 and the chance to defend his title. Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and William Byron make up the current top four. Logano, who currently finds himself below the cutline, is the defending South Point 400 champion, winning two of the last three editions of this race.<\/p>\n
Leigh Diffey (Photo by David J. Griffin\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n
NBC Sports\u2019 broadcast team of veteran motorsports play-by-play commentator Leigh Diffey, 21-time Cup Series race winner and \u201cThe Mayor\u201d of NASCAR Jeff Burton, and Daytona 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte will call the action. Marty Snider, Kim Coon, and Dillon Welch will serve as pit reporters.<\/p>\n
Marty Snider will host post-race coverage alongside NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett and Hyak Motorsports co-owner Brad Daugherty, with Burton joining for pre-race coverage.<\/p>\n
Jeff Burton won the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in back-to-back years in 1999 and 2000.<\/p>\n
NASCAR Cup Series Round Of Eight Standings<\/p>\n
Position, Driver, Points<\/p>\n
1. Denny Hamlin +8<\/p>\n
2. Ryan Blaney +6<\/p>\n
3. Kyle Larson +4<\/p>\n
4. William Byron +4<\/p>\n
ON THE BUBBLE<\/p>\n
5. Christopher Bell -4<\/p>\n
6. Chase Elliott -14<\/p>\n
7. Chase Briscoe -14<\/p>\n
8. Joey Logano -24 <\/p>\n
NASCAR Playoff Viewing Information<\/p>\n
This week\u2019s opening tease will be voiced by NASCAR Hall of Famer and Las Vegas native Kurt Busch, who won the championship in the inaugural Cup Series \u201cChase for the Cup\u201d points format in 2004. Busch also won the South Point 400 in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Movie star Glen Powell, who has been featured in films such as Top Gun: Maverick, Twisters, and Anyone but You, will give the command.<\/p>\n
The official home of the NASCAR Championship and Playoffs, NBC Sports will present the final 14 NASCAR Cup Series races in 2025 across NBC, USA Network, and Peacock, culminating with the Championship at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 2. Live coverage of practice and qualifying will be presented on truTV Saturday starting at 4:30 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n
The VoicesPlay-by-Play: Leigh DiffeyAnalysts: Jeff Burton, Steve LetartePit Reporters: Marty Snider, Kim Coon, Dillon WelchHost: Marty SniderStudio Analysts: Dale Jarrett, Brad Daugherty, Jeff BurtonTV \u2013 USA NetworkStreaming \u2013 NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app<\/p>\n
Date, Coverage, Platform, Time (ET)<\/p>\n
Saturday October 11<\/p>\n
Practice and Qualifying, truTV, 4:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
Sunday, October. 12<\/p>\n
Countdown to Green, USA Network, 5 p.m.<\/p>\n
NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400, USA Network, 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
NASCAR Cup Series Post-Race, USA Network, 8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Michael McDowell (No. 71 Spire Motorsports Group 1001 Chevrolet) and Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Pennzoil Ultra…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":203888,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[446],"tags":[49,48,3932,5793,86140,32103,634,100025,45826,100024,8994,86139,82,5794],"class_list":["post-203887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nascar","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-denny-hamlin","tag-joey-logano","tag-las-vegas-motor-speedway","tag-leigh-diffey","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-cup-series-championship","tag-nascar-cup-series-playoffs","tag-paul-wolfe","tag-ross-chastain","tag-south-point-400","tag-sports","tag-team-penske"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=203887"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203887\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/203888"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=203887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=203887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}