This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series will see the playoffs kick off. Hendrick Motorsports star, Kyle Larson is definitely one of the favorites, but he knows that he will have a fight on his hands. Ahead of the first race at Darlington, Larson talked about how he plans to approach the playoffs. He said [https://twitter.com/bobpockrass/status/1432779561968803840], “Honestly, I’m not doing anything different this year other than racing more. I get to finally show people that dirt racing doesn’t take away from my focus on NASCAR racing. If anything, its the opposite and I’m more focused on racing because I’m racing more often.” Since he has the right equipment under him, Larson is able to prove that he is a good stock car driver. In 2021, he has been able to prove his mettle on most race weekends. Despite this, Kyle acknowledged that there is still a long way to go in his career. WHAT ELSE DID KYLE LARSON SAY? Despite all this, he is not altering his preparation for the playoffs. The Asian-American driver knows that he is in a good car and is capable of winning. He even talked about being considered the favorite to win the title, like he has been in dirt racing or in sprint car racing. Kyle Larson in NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-05-09T234349Z_1818144693_MT1USATODAY16055973_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-GOODYEAR-400.jpg]May 9, 2021; Darlington, South Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) races during the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports According to him, when he is at events like the Chili Bowl Nationals, he is under a lot of pressure. This is because he has performed exceptionally well over there, so he is expected to win or contend for wins. However, NASCAR is different, because this is the first time he is contending for the championship in earnest. Owing to this, he does not feel as much pressure to win the championship at all. Of course, as the season progressed, the pressure got a bit heavier. However, all of his rivals will be under a similar amount of pressure. For now, Kyle Larson will be focusing on the Cup Series race at the Darlington Raceway. READ MORE: Can Kyle Larson Beat the Odds to Join Truex and Busch as Double Season Winners? [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-can-kyle-larson-beat-the-odds-to-join-truex-and-busch-as-double-season-winners/] 

For the first time in his NASCAR Cup Series career, Kyle Larson is in a
championship fight, but he vowed that he is not changing his approach.

Dhruv George is a Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports, with an impressive record of over 14K articles. From F1 driver Pierre Gasly to Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino, Dhruv has interviewed several racers, establishing himself as an authoritative voice in the world of motorsports. He not only writes engaging content but helps connect readers with some of the biggest racing names thanks to his ability to churn out exclusive interviews.

Dhruv's ambition extends beyond writing, as he aspires to host a successful motorsports podcast with some of the biggest stars in the industry, like Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. When he's not writing about Stock Car Racing, he can be found reading and writing fan fiction.

Dhruv George

Dhruv George is a Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports, with an impressive record of over 14K articles. From F1 driver Pierre Gasly to Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino, Dhruv has interviewed several racers, establishing himself as an authoritative voice in the world of motorsports. Dhruv's ambition extends beyond writing, as he aspires to host a successful motorsports podcast with some of the biggest stars in the industry, like Kyle Busch.

Dhruv George | Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports

EssentiallySports

https://www.staging.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/es_circle_black_logo.png

Dhruv George is a Senior NASCAR Author at EssentiallySports, with an impressive record of over 14K articles. From F1 driver Pierre Gasly to Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino, Dhruv has interviewed several racers, establishing himself as an authoritative voice in the world of motorsports. He not only writes engaging content but helps connect readers with some of the biggest racing names thanks to his ability to churn out exclusive interviews. Dhruv's ambition extends beyond writing, as he aspires to host a successful motorsports podcast with some of the biggest stars in the industry, like Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. When he's not writing about Stock Car Racing, he can be found reading and writing fan fiction.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Dhruv-George-1-96x96.png

Dhruv George is a senior Formula One and NASCAR analyst for EssentiallySports,
having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR,
Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the
Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1
driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino. He has been an ardent
follower of motorsports sport since 2001, holding Carlos Sainz Jr. and McLaren
in high regard.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Dhruv_George.png

Can Kyle Larson Beat the Odds to Join Truex and Busch as Double Season Winners?

Kyle Larson celebrates his NASCAR Cup Series win

NASCAR: Pennzoil 400

Mar 7, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) celebrates his victory in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

NASCAR: Pennzoil 400 - EssentiallySports

Aayush Majumdar is a NASCAR content strategist, a Tennis Writer, and a sports analyst at EssentiallySports. He is well-tenured as a tennis and NASCAR writer, with over 900 articles across both sports. After pursuing a Post Graduate program in Sports Management, Aayush explored various roles in Sports Media, including a Sports Reporting role at a leading English daily. He is an avid tennis and NASCAR follower even when he is not writing about these sports, and looks up to the likes of Rafael Nadal and Jimmie Johnson.

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Ayush_Majumdar-removebg-preview-1.png

Aayush Majumdar

figcaption

figure

strong

“I’m Not Doing Anything Different” – Kyle Larson on His 2021 Title Bid

Exclusive: Team Kicked out by NASCAR After a Driver “Snitched” On Them

Uncertain “Political Environment” Cause Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing
to Take a Major Sponsorship Hit

NASCAR Rumor: Joe Gibbs Racing to Potentially Wipe Out This Low-Level Cup Series
Team; Charter Movement Imminent

“Just Push Her”: Denny Hamlin Asks Tony Stewart’s Sensation To Move Hailie
Deegan Out of His Way

“You’re Pissing Me Off” – Dale Earnhardt Jr Instantly Shuts Down Denny Hamlin’s
Solution to Better Talladega

US Army rides in style & safety! NASCAR champs win acclaim for reinforced Chevy troop carriers 

Hendrick Tech for Army Trucks

Rumors of SHR downsizing fly as sponsorships dry up & Michael Jordan’s team eyes a ‘bargain’


23XI Frontrunners For A Third Car?

We remember a racing legend whose name isn't as widely known as the brand he helped build.

Forgotten Brother Behind Chevrolet’s Legacy

Delving into the business intricacies of the sports world ft. Chloe V. Mitchell

Exclusive unheard NBA stories with dunk master Austin Fritts

3 Time Mr. Olympia Frank Zane- The Chemist who made Arnold Schwarzenegger cry


MILLION DOLLAR BLING, Saudi Arabian Glory, World Title and More  Ft. Impa Kasanganay

Hendrick Motorsports

Read to find out all about the winningest NASCAR Cup Series team Hendrick Motorsports' Net Worth, Achievements, Awards, Stats and more!

Hendrick Motorsports: 2024 Net Worth, Stats, Owners and More

Hendrick Motorsports Archives

NASCAR

NASCAR Archives

LatestNASCAR - EssentiallySports News | EssentiallySports

<h1 style="text-align: center"><b>NASCAR Cup Series: Origin, Teams and More</b></h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the NASCAR Cup Series?</strong></h2>
NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) is the authorizing body for stock-vehicle racing in North America. It was established in 1948 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Currently, the organization fields four types of tracks: Intermediate tracks, Superspeedways, Short Tracks and Road Courses.

[caption id="attachment_2675743" align="alignnone" width="5162"]<img class="wp-image-2675743 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-20T005209Z_1919194866_MT1USATODAY22564783_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-DAYTONA-500.jpg" alt="NASCAR" width="5162" height="3322" /> Feb 19, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series drivers Corey LaJoie (7), Kyle Busch (8) and A.J. Allmendinger (16) race three wide for the lead during the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Origin</strong></h2>
The first-ever NASCAR race was held at Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway on June 19, 1949 and Christian David "Jim" Roper was the victor after racer Glen Dunaway was disqualified for making illegal adjustments to his car.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">On this day in 1949, NASCAR held its first-ever "Strictly Stock" race.</p>
Thirty-three drivers raced at Charlotte Speedway, six of which were future NASCAR Hall of Famers. Jim Roper was declared the winner following a disqualification to Glenn Dunaway. <a href="https://t.co/yBUDRcRxVo">pic.twitter.com/yBUDRcRxVo</a>

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1670832065690972160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2023</a></blockquote>

<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Why is it named Cup Series? </strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series is the pinnacle of the racing arrangement in the NASCAR classification. The arrangement started in 1949 and was called the Strictly Stock Division. The series was subsequently known as the Grand National Division from 1950 to 1970.

Then, in 1971, it started renting its naming rights to the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and was alluded to as the NASCAR Winston Cup Series till 2003. From the next year onwards, the series came to be known as the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series till 2007 after a partnership with Nextel.

Sprint obtained Nextel in 2005 and 2008 saw the arrangement being renamed as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Sprint remained the sponsor of the NASCAR Cup from 2008 to 2016. It was reported in December 2016 that Monster Energy would be the sponsor; therefore, the arrangement was renamed the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series from 2017 to 2019.

However, after decades of name changes, in 2017, the organization finally decided to shed off its old image and simply be named as the NASCAR Cup Series, with series sponsors being called 'Premier Partners'.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the format of the Cup Series?</strong></h2>
The NASCAR points system has been a complicated affair to say the least. Over the years, the organization has tried several iterations, namely the Latford system, the Chase and the current elimination playoffs format among others, to discern one that would be fair to each driver.

While the earlier system saw drivers being awarded points on the basis of prize money in a particular race, in 1972 a new format was introduced. This time the points were awarded on the basis of laps completed. However, even that came with its own flaws and just two years later, in 1974, the organization introduced point calculation based on a mathematical formula. However, given the complexity of the equation, Bill France Jr, the former CEO of NASCAR decided to step in and call upon his close friend Bob Latford, to come up with an efficient way, which later came to be known as Boot Hill Format or the Latford Model.

With equal points awarded in all races, as New York Times aptly put it: <em>"Mr. Latford set up his points scale to reward consistency rather than flashes of brilliance, and drivers seem to like it that way."</em>

This system was perhaps the longest-running one during that time, being replaced in 2003, by The Chase format. Currently, the NASCAR Cup Series operates on the Playoff Format. The schedule consists of 31 oval races, 4 road course races, one street track race, and 4 non-championship races to be held on ovals. This also includes 16 playoff races, with four elimination rounds, namely, Round of 16, Round of 12, Round of 4 and Championship 4.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Teams</strong></h2>
As of 2024, the NASCAR Cup Series has 16 full-time teams participating and three manufacturers, namely Toyota, Chevrolet and Ford. As for the team with the most number of victories and championship, Hendrick Motorsports has has an undebatable upper hand, with 305 Cup Series wins and 14 drivers championships.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Venue</strong></h2>
The first championship race was reportedly held at Martinsville Speedway, a half-mile oval, on October 16, 1949. Currently, the final race of a Cup season is held at the Phoenix Raceway, which is a one-mile, low-banked tri-oval race track located in Avondale, Arizona, near Phoenix.

[caption id="attachment_1351857" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1351857 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022-11-07T003206Z_1075855806_MT1USATODAY19376372_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-CUP-CHAMPIONSHIP.jpg" alt="Joey Logano NASCAR" width="1920" height="1289" /> Nov 6, 2022; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) races in the final laps of the Cup championship at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Championship</strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series hosts three different championship under one name: The Driver's Championship, the Owner's Championship and the Manufacturer's Championship. The driver's championship as the name suggests is the award given to the driver that has emerged as the winner at the end of a season. On the other hand, the Owner's Championship aims to reward the team at the top of the points standings. The driver with the most championship wins are Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson. Additionally, Rick Hendrick-owned Hendrick Motorsports has won a record-breaking 14 championships till date.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-1195372 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/ezgif.com-gif-maker-3-78.jpg" alt="Richard Petty Dale Earnhardt NASCAR" width="1850" height="1253" />

On a similar note, the Manufacturer's Championship sees Original Equipment Manufacturers(OEMs) being awarded a championship based on how races their cars managed to dominate and the points accumulated. In this regard, US-based manufacturer Chevrolet has racked up the most Cup Series wins at 42, followed by Ford at 17, and Toyota at 3.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Track Types</strong></h2>
As mentioned earlier, the NASCAR Cup series organizes its races on four different types of tracks, namely, Intermediate tracks, Superspeedways, Short Tracks and Road Courses.

When it comes to Intermediate tracks, it simply means <em>"any track greater than one mile in length, with the exception of both Daytona and Talladega" </em>according to the official NASCAR website and currently the Cup Series drivers compete on the following Intermediate tracks/Speedways :
<ul>
 	<li>Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.540-mile, Quad-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.500-mile Quad-Oval, including a 2.280 miles Road Course)</li>
 	<li>Darlington Raceway (1.366-mile, Egg-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Dover Motor Speedway (1.000-mile, Concrete Oval)</li>
 	<li>Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.500-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Kansas Speedway (1.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Michigan International Speedway (2.000-mile, D-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Nashville Superspeedway (1.333-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058-mile, Paperclip Oval)</li>
 	<li>Phoenix Raceway (1.000-mile, Dogleg Oval)</li>
 	<li>Texas Motor Speedway (1.500-mile, Quad-Oval)</li>
 	<li>World Wide Technology Raceway (1.250-mile, Egg-Shaped Oval)</li>
</ul>
On the other hand, Superspeedways ae oval road courses of two miles or longer. Currently, the NASCAR Cup Series has the following Superspeedways:
<ul>
 	<li>Auto Club Speedway (2.000-mile, D-Shaped Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Chicagoland Speedway (1.500-mile, D-Shaped Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Daytona International Speedway (2.500-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
 	<li>Kentucky Speedway (1.500-mile, D-Shaped Oval)</li>
 	<li>Pocono Raceway (2.500-mile, Triangular Oval)</li>
 	<li>Talladega Superspeedway (2.660-mile, Tri-Oval)</li>
</ul>
The short tracks (less than 1 mile in length) that are part of NASCAR are:
<ul>
 	<li>Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Eldora Speedway (0.500-mile, Oval; Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Iowa Speedway (0.875-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Knoxville Raceway (0.500-mile, Oval</li>
 	<li>Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum)</li>
 	<li>Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (0.686-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Martinsville Speedway (0.526-mile, Paperclip Oval)</li>
 	<li>Milwaukee Mile Speedway (1.015-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>North Wilkesboro Speedway (0.625-mile, Oval)</li>
 	<li>Richmond Raceway (0.750-mile, D-shaped Oval)</li>
</ul>
As for Road Courses, NASCAR makes use of the following race tracks:
<ul>
 	<li>Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (2.459-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Chicago Street Race (2.14 miles)</li>
 	<li>Circuit of the Americas (3.426-mile)</li>
 	<li>DAYTONA Road Course (4.170-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (2.400-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Portland International Raceway (1.967-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Road America(4.048-mile, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Sebring Raceway (3.741 mi, Currently not in use)</li>
 	<li>Sonoma Raceway (1.99-mile)</li>
 	<li>Watkins Glen International (2.45-mile)</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Crown Jewel Races</strong></h2>
While NASCAR has several racetracks that it competes on, there are a couple venues that are held in high regards. Currently there are four such venues/races, namely the Daytona 500 held at the Daytona International Speedway, the Coca-Cola 500 held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway , the Brickyard 400/Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Southern 500 at the Darlington Raceway.

Till date, Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman and retired NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon has the most number of Crown Jewel race wins (21), followed by Legacy Motor Club team owner Jimmie Johnson (14) and retired NASCAR driver Bobby Allison (13).

[caption id="attachment_1691261" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1691261 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Jimmie-Johnson-Jeff-Gordon.jpg" alt="Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon" width="1920" height="1280" /> January 20, 2017 - Charlotte, North Carolina, USA - Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon introduce Rick Hendrick at the NASCAR Motorsport USA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday, January 20, 2017, in Charlotte, N.C. Rick Hendrick was inducted into the Hall of Fame with Richard Childress, Mark Martin, Raymond Parks, and Benny Parsons. 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - ZUMAw123 20170120_zap_w123_024[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series Cars</strong></h2>
NASCAR is an ever-evolving sport and till date, there have been several iterations of the cars used during races. If we go back to the very inception of the sport, the first kind of vehicle that was used used to be called Generation - 1 (1948-1966), followed by Generation - 2 (1967-1980) and Generation - 3 (1981-1991). Later the Generation - 4 (1992 to 2007) was introduced , and then Generation - 5 (2007 -2012) and Generation - 6 (2013-2021) came into play. And currently, NASCAR features the Generation - 7 car that is also known as the Next-Gen.

Anothe notable model was the Generation - 5. Dubbed as the<em> "Car of Tomorrow"</em>, this model featured flaunted prominent front splitters under the bumpers and larger rear wings. Apart from that, according to NASCAR, the car also had <em>"significant safety advancements and a return to symmetrical bodies". </em>

[caption id="attachment_2651610" align="alignnone" width="3461"]<img class="wp-image-2651610 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-16T030626Z_974940649_MT1USATODAY22533198_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-BLUEGREEN-VACATIONS-DUEL-1-AT-DAYTONA.jpg" alt="" width="3461" height="2307" /> Feb 15, 2024; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (19) during the Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Street Course</strong></h2>
The NASCAR Cup Series has come a long way since its initial days. The organization has always been open to developments and one of the most exciting ones came in 2023,when the tourney made its Street Course debut at Chicago.

In a bid to turn make the schedule even more exciting, NASCAR officials were reportedly in talks with Chicago authorities for a number of years, with one attempt of a Chicago street race even dating back to the 1980s. However, owing to political pressure, that plan failed to materialize. Now, fast forward to four decades later and authorities were finally geared up to host an exciting, first-of-its-kind race in downtown Chicago.

[caption id="attachment_1911252" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-1911252 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-07-03T052154Z_1117738559_MT1USATODAY20983749_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-GRANT-PARK-220.jpg" alt="NASCAR" width="1920" height="1280" /> Jul 2, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A general view as cars race along Grant Park during the Grant Park 220 of the Chicago Street Race viewed from the NEMA Chicago buliding. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

Designed by race simulation video game developer iRacing, the race aimed to showcase the city's major landmarks such as the Buckingham Fountain, the Grant Park and the Soldier Field Stadium, among others.

The first iteration of the race came in July of 2023, with New Zealand born driver Shane van Gisbergen clinching victory in his first-ever NASCAR race. If that's not iconic, what is?

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2804674 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/F0HhwcqXoAI3_zb.jpeg" alt="" width="2048" height="1365" />
<table style="width: 75.2357%;height: 264px">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Full Name</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR Cup Series</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Place of Origin</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Year of Origin</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">1949</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">First Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR "Strictly Stock" Race, Charlotte Fairgrounds Speedway</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Last Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">NASCAR Cup Series Spring Race at Martinsville Speedway, 2024</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Crown Jewel Race</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Daytona 500, Coca Cola 600, Brickyard 400/ Verizon 200, Southern 500</span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Drivers with the most Championships</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Richard Petty (7), Dale Earnhardt (7) and Jimmie Johnson(7)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Team with the most Championships</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Hendrick Motorsports (14)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">First Champion</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Red Byron</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Defending Champion</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Ryan Blaney (2023)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 24px">
<td style="width: 42.239%;height: 24px"><span style="font-weight: 400">Defending Team</span></td>
<td style="width: 237.884%;height: 24px">Team Penske</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;

NASCAR Cup Series

Here's everything you need to know about the NASCAR Cup Series, its Origin, Teams, History, Venues, Crown Jewel Races and more!

NASCAR Cup Series: Origin, Teams and More

NASCAR Cup Series Archives

<h2><b>NASCAR Playoff Schedule</b></h2>
The 2023 <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">NASCAR Cup Series</a> regular season finished off in emphatic fashion after a thrilling race at Daytona. Now, the much-awaited playoffs begin for this year's campaign with 16 drivers challenging for the title. While the competition only gets intense, it only gets tricky with the venues involved for the remaining 10 races.

Kickstarting with the Round of 16, the first race takes place on 3rd September with the Southern 500 at <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/darlington-raceway/">Darlington Raceway</a>. It is then followed by the race at Hollywood Casino 4000 at <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/kansas-speedway/">Kansas Speedway</a> on 10th September. After that, the round of 16 ends with the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/bristol-motor-speedway/">Bristol Motor Speedway</a> on 16th September.

Once that's done, then begins the round of 12. It starts with the Autotrader Echopark Automotive 400 race at <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/texas-motor-speedway/">Texas Motor Speedway</a> on 24th September. Following that, the Cup Series moves to the Yellawood 500 at <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/talladega-superspeedway/">Talladega Superspeedway</a> on 1st October. Finally, the round ends with the Bank of America Roval 400 race on 8th October at <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/charlotte-motor-speedway/">Charlotte Motor Speedway</a> Roval.

[caption id="attachment_2069888" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2069888" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2023-08-27T035119Z_812682395_MT1USATODAY21286511_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-COKE-ZERO-SUGAR-400.jpg" alt="NASCAR Cup Series" width="1920" height="1280" /> Aug 26, 2023; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) leads the field during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]

After the six races begin the Round of 8, first with the South Point 400 race at <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/las-vegas-motor-speedway/">Las Vegas Motor Speedway</a> on 15th October. The second race of the round will be carried out on 22nd October at <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/homestead-miami-speedway/">Homestead-Miami Speedway</a>. Once that's done, the penultimate race of the 2023 season will be the Xfinity 500 race at <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/martinsville-speedway/">Martinsville Speedway</a> on 29th October.

Eventually, the final race of the campaign will be at <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/phoenix-raceway/">Phoenix Raceway</a>, bringing curtains to this year's action on 5th November. While these 10 races will be conducted on different tracks, the format of the playoffs makes it an exciting affair.
<table width="602">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Round of 16</strong></td>
<td><strong>Round of 12</strong></td>
<td><strong>Round of 8</strong></td>
<td><strong>Championship race</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sun., Sept. 3 - Southern 500 - Darlington Raceway <strong>(Winner: Kyle Larson)</strong></td>
<td>Sun., Sept. 24 - Texas Motor Speedway <strong>(Winner: William Byron)</strong></td>
<td>Sun., Oct. 15 - Las Vegas Motor Speedway <strong>(Winner: Kyle Larson)</strong></td>
<td>Sun., Nov. 5 - Phoenix Raceway</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sun., Sept. 10 - Kansas Speedway <strong>(Winner: Tyler Reddick)</strong></td>
<td>Sun., Oct. 1 - Talladega Superspeedway? <strong>(Winner: Ryan Blaney)</strong></td>
<td>Sun., Oct. 22 - Homestead-Miami Speedway <strong>(Winner: Christopher Bell)</strong></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sat., Sept. 16 - Bristol Motor Speedway <strong>(Winner: Denny Hamlin)</strong></td>
<td>Sun., Oct. 8 - Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval <strong>(Winner: AJ Allmendinger)</strong></td>
<td>Sun., Oct. 29 - Martinsville Speedway</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<b>NASCAR Cup Series playoff format</b>

The current playoff format isn't as difficult as it looks to understand. The Cup Series playoff uses an elimination-style format possessing four rounds in total. It starts with the Round of 16 where all the 16 drivers in the playoff compete in three races.

However, at the end of those three races, the four drivers below the cut-off line get eliminated. Then begins the Round of 12 which also contains competing in three races. Again, the four drivers below the cut-off line get eliminated, leaving 8 of them.

With the same logic and rules applied in the Round of 8, it all comes down to the last four remaining drivers. It goes down to the wire at Phoenix Raceway with the Championship 4 race where the best four drivers in the competition battle for the title in Arizona. Interestingly, the points system involved makes the competition more wild with time.
<h2><b>NASCAR Cup Series points system</b></h2>
The regular season gave a glimpse of how the desperation of winning points could prompt drivers to their limits. Despite his best efforts, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/chase-elliott/">Chase Elliott</a> failed to make it to the playoffs this season, the first time ever he did that in his career. While points weren't enough to help his cause, the same could not be said for the final 16 drivers in the playoffs.

Without a doubt, every driver would be fighting to finish as high as possible in every race. The 10 races would see 36 to 40 drivers competing depending on the event or the track. The race winner would get 40 points, the second-place finisher would get 35 points, the third-place finisher would get 34 points, and so on. Notably, drivers who finish between the 36th and 40th position would get a single point.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To be good is one thing.</p>
To be great is another.

The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASCARPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NASCARPlayoffs</a> begin Sunday. <a href="https://t.co/QF7nWIDGlJ">pic.twitter.com/QF7nWIDGlJ</a>

? NASCAR (@NASCAR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1696681733523918871?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
Another mode of earning points would be through stage wins. 10 points would be awarded for winning each stage. Since the race is divided into three stages, 10 points each will be awarded for Stage 1 and Stage 2 wins. Not only that, while these 10 points are for the winner, the second place gets nine, the third place gets eight, and so on until the 10th place gets a single point.

For example, if a driver wins one of the first two stages and fails to finish the race, he would still end the race with 10 points. At the same time, if a driver wins both the first two stages and the race, he could go on to win 60 points in total. What this does is give every racer an incentive to strongly compete in every phase of the playoff race.

It is worth mentioning that drivers who have accumulated playoff points in the regular season will be carried forward in the playoffs. This would give them a small advantage and a slight leeway in case things go wrong in a race. Having said that, surviving in the playoffs is as difficult as qualifying for it.
<h2><b>What makes a driver qualify for the NASCAR playoffs?</b></h2>
It is no secret that qualifying for the NASCAR playoffs is no less than an achievement. Despite his best efforts, it took <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/bubba-wallace/">Bubba Wallace</a> six years to get into the playoff for the first time. In fact, the introduction of Next-Gen cars has only made it more tricky.

Mathematically, a win in the regular season doesn't assure a place in the playoffs. However, more often than not a victory has almost secured a place in the playoffs. Since the current playoff format was introduced in 2014, the Cup Series hasn't witnessed more than 16 different winners in a regular season.

So practically, a win does help in making it to the playoffs. In the event there is more than one driver without a win competing for the spot, the drivers with the most overall points make the cut. In fact, it is with this logic that Wallace and two other drivers made it to the playoffs in 2023.
<h2><b>Who are the NASCAR drivers in the playoffs?</b></h2>
During the course of 26 races in the regular season, there have been some remarkable performances, to say the least. While a few of them were unexpected, it has certainly brought a different flavor to NASCAR's top-tier racing. Both <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/william-byron/">William Byron</a> and <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/martin-truex-jr/">Martin Truex Jr</a> have raced incredibly well to cement their place at the top.

While the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/joe-gibbs-racing/">Joe Gibbs Racing</a> driver won the regular season championship, Byron would hope to go all the way in the playoffs. Another <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/hendrick-motorsports/">Hendrick Motorsports</a> star who has done well this season is <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/kyle-larson">Kyle Larson</a>. While he won two races in the regular season, he could have easily won more had it not been for some unfortunate events.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In his final season, <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinHarvick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KevinHarvick</a> will be racing for his second championship. ?</p>
The No. 4 clinches a spot in the 2023 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NASCARPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NASCARPlayoffs</a> on points. <a href="https://t.co/1nipRDyQ8v">pic.twitter.com/1nipRDyQ8v</a>

? NASCAR (@NASCAR) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASCAR/status/1693375004472152498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
It must not have been easy for <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/rick-hendrick/">Rick Hendrick</a> given how they only have two drivers in the playoffs this campaign. However, that's not the case with <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/joe-gibbs/">Joe Gibbs</a> as along with Truex Jr, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/denny-hamlin/">Denny Hamlin</a> and <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/christopher-bell/">Christopher Bell</a> have also made it to the final 16. While Hamlin's contract situation at JGR remains uncertain, it is a massive opportunity for him to win his first-ever championship.

Speaking of JGR and contracts, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/richard-childress/">Richard Childress Racing</a> driver <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/kyle-busch/">Kyle Busch</a> also made it to the playoffs with three wins this season. One of the biggest surprises of the final 16 would be <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/chris-buescher/">Chris Buescher</a>. His late surge in the regular season saw him register three wins in the last five weeks.

The playoffs will also see <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/ross-chastain/">Ross Chastain</a>, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/ryan-blaney/">Ryan Blaney</a>, Michael McDowell, and <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/ricky-stenhouse-jr/">Ricky Stenhouse Jr</a>, who all made it through a single win in the first 26 races of the season. However, the ones to make it without a win are Bubba Wallace, the retiring <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/kevin-harvick/">Kevin Harvick</a>, and <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/brad-keselowski/">Brad Keselowski</a>. It is certainly interesting to see if there's a new winner this time around.
<h2><b>What playoff drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series championship before?</b></h2>
Winning the NASCAR Cup Series hasn't been an easy task. Despite his terrific experience and skills, Denny Hamlin has struggled to win it once in 19 years. Having said that, he has had drivers alongside him who have won it before. In fact, even the current bunch of drivers in the playoff know what it is like to be a title winner.

Out of the 16 drivers, 6 of them have already won it previously. This year's regular season champion, Martin Truex Jr has already won the Cup Series back in 2017. With his incredible form this campaign, he is undoubtedly one of the front-runners to repeat the feat.

Along with Truex Jr lies Kyle Busch who has also known the amazing feeling of being a Cup Series champion. Having won it twice, the RCR driver would be inching to win it with his new team. Other former championship winners include Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, and Kevin Harvick. While all of these drivers have the potential to double their tally, it would take a wild effort for them to go all the way this season.
<h2><b>NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings</b></h2>
Clearly, winning the championship will be the agenda for all the final 16 drivers involved. While it is easier said than done, there is no discounting anyone involved. Currently, William Byron and Martin Truex Jr lead the charts with 36 playoff points to their name each.

They are followed by Denny Hamlin and Chris Buescher who have 25 and 21 playoff points respectively. All the next four names are some of the brightest names in the sport. Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Ross Chastain take up the next four spots with 19, 17, 14, and 11 playoff points respectively.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Appreciate all the kind notes this week from fans, media, friends, partners and my teammates.</p>
After all we?ve been through, I?m still standing; hungry and ready for the 2023 nascar playoffs to begin<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/6neverQuits?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#6neverQuits</a> <a href="https://t.co/Uu38wIjECI">pic.twitter.com/Uu38wIjECI</a>

? Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) <a href="https://twitter.com/keselowski/status/1696307508241944861?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
While the list only gets more spicy, the outcome only gets more unpredictable race after race. Brad Keselowski and Tyler Reddick have 10 and nine playoff points to their name so far. With eight points to their name, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney occupy the two spots just above the cutoff line going into the Round of 16.

The final four before the race at Darlington sees Michael McDowell in the 13th place with seven playoff points. Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Kevin Harvick have five and four points to their name respectively. Last but not least, Bubba Wallace has failed to win a playoff point in the regular season. It is interesting to see how he does in his playoff debut, especially how he deals with the non-playoff drivers.

<span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Latest Standings:</strong></span>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Driver</strong>?</span></td>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">?Points</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">#24 William Byron</span></td>
<td>
<p style="text-align: center">4126</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">#20 Christopher Bell</span></td>
<td>
<p style="text-align: center">4110</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>#12 Ryan Blaney</td>
<td style="text-align: center">4106</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>#5 Kyle Larson</td>
<td style="text-align: center">4105</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>#45 Tyler Reddick</td>
<td style="text-align: center">4096</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>#11 Denny Hamlin</td>
<td style="text-align: center">4089</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>#19 Martin Truex Jr</td>
<td style="text-align: center">4089</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>#17 Chris Buescher</td>
<td style="text-align: center">4063</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>#6 Brad Keselowski</td>
<td style="text-align: center">2263</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>#1 Ross Chastain</td>
<td style="text-align: center">2219</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>#23 Bubba Wallace</td>
<td style="text-align: center">2216</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>#8 Kyle Busch</td>
<td style="text-align: center">2210</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>#22 Joey Logano</td>
<td style="text-align: center">2198</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>#4 Kevin Harvick</td>
<td style="text-align: center">2170</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>#34 Michael McDowell</td>
<td style="text-align: center">2145</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>#47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr</td>
<td style="text-align: center">2136</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2><b>Do non-playoff drivers also compete in Playoffs?</b></h2>
Unlike other sports, NASCAR interprets elimination differently. Despite not making it to the final 16, the non-playoff drivers remain part of the balance 10 races in the 2023 season. Most notably, they would hope to win and help their team gather more points.

With not much at stake, many opt to try out different tactics and setups during these races. The best a non-playoff driver can finish at the end of the season would be with a 17th-placed finish. Other than that, some of the drivers also tend to use this opportunity to help their playoff-qualified drivers in their bid to win the title.

Having said that, it is worth noting that NASCAR tends to take strict actions on any mala fide act or intent on track indicating in this direction. Some even do it with revenge in their mind due to past duels earlier in the campaign. So, there's plenty for even the non-playoff drivers to make the final 16 an entertaining affair.

NASCAR Playoffs

NASCAR Playoff Schedule The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series regular season finished off in emphatic fashion after a thrilling race at Daytona. Now, the much-awaited playoffs begin for this year&#8217;s campaign with 16 drivers challenging for the title. While the competition only gets intense, it only gets tricky with the venues involved for the remaining 10 races. Kickstarting with the Round of 16, the first race takes place on 3rd September with the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. It is then followed by the race at Hollywood Casino 4000 at Kansas Speedway on 10th September. After that, the round of 16 ends with the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on 16th September. Once that&#8217;s done, then begins the round of 12. It starts with the Autotrader Echopark Automotive 400 race at Texas Motor Speedway on 24th September. Following that, the Cup Series moves to the Yellawood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on 1st October. Finally, the round ends with the Bank of America Roval 400 race on 8th October at Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. Aug 26, 2023; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) leads the field during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports After the six races begin the Round of 8, first with the South Point 400 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on 15th October. The second race of the round will be carried out on 22nd October at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Once that&#8217;s done, the penultimate race of the 2023 season will be the Xfinity 500 race at Martinsville Speedway on 29th October. Eventually, the final race of the campaign will be at Phoenix Raceway, bringing curtains to this year&#8217;s action on 5th November. While these 10 races will be conducted on different tracks, the format of the playoffs makes it an exciting affair.  Round of 16 Round of 12 Round of 8 Championship race  Sun., Sept. 3 &#8211; Southern 500 &#8211; Darlington Raceway (Winner: Kyle Larson) Sun., Sept. 24 &#8211; Texas Motor Speedway (Winner: William Byron) Sun., Oct. 15 &#8211; Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Winner: Kyle Larson) Sun., Nov. 5 &#8211; Phoenix Raceway  Sun., Sept. 10 &#8211; Kansas Speedway (Winner: Tyler Reddick) Sun., Oct. 1 &#8211; Talladega Superspeedway? (Winner: Ryan Blaney) Sun., Oct. 22 &#8211; Homestead-Miami Speedway (Winner: Christopher Bell)  Sat., Sept. 16 &#8211; Bristol Motor Speedway (Winner: Denny Hamlin) Sun., Oct. 8 &#8211; Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval (Winner: AJ Allmendinger) Sun., Oct. 29 &#8211; Martinsville Speedway   NASCAR Cup Series playoff format The current playoff format isn&#8217;t as difficult as it looks to understand. The Cup Series playoff uses an elimination-style format possessing four rounds in total. It starts with the Round of 16 where all the 16 drivers in the playoff compete in three races. However, at the end of those three races, the four drivers below the cut-off line get eliminated. Then begins the Round of 12 which also contains competing in three races. Again, the four drivers below the cut-off line get eliminated, leaving 8 of them. With the same logic and rules applied in the Round of 8, it all comes down to the last four remaining drivers. It goes down to the wire at Phoenix Raceway with the Championship 4 race where the best four drivers in the competition battle for the title in Arizona. Interestingly, the points system involved makes the competition more wild with time. NASCAR Cup Series points system The regular season gave a glimpse of how the desperation of winning points could prompt drivers to their limits. Despite his best efforts, Chase Elliott failed to make it to the playoffs this season, the first time ever he did that in his career. While points weren&#8217;t enough to help his cause, the same could not be said for the final 16 drivers in the playoffs. Without a doubt, every driver would be fighting to finish as high as possible in every race. The 10 races would see 36 to 40 drivers competing depending on the event or the track. The race winner would get 40 points, the second-place finisher would get 35 points, the third-place finisher would get 34 points, and so on. Notably, drivers who finish between the 36th and 40th position would get a single point. To be good is one thing. To be great is another. The #NASCARPlayoffs begin Sunday. pic.twitter.com/QF7nWIDGlJ ? NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 30, 2023 Another mode of earning points would be through stage wins. 10 points would be awarded for winning each stage. Since the race is divided into three stages, 10 points each will be awarded for Stage 1 and Stage 2 wins. Not only that, while these 10 points are for the winner, the second place gets nine, the third place gets eight, and so on until the 10th place gets a single point. For example, if a driver wins one of the first two stages and fails to finish the race, he would still end the race with 10 points. At the same time, if a driver wins both the first two stages and the race, he could go on to win 60 points in total. What this does is give every racer an incentive to strongly compete in every phase of the playoff race. It is worth mentioning that drivers who have accumulated playoff points in the regular season will be carried forward in the playoffs. This would give them a small advantage and a slight leeway in case things go wrong in a race. Having said that, surviving in the playoffs is as difficult as qualifying for it. What makes a driver qualify for the NASCAR playoffs? It is no secret that qualifying for the NASCAR playoffs is no less than an achievement. Despite his best efforts, it took Bubba Wallace six years to get into the playoff for the first time. In fact, the introduction of Next-Gen cars has only made it more tricky. Mathematically, a win in the regular season doesn&#8217;t assure a place in the playoffs. However, more often than not a victory has almost secured a place in the playoffs. Since the current playoff format was introduced in 2014, the Cup Series hasn&#8217;t witnessed more than 16 different winners in a regular season. So practically, a win does help in making it to the playoffs. In the event there is more than one driver without a win competing for the spot, the drivers with the most overall points make the cut. In fact, it is with this logic that Wallace and two other drivers made it to the playoffs in 2023. Who are the NASCAR drivers in the playoffs? During the course of 26 races in the regular season, there have been some remarkable performances, to say the least. While a few of them were unexpected, it has certainly brought a different flavor to NASCAR&#8217;s top-tier racing. Both William Byron and Martin Truex Jr have raced incredibly well to cement their place at the top. While the Joe Gibbs Racing driver won the regular season championship, Byron would hope to go all the way in the playoffs. Another Hendrick Motorsports star who has done well this season is Kyle Larson. While he won two races in the regular season, he could have easily won more had it not been for some unfortunate events. In his final season, @KevinHarvick will be racing for his second championship. ? The No. 4 clinches a spot in the 2023 #NASCARPlayoffs on points. pic.twitter.com/1nipRDyQ8v ? NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 20, 2023 It must not have been easy for Rick Hendrick given how they only have two drivers in the playoffs this campaign. However, that&#8217;s not the case with Joe Gibbs as along with Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell have also made it to the final 16. While Hamlin&#8217;s contract situation at JGR remains uncertain, it is a massive opportunity for him to win his first-ever championship. Speaking of JGR and contracts, Richard Childress Racing driver Kyle Busch also made it to the playoffs with three wins this season. One of the biggest surprises of the final 16 would be Chris Buescher. His late surge in the regular season saw him register three wins in the last five weeks. The playoffs will also see Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Michael McDowell, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr, who all made it through a single win in the first 26 races of the season. However, the ones to make it without a win are Bubba Wallace, the retiring Kevin Harvick, and Brad Keselowski. It is certainly interesting to see if there&#8217;s a new winner this time around. What playoff drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series championship before? Winning the NASCAR Cup Series hasn&#8217;t been an easy task. Despite his terrific experience and skills, Denny Hamlin has struggled to win it once in 19 years. Having said that, he has had drivers alongside him who have won it before. In fact, even the current bunch of drivers in the playoff know what it is like to be a title winner. Out of the 16 drivers, 6 of them have already won it previously. This year&#8217;s regular season champion, Martin Truex Jr has already won the Cup Series back in 2017. With his incredible form this campaign, he is undoubtedly one of the front-runners to repeat the feat. Along with Truex Jr lies Kyle Busch who has also known the amazing feeling of being a Cup Series champion. Having won it twice, the RCR driver would be inching to win it with his new team. Other former championship winners include Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, and Kevin Harvick. While all of these drivers have the potential to double their tally, it would take a wild effort for them to go all the way this season. NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings Clearly, winning the championship will be the agenda for all the final 16 drivers involved. While it is easier said than done, there is no discounting anyone involved. Currently, William Byron and Martin Truex Jr lead the charts with 36 playoff points to their name each. They are followed by Denny Hamlin and Chris Buescher who have 25 and 21 playoff points respectively. All the next four names are some of the brightest names in the sport. Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Ross Chastain take up the next four spots with 19, 17, 14, and 11 playoff points respectively. Appreciate all the kind notes this week from fans, media, friends, partners and my teammates. After all we?ve been through, I?m still standing; hungry and ready for the 2023 nascar playoffs to begin#6neverQuits pic.twitter.com/Uu38wIjECI ? Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) August 28, 2023 While the list only gets more spicy, the outcome only gets more unpredictable race after race. Brad Keselowski and Tyler Reddick have 10 and nine playoff points to their name so far. With eight points to their name, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney occupy the two spots just above the cutoff line going into the Round of 16. The final four before the race at Darlington sees Michael McDowell in the 13th place with seven playoff points. Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Kevin Harvick have five and four points to their name respectively. Last but not least, Bubba Wallace has failed to win a playoff point in the regular season. It is interesting to see how he does in his playoff debut, especially how he deals with the non-playoff drivers. Latest Standings:  Driver? ?Points  #24 William Byron 4126  #20 Christopher Bell 4110  #12 Ryan Blaney 4106  #5 Kyle Larson 4105  #45 Tyler Reddick 4096  #11 Denny Hamlin 4089  #19 Martin Truex Jr 4089  #17 Chris Buescher 4063  #6 Brad Keselowski 2263  #1 Ross Chastain 2219  #23 Bubba Wallace 2216  #8 Kyle Busch 2210  #22 Joey Logano 2198  #4 Kevin Harvick 2170  #34 Michael McDowell 2145  #47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr 2136  Do non-playoff drivers also compete in Playoffs? Unlike other sports, NASCAR interprets elimination differently. Despite not making it to the final 16, the non-playoff drivers remain part of the balance 10 races in the 2023 season. Most notably, they would hope to win and help their team gather more points. With not much at stake, many opt to try out different tactics and setups during these races. The best a non-playoff driver can finish at the end of the season would be with a 17th-placed finish. Other than that, some of the drivers also tend to use this opportunity to help their playoff-qualified drivers in their bid to win the title. Having said that, it is worth noting that NASCAR tends to take strict actions on any mala fide act or intent on track indicating in this direction. Some even do it with revenge in their mind due to past duels earlier in the campaign. So, there&#8217;s plenty for even the non-playoff drivers to make the final 16 an entertaining affair.

NASCAR Playoffs Archives

LatestNASCAR Playoffs - EssentiallySports News | EssentiallySports

title

For the first time in his NASCAR Cup Series career, Kyle Larson is in a championship fight, but he vowed that he is not changing his approach.

description

link

"I'm Not Doing Anything Different" - Kyle Larson on His 2021 Title Bid

https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-im-not-doing-anything-different-kyle-larson-on-his-2021-title-bid/

https://www.facebook.com/essentiallysports

https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20210308062012/2021-03-08T000115Z_301430712_MT1USATODAY15689591_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-PENNZOIL-400.jpg

twitter:card

twitter:creator

twitter:site

twitter:label1

twitter:data1

script

<h1 style="text-align: center">Kyle Larson: Net Worth 2024, Relationships, NASCAR and More</h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Who is Kyle Larson?</b></h2>
Kyle Miyata Larson is one of the most prolific and successful motorsports drivers in NASCAR today. The Hendrick Motorsports star is a former Cup Series champion and is one of the most consistent drivers in the Cup Series. However, stock car racing is not the only thing Larson is prolific in. He is a master sprint car racer and will be trying his hand at IndyCar in 2024. Larson is also the co-owner of the fast-rising sprint car racing competition, High Limit Racing.

<img class="wp-image-2075684 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1599038101.jpg" alt="Kyle Larson" width="1920" height="1280" />

BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 07: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, laughs on the grid prior to a weather delayed restart of the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 07, 2023 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b> Kyle Larson's early life</b></h2>
Kyle Larson was born on June 31, 1992, in Elk Grove, California. The HMS star was educated at Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove itself. Racing and school are difficult to balance but Larson had a lot of help from his mother who was a teacher. It's safe to say that the 2021 Cup Series champion was kind of an all-rounder when he was in school.

The HMS driver was born into a family of racers. His father, Mike Larson, was a racer as well. His mother, Janet Larson, is Japanese-American and both of his grandparents spent time in an internment camp during World War II. His middle name is Miyata which is a common surname in several regions in Japan. He has a sister whose name is Andrea.

Early on in his career in motorsports, Kyle Larson was a prolific dirt-track racer with several prestigious wins in the King's Royal, Knoxville Nationals, and the Chili Bowl Nationals. He also won the 2011 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway. This saw him win three types of USAC races at a go in a single night, becoming only the second driver to achieve so. The following year saw him earn six victories in USAC National Midget races, which included the Turkey Night Grand Prix.

His achievements caught the eye of the teams in NASCAR and Kyle Larson made his full-time debut in the 2013 Nationwide Series with Turner Scott Motorsports. He had run a few races in the Truck Series in 2012 with the same team.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson’s wife and children</b></h2>
The Hendrick Motorsports star married Katelyn Sweet on September 26, 2018. The couple has 3 children together, Owen Miyata Larson, Audrey Layne Larson, and Cooper Donald Larson. Cooper is the youngest and was born on the last day of 2022. However, when it comes to Audrey, the family shares some bad news. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-same-quote-kyle-larsons-wife-reveals-daughter-suffers-from-the-same-horrific-disease-as-jada-pinkett-smith/">The parents revealed how their daughter has been impacted by Alopecia</a> since she was 18 months old, in honor of Alopecia Awareness Month. Since then, she has had hair loss, but they delayed going public with the news.

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-1192530 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Kyle-Larson-wife-Katelyn-Larson-son-Owen-and-daughter-Audrey-NASCAR-trophy-768x512-1.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="512" />
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Lason's net worth 2024 </b></h2>
As of 2023, Kyle Larson has amassed a net worth of $12 million as per Celebrity Net Worth including his race earnings, endorsements, and other ventures. The Hendrick Motorsports star's current contract with the team runs until 2026 and as per reports, he makes an estimated $10 million each year as part of that deal. He also has several sponsorship deals with Target, Chevrolet, Oakley, Credit One Bank, iRacing, and Alpinestars.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson’s career timeline</b></h2>
Making his racing debut in outlaw karts at the age of seven, Kyle Larson has always been a talented multitasker trying his hands in various tourneys. Throughout his childho0d and adolescence, the driver started his professional racing career with open wheel-cars in the United States Auto Club (USAC) and the Silver Crown, among others. He also participated in the World of Outlaws and racked up his first win in the division at the Placerville Speedway, as one of the youngest drivers to ever compete. After winning Rookie of the Year in 2011, the racer then divulged his attention toward the NASCAR K &amp; N Pro Series and the ARCA Series.

In 2012, he was signed as a developmental driver for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. In June of the same year, Larson won his first NASCAR K &amp; N Pro Series East race at Gresham Motorsports Park. He also went on to win the 2012 NASCAR K&amp;N Pro Series East Championship beating the likes of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/corey-lajoie/">Corey LaJoie</a>. On the other hand, his ARCA career took some time to take off as his first win in the division came two years after his debut, in 2014, at Pocono Raceway.

Larson's NASCAR Truck Series debut came in 2012 and he won his first race the next year, at Rockingham Speedway, driving for Turner Scott Motorsports. And it is around the same time that his Xfinity And <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">Cup Series</a> career took off as well. Debuting the top faction for <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/chip-ganassi-racing/">Chip Ganassi Racing</a> in 2014, the driver finished 17th in the points standings in his first year. As for his <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-xfinity-series/">Xfinity</a> Series career debut in 2013, the driver finished 8th in the final standings while driving for Turner Scott Motorsports.

[caption id="attachment_521629" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-521629 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20210120200820/GettyImages-1150194779.jpg" alt="Kyle Larson" width="1920" height="1281" /> CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 18: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Advent Health Chevrolet, celebrates winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson’s partnerships and endorsements</b></h2>
One of Kyle Larson's earliest sponsor after he moved to <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/hendrick-motorsports/">Hendrick Motorsports</a> from Chip Ganassi Racing in 2021 was HendrickCars.com. The Hendrick Automotive Group, via the HendrickCars.com brand, became a majority sponsor for the #5 driver for the 2022 and 2023 Cup Series seasons. Backing Larson for some 35 races in his NASCAR schedule, the brand also committed itself to sponsoring the racer in all non-NASCAR events.

As the division's first Japanese-American driver, Larson also paid an ode to his heritage when, in 2023, he landed an official restaurant partner in the form of JINYA Ramen Bar. In this extensive agreement, according to an official press release by Hendrick Motorsports, the brand was set to feature on the driver's post-race hat, firesuit and even his team apparel.

Expressing his excitement, JINYA Founder and CEO Tomo Takahashi said at the time, <em>"Not only is Kyle a NASCAR star because of his supreme talent on the track, but he’s also the sport’s first-ever Asian-American driver, so we are thrilled to partner with him. Kyle has already picked up two wins this season and we can’t wait to see him make many more trips to victory lane while wearing the JINYA logo!"</em>

Additionally, ahead of the 2024 Cup season, automotive services and lubricant brand, Valvoline also announced its bid to back Kyle Larson along with his teammate William Byron. <em>“Valvoline will be the primary sponsor for Kyle Larson in three races (Phoenix, Sonoma and the Chicago Street Race) for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season,” </em>an official press release said.

In another exciting development, Kyle Larson is also set to drive for McLaren Racing for the 2024 Indianapolis 500 as he attempts the revered 'Double Duty' on May 26. Apart from that, tool manufacturer, Cincinnati Inc also joined hands with him ahead of his HMS debut.

One thing's for sure. The driver sure knows how to attract sponsors!
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson's investments</b></h2>
Just like any other multi-talented personality, Kyle Larson has time and again shown how easy it is to dabble in multiple things at once. From competing to owning, the driver knows how to do it all. Merely at the age of 21, in 2013, Kyle Larson started exploring his entrepreneurial side which saw the formation of his sprint car and midget racing team, in association with fellow driver Justin Marks, named Larson Marks Racing. Primarily competing in the World of Outlaws, the team has had its highs and lows. The team had a fairly successful run with driver Shane Stewart who won at the team's second-ever start at the Eldora Speedway. Apart from that, the driver was also the 2015 Kings Royal victor at the Eldora Speedway yet again. Stewart was also won the Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdow during the 2015-16 off-season, besides finish second in the WoO points standings in 2015.

But, things soon went downhill. While Kyle Larson taking over the sole ownership of the team in 2017 and renaming it Kyle Larson Racing seemed promising, the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be an adversity. In October of 2020, it was announced that the team would cease operations after the season was over.

While the closure might be disheartening, it didn't dampen his spirit. Soon after, in 2021, the driver announced the formation of a sprint car series, with his brother-in-law and five-time WoO champion Brad Sweet. The first season in 2023, saw 12 races. Kyle Larson won the inaugural season of the series. As for High Limit Racing's 2024 plans, the series has expanded the schedule to a staggering 60 races. It will also offer $5.8 million in prize money. Now that's what we can call an epic comeback!

[caption id="attachment_677288" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-677288 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-06-14T153502Z_1823926688_16251805_RTRMADP_3_MOTOR-NASCAR.jpg" alt="Kyle Larson NASCAR" width="1920" height="1368" /> Jun 13, 2021; Fort Worth, TX, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) shoots his six shooter guns as he celebrates winning the NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson’s NASCAR career stats</b></h2>
For a driver of Kyle Larson's stature, the numbers speak for themselves. The driver boasts an average finish of 14.23 and an average start of 11.9. He has a total of 23 race wins in his Cup series career with 164 top 10s and 16 pole positions. As for the other two NASCAR divisions, the driver has 14 wins, 80 Top 10s, and six poles in his Xfinity Series career, and three wins, 11 Top 10s, and two poles in his Truck Series stint. The driver also boasts a total of 7,556 laps led in his NASCAR.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson's  major achievements and awards</b></h2>
Kyle Larson, at his age, has already earned more accolades than several racing veterans and even legends of the sport. The HMS star is the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, the 2012 NASCAR K&amp;N Pro Series East Champion, the 2010 King of the West Sprint Car Series Champion, the 2018 United Truck Parts International Midget Series Champion, the 2020 Pennsylvania Speedweek Champion, 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona Overall Winner, 2019, 2021, 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race Winner, 2021 Coca-Cola 600 Winner and countless more.

As for his sprint car racing career, the driver won the inaugural season of his High Limit Racing series, thereby cementing his place as a formidable racer. This year, too, he'll be looking to visit the podium as the series takes a new turn with charter introductions akin to NASCAR and schedule expansion.

The 31-year-old is also set to expand his racing horizon when he makes his IndyCar debut with Arrow McLaren in 2024 in the Indy 500 on May 26. The HMS did race go-karts when he was younger and that knowledge will come in handy. The race will be a part of the revered 'Double Duty' attempt which him see him compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the almost 600 miles way <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/coca-cola-600/">Coca-Cola 600</a> on the same day.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson's merchandise</b></h2>
Being as popular as he is, Kyle Larson's merchandise sells out like hotcakes. He has his own merch store online with several products embroidered with the KL logo. Caps, beanies, hoodies, t-shirts, and even gift cards are the products sold by the driver's team on <a href="https://shopkylelarson.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://shopkylelarson.com/</a>
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson's controversies</b></h2>
He may come across as a civil sportsperson today but Kyle Larson was the center of attention for all the wrong reasons back when he was racing for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2020. The now-Hendrick Motorsports driver uttered a racial slur during a video game stream in April that year. He was swiftly dropped from his team and he lost his sponsors. Before long, NASCAR suspended the driver. Larson was reinstated in October after which he joined HMS.

The 2021 Cup Series champion has had run-ins with the outspoken <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/denny-hamlin/">Denny Hamlin</a>. The two drivers had a moment in the 2023 Cup Series season in Kansas. Hamlin nudged Larson into the wall to take the victory of the race. The two drivers expressed their disappointment with one another and even the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/stewart-haas-racing/https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/joe-gibbs-racing/">Joe Gibbs Racing</a> driver's comments on the Actions Detrimental podcast frustrated his rival.

<em>“I don’t think there’s a reason to be mad at him,”</em> Larson had said on an episode of the High Limit Room podcast. <em>“We were racing aggressively on the last lap for a win, and he was way faster than me. Just the only thing that I guess I get frustrated with is on his deal, his podcast, he says, ‘I race a certain way, but I’ve never had to reach out to him to apologize about anything.'"</em>

[caption id="attachment_780514" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-780514 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021-09-27T033921Z_1662942844_MT1USATODAY16837811_RTRMADP_3_NASCAR-SOUTH-POINT-400.jpg" alt="NASCAR Denny Hamlin Kyle Larson" width="1920" height="1290" /> Sep 26, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) driver Kyle Larson (5) and driver Kyle Busch (18) race for position during the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><b>Kyle Larson's social media</b></h2>
Kyle Larson is fairly active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. While he shares a lot of promotional content on the first 2, his Instagram account holds several moments of his personal life.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Facebook</span></td>
<td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KyleLarsonRacing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/KyleLarsonRacing</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Instagram</span></td>
<td><a href="https://twitter.com/KyleLarsonRacin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://twitter.com/KyleLarsonRacin</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Twitter</span></td>
<td><a href="https://www.instagram.com/kylelarsonracin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.instagram.com/kylelarsonracin/</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Full Name</span></td>
<td>Kyle Larson</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Popular Name</span></td>
<td>Yung Money</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Birth Place </span></td>
<td>Elk Grove, California, U.S.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Birth Date</span></td>
<td>July 31, 1992</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Age</span></td>
<td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Height</span></td>
<td>5 ft 6 in</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Weight (in pounds)</span></td>
<td>135 lb</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Parents </span></td>
<td>Mike Larson, Janet Larson</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Siblings</span></td>
<td>Andrea Larson</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Nationality</span></td>
<td>American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Ethnicity</span></td>
<td>Japanese-American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Net Worth</span></td>
<td>$12 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Salary</span></td>
<td>$10 million</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Relationship/Marital Status</span></td>
<td>Married</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Spouse</span></td>
<td>Katelyn Sweet</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Children</span></td>
<td>Owen Miyata Larson, Audrey Layne Larson, and Cooper Donald Larson</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Profession </span></td>
<td>Motorsports athlete</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-weight: 400">Team</span></td>
<td>Hendrick Motorsports</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 style="text-align: center"></h2>

Kyle Larson

Here is everything you need to know about Kyle Larson and his Net Worth, Relationships, Controversy, Family, Social Media and More.

“I’m Not Doing Anything Different” – Kyle Larson on His 2021 Title Bid

What else did Kyle Larson say?