NASCAR Cup Series playoff field set after Richmond

RICHMOND, VA - SEPTEMBER 09: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway on September 9, 2017 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /

No one could come up with a last-ditch win to make the playoffs at Richmond, so the field of 16 drivers going for a championship is just what it was going into the night.

Everyone hoping to make the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff field on points can breathe a sigh of relief. No new winner emerged from the Federated Auto Parts 400, as Kyle Larson captured his fourth victory of the year.

Matt Kenseth is probably the most fortunate among the three drivers to make it without a win, as he fell victim to a bizarre incident where cars stacked up trying to pit and avoid an ambulance that was along the apron. That ended his night early and left him as the man on the bubble, but he ended up with nothing to worry about.

Now the standings are reset using the new rules put into place this season, with bonus points awarded for victories (5 each) and stage wins (worth one point apiece). Here’s how things stand going into Chicagoland, the first of three races in the first round:

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Grid

Martin Truex Jr., 2053 points
Kyle Larson, 2033 points
Kyle Busch, 2029 points
Brad Keselowski, 2019 points
Jimmie Johnson, 2017 points
Kevin Harvick, 2015 points
Denny Hamlin, 2013 points
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 2010 points
Ryan Blaney, 2008 points
Chase Elliott, 2006 points
Ryan Newman, 2005 points
Kurt Busch, 2005 points
Austin Dillon, 2005 points
Kasey Kahne, 2005 points
Matt Kenseth, 2005 points
Jamie McMurray, 2003 points

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Truex had already sealed up the regular season championship prior to Richmond, though he contended for the win on Saturday night ans looked like he would get it until a late caution forced overtime. Larson took advantage, giving him some potential momentum going into Chicagoland.

As in the Chase years, the playoffs are split into rounds that eliminate four drivers at the end of each one. A victory in one of the three races of the first three rounds automatically qualifies you for the next round, with points deciding all other spots.

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