See which races will decide the champions in all three of the top NASCAR series during the 2018 season.
The first season to officially have the NASCAR Playoffs is in the past, and the new status quo is going to take less getting used to this year.
To be sure, the current system of whittling the field down to 16 or less contenders and then settling things among just four drivers at Homestead is more or less the same as it was when it was called the Chase for the Championship. It’s mostly a matter of semantics at this point.
Still, there have been some significant changes in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, which made several schedule swaps to ensure the playoffs look different in 2018. The biggest ones come in the very first round, which now includes the brand new fall Las Vegas race plus the initial test of the so-called “Roval” at Charlotte, adding a road course elements to the title chase.
Meanwhile, the Truck Series drivers have what amounts to the longest playoffs in professional sports, starting their pursuit of the trophy in Canada in late August and not wrapping it up until Homestead rolls around in mid-November. Multiple off-weeks along the way, including nearly a month between the second and third playoff races, explain that length.
Where and when are the races in the NASCAR Playoffs this year? Simply keep scrolling down and you’ll see ’em all.
Next: NASCAR established stars vs. young guns is the biggest 2018 story
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2018 playoff races
Round of 16
- Sunday, Sep. 16 – South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Saturday, Sep. 22 – Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway
- Sunday, Sep. 30 – Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course
Round of 12
- Sunday, Oct. 7 – NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway
- Sunday, Oct. 14 – Alabama 500 at Talladega Superspeedway
- Sunday, Oct. 21 – Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway
Round of 8
- Sunday, Oct. 28 – First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway
- Sunday, Nov. 4 – AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway
- Sunday, Nov. 11 – Can-Am 500 at ISM Raceway
Championship 4
- Sunday, Nov. 18 – Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway
NASCAR XFINITY Series 2018 playoff races
Round of 12
- Friday, Sep. 21 – Go Bowling 250 at Richmond Raceway
- Saturday, Sep. 29 – Drive for the Cure 300 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina at Charlotte Motor Speedway
- Saturday, Oct. 6 – NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Dover International Speedway
Round of 8
- Saturday, Oct. 20 – Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway
- Saturday, Nov. 3 – O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway
- Saturday, Nov. 10 – Ticket Galaxy 200 at ISM Raceway
Championship 4
- Saturday, Nov. 17 – Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 2018 playoff races
Round of 8
- Sunday, Aug. 26 – Chevrolet Silverado 250 at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park
- Friday, Sep. 14 – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Saturday, Oct. 13 – fred’s 250 powered by Coca-Cola at Talladega Superspeedway
Round of 6
- Saturday, Oct. 27 – Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions at Martinsville Speedway
- Friday, Nov. 2 – JAG Metals 350 at Texas Motor Speedway
- Friday, Nov. 9 – Lucas Oil 150 at ISM Raceway
Championship 4
- Friday, Nov. 16 – Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway