NASCAR playoffs: Where the drivers stand after Christopher Bell wins at Homestead

Two drivers have clinched, and two berths remain in the chase for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Christopher Bell joined Kyle Larson in the Championship 4 after overcoming a mediocre first two stages on Sunday to win the playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Larson won the Round of 8 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend.

The series now heads to Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR’s oldest and smallest track, for the penultimate race of the 2023 season before the championship race on Nov. 5 at Phoenix Raceway. For the remaining six playoff drivers, Martinsville will either be cause for a raucous celebration or a day of despair.

If one of those six drivers win next Sunday on the Virginia short track, he will punch his championship ticket, leaving the final Championship 4 spot to the driver with the most points in the third round without a win. However, if either Larson, Bell, or a non-playoff driver win at Martinsville, then the last two championship contenders would both be determined by points.

How do the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs work?

The playoffs consist of 10 races, starting with 16 drivers. The first nine races are broken up into three rounds with three races apiece, with winners automatically advancing to the next round. Four drivers will be eliminated after the third, sixth and ninth races, leaving a final four to battle for the championship on Nov. 5 at Phoenix Raceway.

What are the standings after the eighth playoff race?

Here are the points after Sunday's race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the first race of the third round (*-former champion; x-clinched berth in Championship 4):

1. x-Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing — 4,110 points
2. x-Kyle Larson*, Hendrick Motorsports — 4,105 points
3. William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports — 4,126 points
4. Ryan Blaney, Team Penske — 4,106 points
5. Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing — 4,096 points
6. Martin Truex Jr.*, Joe Gibbs Racing — 4,089 points
7. Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing — 4,089 points
8. Chris Buescher, RFK Racing — 4,063 points

What TV channels are the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs on?

The final two playoff races will be televised on NBC.

Will there be live streams of the NASCAR Cup Series playoff races?

All playoff races can be live streamed on the NBC Sports website and the NBC Sports app.

What is the NASCAR Cup Series playoff schedule?

With dates, track, time and TV network; All times Eastern.

Sunday, Sept. 3: Darlington Raceway (1.366-mile oval). Winner: Kyle Larson

Sunday, Sept. 10: Kansas Speedway (1.5-mile oval). Winner: Tyler Reddick

Saturday, Sept. 16: Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533-mile oval). Winner: Denny Hamlin

Sunday, Sept. 24: Texas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval). Winner: William Byron

Sunday, Oct. 1: Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-mile oval). Winner: Ryan Blaney

Sunday, Oct. 8: Charlotte Motor Speedway (2.28-mile road course/oval). Winner: AJ Allmendinger

Sunday, Oct. 15: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval). Winner: Kyle Larson

Sunday, Oct. 22: Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5-mile oval). Winner: Christopher Bell

Sunday, Oct. 29: Martinsville Speedway (0.526-mile oval), 2 p.m., NBC

Sunday, Nov. 5: Phoenix Raceway – championship race (1-mile oval), 3 p.m., NBC