The NASCAR Cup Series begins its playoff Round of 8 this weekend in Las Vegas with eight drivers vying for a spot in Phoenix’s championship race next month. It is the youngest Round of 8 crop in the history of the Cup playoffs with Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, William Byron and Ross Chastain advancing this far for the first time.
Bell enters with the momentum, winning last week at Charlotte to give him the free pass to advance while 2020 series champion Chase Elliott comes in with a 20-point lead atop the point standings. Here is what you need to know for the South Point 400:
NASCAR Cup Series Las Vegas playoff weekend schedule and how to watch
Fans in the United States can watch the race on NBC or the NBC Sports app (cable or satellite subscription required) and pos-trace coverage will be on Peacock. Radio coverage is available on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM.
Sunday, Oct. 16
Pre-race show: 2 – 2:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
South Point 400: 2:30 – 6 p.m. ET (NBC, NBC Sports app, MRN, SiriusXM)
Post-race show: 6 – 7 p.m. ET (Peacock)
South Point 400 starting grid
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Tyler Reddick (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
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Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford
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William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
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Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford
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Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford
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Daniel Suarez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
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Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
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Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford
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Bubba Wallace (45), 23XI Racing Toyota
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Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
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Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
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Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford
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Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
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Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
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Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford
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Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
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Noah Gragson (48) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
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Kyle Busch (18), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
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Ty Gibbs (23), 23XI Racing Chevrolet
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Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
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AJ Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
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Erik Jones (43), Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet
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Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
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Cole Custer (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
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Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford
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JJ Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford
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Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
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Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
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Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
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Corey Lajoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
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Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
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Landon Cassill (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
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Ty Dillon (42), Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet
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Cody Ware (51), Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet
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Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford
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BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford
Top drivers and best bets for the South Point 400
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, seeking his first Cup title, enters with the best odds according to BetMGM, coming into the weekend with a +550 moneyline. Bell, Elliott and reigning series champion Kyle Larson all follow at +800. Tyler Reddick enters +900 while Chastain and two-time champion Kyle Busch open with a +1000 moneyline.
Yahoo Sports’ Nick Bromberg suggests finding good mid-tier value in Bubba Wallace (+1400), who has shown strong form on intermediate tracks this season and Joey Logano (+1600) as he has the best average finish at Las Vegas of all drivers this weekend at 8.9. Bromberg is still fading Chastain, anticipating comeuppance for past rough racing in the regular season.
NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings entering the weekend
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Chase Elliott – 4,046
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Joey Logano – 4,026
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Ross Chastain – 4,021
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Christopher Bell – 4,018
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Ryan Blaney – 4,015
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William Byron – 4,015
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Denny Hamlin – 4,013
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Chase Briscoe – 4,009
Weather for the South Point 400
It’s Las Vegas and it’s not winter. The forecast calls for a clear sky and temperatures in the upper 80s, meaning tire degradation will be a factor but late pit strategy could again prove to be the difference.