Listed by Seeding
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A total of 10 different organizations are represented in this season’s NASCAR Cup Series Driver Playoffs – Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, RFK Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Trackhouse Racing, 23XI Racing, Team Penske, Front Row Motorsports, JTG Daugherty Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing.
All three NASCAR Cup Series official engine manufacturers have qualified for the Playoffs as well, led by Ford with six entries into the postseason, followed by Chevrolet and Toyota with five each.
Looking ahead to Darlington Raceway, eight former winners are entered in the race this weekend; led by Denny Hamlin (2022 2020, 2017, 2010) with four wins. Kevin Harvick (2020-3, 2020-1, 2014) and Martin Truex Jr. (2016, 2021) are the only other Playoff drivers this season with multiple wins at Darlington Raceway.
Driver listed below are by seeding heading into Darlington:
William Byron (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) heads to Darlington Raceway as the No. 1 seed in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with 2,036 points – up +29 points on the Round of 12 cutoff – in his fifth consecutive appearance in the postseason (2023, ‘22, '21 '20, '19). Byron is currently tied in points with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. but owns the No. 1 seed due to the tiebreaker of most wins. Byron has made 10 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Darlington Raceway amassing one pole, one win (2023), three top fives and four top 10s. His average finish at the 1.366-mile track is 16.8. If Byron were to win this weekend, he would become the 14th different driver in the NASCAR Cup Series to post consecutive wins at Darlington; Dale Earnhardt (1989-1990) and Jeff Gordon (1995-1996) are tied for the series-most consecutive wins at Darlington with three each.
Martin Truex Jr. (No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) heads to Darlington Raceway as the Regular Season Champion – just the second driver in the series to win multiple Regular Season Championships (2017, 2023); joining Kyle Busch (2018, 2019). Truex enters the Playoffs as the No. 2 seed with 2,036 points – up +29 points on the Round of 12 cutoff – in his 10th postseason appearance (2023, '21 '20, '19, '18, '17, '16, '15, '12, '07). Truex has made 22 series starts at Darlington Raceway, putting up one pole, two wins (2016, 2021), four top fives and 10 top 10s. His average finish at the 1.366-mile track is 13.2.
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) heads to Darlington Raceway as the No. 3 seed in this season’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with 2,025 points – up +18 points on the Round of 12 cutoff – in his record setting 17th postseason appearance (2023, ‘22, '21, '20, '19, '18, '17, '16, '15, '14, '12, '11, '10, '09, '08, '07, '06). Hamlin has made 22 series starts at Darlington Raceway, putting up one pole, four wins (series-most among active drivers: 2010, 2017, 2020, 2021), 12 top fives and 16 top 10s. His average finish at Darlington is 7.7 – best among active drivers.
Chris Buescher (No. 17 RFK Racing Ford) rolls into Darlington Raceway after winning the regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway as the No. 4 seed in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with 2,021 points – up +14 points on the Round of 12 cutoff – in his second appearance in the postseason (2023, ’16). Buescher has made 12 series starts at Darlington posting three top-10 finishes. His average finish at Darlington is 17.5.
Kyle Busch (No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet) arrives at Darlington Raceway as the No. 5 seed in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with 2,019 points – up +12 points on the Round of 12 cutoff – in his 16th postseason appearance (2023 ‘22, '21 '20, '19, '18, '17, '16, '15, '14, '13, '11, '10, '08, '07, '06). Busch has made 23 series starts at Darlington posting one win (2008) six top fives and 14 top 10s. His average finish at the 1.366-mile track is 13.4.
Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) heads to Darlington Raceway as the No. 6 seed in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with 2,017 points – up +10 points on the Round of 12 cutoff – in his seventh postseason appearance (2023, ‘22, '21, '19, '18, '17, '16). Larson has made 11 series starts at Darlington, posting five top fives and seven top 10s. His average finish at 1.366-mile facility is 10.1 – second-best among active drivers.
Christopher Bell (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) heads to Darlington Raceway as the No. 7 seed in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with 2,014 points – up seven points on the Round of 12 cutoff – in his third postseason appearance (2023, ‘22, ’21). Bell has made eight series starts at Darlington Raceway, collecting one top-five and two top-10 finishes. His average finish at Darlington is 16.0.
Ross Chastain (No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet) rolls into Darlington Raceway as the No. 8 seed in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with 2,011 points – up four points on the Round of 12 cutoff – in his second career postseason appearance (2023, ’22). Looking to Darlington, Chastain has made eight series starts at the egg-shaped track accumulating one top-five and one top-10 finish. His average finish at Darlington is 22.8.
Brad Keselowski (No. 6 RFK Racing Ford) returns to Darlington Raceway as the No. 9 seed in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with 2,010 points – up three points on the Round of 12 cutoff – in his 11th appearance in the postseason (2023, '21 '20, '19, '18, '17, '16, '15, '14, '12, '11). Keselowski has made 19 series starts at Darlington Raceway posting one pole, one win (2018), six top fives and 10 top 10s. His average finish at Darlington is 11.7 – third-best among active drivers.
Tyler Reddick (No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota) arrives at Darlington Raceway as the No. 10 seed in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with 2,009 points – up two points on the Round of 12 cutoff – in his third career appearance in the postseason (2023, ‘22, ‘21). Reddick has made eight series starts at Darlington Raceway posting two top-five and three top-10 finishes. His average finish at Darlington is 12.5.
Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford), last season’s champion, heads to Darlington Raceway as the No. 11 seed in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with 2,008 points – up just one point on the Round of 12 cutoff – in his 10th postseason appearance (2023, ‘22, '21 '20, '19, '18, '16, '15, '14, '13). Logano returns to the ‘Lady In Black’ having made 19 series career starts at Darlington grabbing two poles, one win (2022), six top fives and 10 top 10s. His average finish at Darlington is 13.2.
Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford) heads to Darlington Raceway as the No. 12 seed in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with 2,008 points – up just one point on the Round of 12 cutoff – in his seventh postseason appearance (2023, ‘22, '21 '20, '19, '18, '17). Blaney has made 13 series starts at Darlington, posting two top-10 finishes. His average finish at the South Carolina track is 17.8.
Michael McDowell (No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford) arrives at Darlington Raceway as the No. 13 seed in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with 2,007 points – one point back from Ryan Blaney in the 12th and final transfer spot on points to the Round of 12 – in his second appearance in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason (2023, ’21). McDowell has made 16 series starts at Darlington putting up two top-10 finishes. His average finish at the historic track is 26.4
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet) will start the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs as the No. 14 seed with 2,005 points - three points behind the Round of 12 cutoff – in his second appearance in the postseason (2023, '17). Stenhouse has made 15 series starts at Darlington Raceway putting up one top-10 finish. His average finish at the egg-shaped track is 23.0.
Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford) starts off the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs as the No. 15 seed with 2,004 points – back four points from the Round of 12 cutoff – in his record setting 17th career postseason appearance (2023, ‘22 '21, '20, '19, '18, '17, '16, '15, '14, '13, '12, '11, '10, '08, '07, '06). Harvick has made 31 series starts at Darlington Raceway grabbing three wins (2014, 2020-1, 2020-3), 13 top fives and 19 top 10s. His average finish at Darlington is 12.4.
Bubba Wallace (No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota) is climbing off of Cloud-9 this week after earning the final spot into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in the regular season finale at Daytona. Now the Alabama native heads to Darlington Raceway as the No. 16 seed with 2,000 points – back eight points from the Round of 12 cutoff – in his first postseason appearance (2023). Wallace has made 10 series starts at Darlington posting one top five and two top 10s. His average finish at Darlington is 20.8.
To be a champion, you must first go through @TooToughToTame. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/MDo4ULjThF
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 3, 2023
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