NASCAR Cup Playoff Update: Standings Breakdown Heading to Charlotte Roval

• Chase Elliott leads the 12-driver championship lineup going into the 109-lap, 253-mile race. He’s two points ahead of Ryan Blaney.

• The Round of 12 began at Texas two weeks ago, went to Talladega last weekend, and ends on Sunday on the Charlotte Roval.

• The upcoming Round of 8 at Las Vegas, Homestead, and Martinsville will determine the Championship 4 for the Nov. 6 season-finale near Phoenix.

One of the season’s most unpredictable races will trim NASCAR’s 12-driver Championship Playoff field to eight at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon. The original 16-driver field was cut to 12 hopefuls after the recent Playoff races at Darlington, Kansas City, and Bristol.

The Round of 12 began at Texas two weeks ago, went to Talladega last weekend, and ends on Sunday on the Charlotte Roval. The upcoming Round of 8 at Las Vegas, Homestead, and Martinsville will determine the Championship 4 for the Nov. 6 season-finale near Phoenix.

The Charlotte Roval is a 2.32-mile, 17-turn, multi-elevational road course that incorporates much of the better-known 1.5-mile oval and a significant portion of the infield road circuit. It is one of six road courses on the Cup Series schedule after COTA (Ross Chastain), Sonoma (Daniel Suarez), Elkhart Lake (Tyler Reddick), Indianapolis (Reddick), Watkins Glen (Kyle Larson), and Charlotte. It is the only road course on the 10-race Playoff schedule.

Ryan Blaney won the Roval debut in 2018 after leader Jimmie Johnson wrecked near the finish. Former champion Elliott won in 2019 and 2020, and defending champion Larson won in 2021. All three are among the 12 drivers still eligible for this year’s Cup Series championship.