What the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings look like after Bristol

Alex Bowman, Shane van Gisbergen, Josh Berry and Austin Dillon were all eliminated from NASCAR Cup Series playoff contention at Bristol Motor Speedway, with 12 drivers moving on to the second round of the playoffs. Here's what the NASCAR Cup Series grid looks like going into the Round of 12 opener at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 21. 

1. Denny Hamlin (+26) 

Hamlin's playoff win at Gateway on Sept. 7 makes him the No. 1 seed for the Round of 12. 

2. Kyle Larson (+24) 

Larson had an up-and-down first round - including a 32nd-place finish at Bristol on Saturday - but is still in a solid spot to begin the Round of 12. 

3. William Byron (+24) 

The Daytona 500 champion has a solid gap to the cut line going into New Hampshire, and he may need every extra point he can get. 

4. Christopher Bell (+20) 

Bell added five extra points to his advantage with his win at Bristol on Saturday. 

5. Ryan Blaney (+19) 

Blaney has a decent advantage over the cut line, but he can't afford another slow start to this round of the postseason. 

6. Chase Briscoe (+10) 

Briscoe certainly wouldn't mind opening the Round of 12 with a win akin to the way he opened the Round of 16, given his proximity to the cut line. 

7. Chase Elliott (+5) 

Elliott finished 38th on Saturday and limped to his Round of 12 berth. He can't afford any similar performance in the Round of 12. 

8. Bubba Wallace (+1) 

If the No. 23 team is as fast in the Round of 12 as they were in the Round of 16, Wallace's advantage to the cut line will only grow. 

9. Austin Cindric (-1) 

A gutsy effort from Cindric on Saturday got him to the Round of 12 for the third time in three playoff appearances. 

10. Ross Chastain (-2) 

This is where a lack of playoff points begins to significantly hurt Chastain, who finished 19th on Saturday. 

11. Joey Logano (-2) 

The defending Cup Series champion has some work to do if he wants to win a fourth championship. 

12. Tyler Reddick (-3) 

Reddick needs to find his first win of 2025 sooner rather than later.