How to Watch the Cup Series Playoff Race This Sunday

The NASCAR Cup Series is set to continue its playoffs this Sunday with an exciting road-course race at Watkins Glen International. This marks the second playoff event of the 2024 season.

In a thrilling opener at Atlanta Motor Speedway last weekend, Joey Logano emerged victorious, securing his spot in the second round of the playoffs. The results from Atlanta altered the playoff landscape significantly, propelling Team Penske drivers forward while Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson faced a setback, dropping in standings after an early crash.

As the series shifts from the pack-racing style of Atlanta to the technical challenges of a road course, we can expect another round of changes in the standings before next week’s pivotal elimination race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Following that race, four drivers will be eliminated from the championship contention.

This Sunday’s race, known as the Go Bowling at The Glen, kicks off at 3 p.m. ET. Competitors will navigate the 2.45-mile road course in a total of 90 laps, covering 220.5 miles. The race is divided into three segments: 20 laps for the first two stages, followed by a 50-lap third stage.

The weather appears almost perfect for racing, with sunny skies dotted with a few clouds, temperatures in the mid-80s, and light winds from the south at 5 mph. Notably, there is no chance of rain expected for the day.

Fans can tune in to watch the Go Bowling at The Glen on USA Network, which will commence its pre-race coverage at 2:30 p.m. ET. Additionally, the race will be available for live streaming on the NBC Sports website and app, as well as other platforms like Fubo.

In the previous year’s event, William Byron started strong, beginning in second place and leading 66 of the 90 laps, including the final 33 before finishing ahead of Denny Hamlin by a margin of 2.632 seconds.

As the playoffs unfold, the bottom four drivers after the third playoff race at Bristol next weekend will be sent home. Joey Logano is among the drivers already clinching a spot in the next round. Here is a look at the current standings:

• Ryan Blaney, Team Penske … 2,071 points
• Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing … 2,066 points
• Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing … 2,059 points
• William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports … 2,059 points
• Joey Logano, Team Penske … 2,054 points
• Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports … 2,053 points
• Austin Cindric, Team Penske … 2,053 points
• Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports … 2,050 points
• Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing … 2,048 points
• Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports … 2,041 points
• Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing … 2,028 points
• Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing … 2,027 points
• Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing … 2,026 points
• Harrison Burton, Wood Brothers Racing … 2,011 points
• Martin Truex Jr., Joe Gibbs Racing … 2,008 points
• Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing … 2,006 points

This season, a total of 16 drivers have qualified for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Fourteen of these drivers earned their spots with victories during the regular season, while two others qualified based on points without winning a race.

The playoffs feature ten races, culminating in the championship battle at Phoenix Raceway on November 10. They are structured into three rounds, with three races in each round, after which the lowest four-point scorers will be eliminated. The final round will leave four drivers vying for the championship title.

Should a playoff driver secure a win in one of the rounds, they can automatically move on to the next stage. If non-playoff drivers claim victory in those races, playoff participants will progress based on the points accrued during their rounds.

As anticipation builds for the upcoming races, fans are eager to see who will rise to the challenge and who will face elimination in this intense playoff season.

Source: USA Today