Sixteen drivers prepare for NASCAR Cup Series playoff competition starting at Darlington

The 10-race NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin this weekend at Darlington Raceway with 16 drivers competing for the championship. The field enters the postseason following a regular season that saw Denny Hamlin avoid a single DNF, the only full-time driver to do so this year. Forecasts suggest potential volatility for the field, including predictions for eventual race wins by Carson Hocevar, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney during the playoff schedule. Kyle Larson enters the postseason 55 points behind leader Denny Hamlin, while Chase Briscoe is noted for recent top-tier average finishing positions. The playoffs conclude following a 10-race stretch that includes stops at World Wide Technology Raceway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Bristol Motor Speedway. Teams must manage points carefully as drivers like Hocevar approach the postseason with an aggressive strategy.

• 1:42 PMYahoo Sports — 5 Bold NASCAR The Chase Predictions, including Carson Hocevar and Kyle Larson