Treacherous first round of NASCAR playoffs awaits championship hopefuls

In the 10 seasons of NASCAR’s elimination-style playoff bracket, there’s never been a more intimidating first round of races for the championship hopefuls to traverse.

Atlanta, Watkins Glen and Bristol comprise the three-race Round of 16, after which four drivers will be eliminated from championship contention.

As little as three years ago, a round made up of those three venues would’ve been seen as fairly straightforward, but with the advent of the Next-Gen car and changes to track configurations, there are no guarantees that any driver — even those considered venerable favorites — will advance.

If you were to poll NASCAR fans on who the championship favorite is, the names of Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick and Ryan Blaney would all come up — none of which are safe from the randomness of racing that could culminate in playoff elimination.

Atlanta’s reconfiguration in 2022 transformed the 1.54-mile track in Hampton, Georgia. from a worn-out intermediate to a freshly paved drafting track that has already produced memorable moments. It was Atlanta’s first race of 2024 that provided a three-wide photo finish, in which Daniel Suarez punched his ticket to the postseason.

Atlanta has joined Daytona and Talladega as one of the most unpredictable tracks on the circuit, and if a playoff driver is involved in a crash, a poor day in the Peach State could doom their playoff run. As one of six superspeedway races on the schedule, Atlanta also provides those who aren’t racing for a championship the chance to steal a victory as they start preparations for 2025.

The second race of the postseason will take place in the Finger Lakes of New York. Watkins Glen International in Dix, N.Y., has been a staple of auto racing since the 1950s, and 2024 marks the first time it will host a NASCAR playoff race.

The usual cast of Cup Series contenders usually find the front at Watkins Glen — the Hendrick Motorsports duo of Larson and two-time Watkins Glen winner Chase Elliott are among the favorites — but that doesn’t mean they’re exempt from chaos. Modern road-course racing always has the potential to devolve into your local demolition derby, especially if an abundance of overtime restarts take place.

Don’t count out the possibility of an underdog winner at the Glen, either — 2010 Watkins Glen winner Juan Pablo Montoya will be making a one-off start for 23XI Racing, with future Cup Series driver Shane van Gisbergen making a start for Kaulig Racing in the No. 16 car. 2014 Watkins Glen winner AJ Allmendinger will also be in the field, providing fans with the opportunity to watch several ringers take to the track.

That leaves the high-banked half-mile of Bristol as the last stand for those who sit below the cut line and as the last resort for the unlucky teams that must win in order to advance. In March, fans were treated to a race that featured extreme tire wear and numerous lead changes. Bristol’s second event has always had a special feeling surrounding it, but the intensity will only ramp up with its placement in the playoffs.

The championship favorites earned the designation of a favorite for a reason, but no driver is safe from the clutches of elimination.

The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs will begin on Sunday. The Quaker State 400 at Atlanta is set to go green shortly after 3 p.m. ET, with coverage on USA Network, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.