NASCAR playoffs guide: Everything you need to know about the postseason format

“Win and advance” is the mindset for the 16 NASCAR Cup Series championship contenders as they enter the first race of the 2021 playoffs, which begin Sunday with the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway (6 p.m. ET, NBCSN). But that’s easier said than done.

The 16 playoff drivers will compete in in the 10-race postseason, which consists of four rounds, three sets of eliminations, a lot of points and one winner-take-all championship race in November at Phoenix Raceway.

“Every point is gonna matter, every detail is gonna matter,” 2018 champion Joey Logano said. “Ten weeks is a long time; it’s a long playoffs if you think about it. You’re gonna have to go through some serious adversity. At some point you’re gonna have to overcome something, and that’s part of it.”

But for casual NASCAR fans or those who need a refresher on how everything works, it’s a lot to keep track of. So here’s a breakdown of how the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs work.