The 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs roll on from Delaware to the Carolinas this week for Sunday’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It’s the opening race in the second round with twelve of the original sixteen title hopefuls advancing led by top-seeded Martin Truex Junior. Ten of the top twelve seeds survived the first three weeks of the post-season. They are joined by the last two drivers to earn playoff berths: Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray. All twelve drivers have had their championship points reset to three thousand plus bonus points. Any one of the twelve that wins a race in the next three weeks will automatically advance to the semifinal round that opens October 29th at Martinsville Speedway. Playoff participants have won the fall race at C-M-S in eleven of the thirteen years the post-season title format has been in place.
The NASCAR X-finity Series also runs in Charlotte this coming weekend with Saturday’s race. It’s an elimination race for twelve title contenders