This article has been updated to include information about Alex Bowman’s disqualification.

After Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, only eight drivers are left competing for the championship.

Kyle Larson took home the win at the Bank of America Roval 400, fending off Christopher Bell to secure the victory on the mixed road and oval track. This win granted Larson a direct spot in the third round of the playoffs, while seven other drivers advanced based on their points. The subsequent events at Kansas Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway were won by drivers not in the playoffs, resulting in no additional automatic berths.

The eight drivers still in contention for the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series championship are Larson, William Byron, Bell, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Joey Logano.

Alex Bowman, Austin Cindric, Daniel Suarez, and Chase Briscoe were eliminated from the championship race following Sunday’s event.

Bowman had initially secured a spot in the next round but faced disqualification when his No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet did not meet the post-race weight regulations. This disqualification erased nearly all of his points from Sunday’s race, pushing him below the advancement cutline. As a result, Logano benefitted from Bowman’s misfortune, moving up to eighth in points and claiming the last spot in the third round.

NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director Brad Moran discussed the situation, stating, “Regrettably, the No. 48 did not pass the minimum weight requirements during inspection. We provide teams with every chance to meet these weight standards, allowing for a half percent weight tolerance—around 17 pounds. In this case, it exceeded that limit.”

Hendrick Motorsports has the option to appeal Bowman’s disqualification, should they choose to do so. Any such appeal will be addressed this week before the next round.

“We are currently assessing the situation and will decide on Monday regarding the possibility of filing an appeal,” stated Hendrick Motorsports in response to the news.

The playoffs are now headed into the Round of 8, which includes three races starting next weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Following that, the series will head to Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 27, and then the final elimination race at Martinsville Speedway on November 3. After Martinsville, the playoff roster will be halved, with the remaining four contenders battling for the championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 10.

Here’s how the race on the Charlotte Roval unfolded:

STAGE 3

Larson showcased dominance in the third stage, clinching his sixth victory of the season. Bell finished in second place, followed by Byron, Cindric, and Elliott, as all Top 5 finishers were playoff drivers. A.J. Allmendinger came in sixth, and Shane Van Gisbergen took seventh, being the highest-placed non-playoff drivers. Logano, Bubba Wallace, and Blaney completed the Top 10.

While it was a productive points day for Logano, he lost some positions in the final stage. Meanwhile, Reddick, who finished 11th, made an impressive recovery in the last 20 laps after pitting for fresh tires and restarting from outside the Top 20. The regular-season champion, Reddick, fought back through the pack, surpassing enough cars to outpoint Logano, who had started Sunday’s race trailing Reddick by a substantial 14 points.

However, Logano received a second chance following Bowman’s disqualification after the race.

For complete results from the Bank of America Roval 400, click here.

STAGE 2

Bowman took advantage when leaders Larson, Van Gisbergen, Bell, and Byron chose to pit under green before the stage concluded, sacrificing stage points while setting themselves up for the final segment. Bowman stayed out until the end of the 25-lap stage, crossing the finish line first ahead of A.J. Allmendinger, who pitted during the segment and managed to charge back toward the front.

Larson also gained some ground by pitting and finished the stage in 10th, alongside his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Byron as they both advanced to the third round on points.

One playoff driver’s championship aspirations were dashed before the race concluded. Briscoe experienced a tire issue on Lap 36 and was forced to pit again shortly after due to contact on the track. A couple of laps later, Briscoe entered the pits for the third time for damage, but his No. 14 team couldn’t repair his Ford in time, resulting in an early end to his race—and his title pursuit.

The Top 10 finishers for Stage 2 were:

1. Alex Bowman
2. A.J. Allmendinger
3. Joey Logano
4. Chase Elliott
5. Bubba Wallace
6. Ryan Blaney
7. Austin Cindric
8. Michael McDowell
9. Kyle Busch
10. Kyle Larson

STAGE 1

Van Gisbergen, starting from the pole position, led every lap of the initial 25-lap stage but decided to pit under green with three laps remaining in that segment. Larson followed suit and pitted while in second place. Both drivers had built up enough of a lead to return to the field in strong positioning, finishing in the Top 10. Over half of the drivers opted to pit, passing up the chance for stage points, but certain playoff participants chose to continue on the track.

Drivers such as Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, and Chase Elliott maintained their positions throughout the entire segment to earn points.

Here’s how the Top 10 finished in Stage 1:

1. Tyler Reddick
2. Joey Logano
3. Chase Elliott
4. Ryan Blaney
5. Kyle Larson
6. Shane Van Gisbergen
7. Ty Gibbs
8. A.J. Allmendinger
9. Brad Keselowski
10. Austin Cindric

Upcoming Playoff Race

The next race in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs will take place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET, and it will be broadcast on NBC.