Honestly, if you looked at the nascar 2024 playoff standings halfway through October, you probably wouldn’t have put your money on the #22 car. Joey Logano was basically out. Then, a disqualification for Alex Bowman at the Charlotte Roval handed Logano a "get out of jail free" card, and he didn't just walk through the door—he kicked it down.
Logano won his third Cup Series championship at Phoenix, and the fallout was immediate. Fans were losing it. Critics called the format "gimmicky." But rules are rules, and in 2024, the rules rewarded the guy who knew exactly when to peak.
The Chaos of the 2024 Postseason
The 2024 season was weird. Kyle Busch went winless for the first time in his career. Tyler Reddick looked like the fastest man on earth for three months. Yet, when the dust settled in the desert, the nascar 2024 playoff standings showed a guy with a 17th-place average finish holding the Bill France Trophy.
You’ve got to feel for Tyler Reddick. He clinched the Regular Season Championship after a grueling battle at Darlington. He was the most consistent driver for 26 weeks. In the old days, he’d be the heavy favorite. But the modern playoff system is a different beast. It’s a series of three-race sprints where one bad afternoon at a place like Talladega or the Roval can end your season.
💡 You might also like: NFL Pick 'em Predictions: Why You're Probably Overthinking the Divisional Round
Who survived the Round of 16?
The playoffs started with 16 drivers, but the "win and you’re in" era means some guys get in with one lucky victory while others with better points get left behind.
- Harrison Burton was the Cinderella story, getting in with a shock Wood Brothers win at Daytona.
- Ty Gibbs and Martin Truex Jr. (in his final full-time season) fought hard but couldn't keep the pace.
- Brad Keselowski also took an early exit, proving that veteran experience isn't always enough to dodge the chaos of the opening round.
The Final Four: A Battle of Giants
By the time we got to Phoenix, the nascar 2024 playoff standings had whittled the field down to the Championship 4: Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, and Tyler Reddick.
It was a Team Penske vs. Hendrick Motorsports vs. 23XI Racing showdown.
📖 Related: Why the Marlins Won World Series Titles Twice and Then Disappeared
- Joey Logano: The strategist. He won at Las Vegas to lock himself in early, giving his team weeks to prep his Phoenix car.
- Ryan Blaney: The defending champ. He was arguably the fastest car in the finale but couldn't get past his teammate.
- William Byron: The most consistent Hendrick driver of the year. He hovered near the front but lacked that "killer" restart speed at the end.
- Tyler Reddick: The people’s champion. After a wild flip at Las Vegas and a win at Homestead, he arrived with all the momentum.
The race itself was a masterclass in defensive driving. Logano grabbed the lead late and simply refused to let Blaney by. It wasn't about who had the best season; it was about who had the best final 50 laps. Logano finished 1st, Blaney 2nd, and Byron 3rd. That’s how the top of the nascar 2024 playoff standings ended up looking, despite what the "total season points" might suggest.
Why the Standings Looked So Different
If you look at the total points earned over all 36 races, the nascar 2024 playoff standings tell a lie. Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson were arguably the two best drivers all year. Larson led more laps than anyone. Bell was a top-five machine.
But Bell got knocked out in the Round of 8 due to a controversial wall-ride/safety violation at Martinsville. It was heartbreaking. Larson had one bad race at the wrong time and missed the finale entirely.
👉 See also: Why Funny Fantasy Football Names Actually Win Leagues
Final Top 10 Standings (Official)
- 1. Joey Logano (Champion) - 5,040 pts
- 2. Ryan Blaney - 5,035 pts
- 3. William Byron - 5,034 pts
- 4. Tyler Reddick - 5,031 pts
- 5. Christopher Bell - 2,412 pts
- 6. Kyle Larson - 2,378 pts
- 7. Chase Elliott - 2,342 pts
- 8. Denny Hamlin - 2,328 pts
- 9. Alex Bowman - 2,318 pts
- 10. Martin Truex Jr. - 2,257 pts
It’s wild to see Bell in 5th with 2,412 points while the winner has over 5,000. That’s just how the points reset works. It’s designed for TV drama, not necessarily for rewarding the "best" driver over 36 weeks.
The 2026 Shift: Lessons from 2024
Because of the 2024 results, NASCAR actually announced huge changes for the future. Starting in 2026, they're moving back to a format called "The Chase." They’re ditching the "Playoffs" branding and the winner-take-all finale.
Why? Because 2024 was the tipping point. Seeing a driver like Logano—who was technically eliminated until a post-race DQ saved him—win the whole thing made the higher-ups realize that maybe, just maybe, consistency needs to matter more.
What You Should Do Now
If you're a fan trying to make sense of the nascar 2024 playoff standings for your own records or just to argue with friends at the track, here is the move:
- Check the Owner Points: Sometimes the driver standings and owner standings differ (like with the #5 car). It matters for the team's paycheck.
- Look at "Points Without Playoffs": Sites like Racing Reference show what the standings would look like under the old Latford system. It’ll give you a lot of perspective on how much the current format skews reality.
- Watch the Martinsville 2024 Replay: If you want to see the exact moment the playoff format broke, watch the final 10 laps of that race. The "radio manipulation" and wall-riding penalties changed history.
The 2024 season is in the books, and while Joey Logano has the trophy, the debate over how he got it will probably last forever. Grab a diecast of the #22 car if you're a fan, but if you're a Reddick or Larson fan, maybe just keep looking forward to 2026.