There is only one more race in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season. A race that will determine which one of four drivers will be named the Cup Series champion.

At the end of the race at Martinsville Speedway on October 31, those four drivers were revealed – Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr.

When the race began, Kyle Larson with his two race wins in the round of eight was the only driver who had secured a spot in the final four.  During the race Chase Elliott had earned enough points to lock in his spot in the final four and a chance to defend his title.  It wasn’t until the end of the race that Hamlin and Truex learned that they had secured a spot in the final four.  Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano were all eliminated from the playoffs.

The 2021 champion will be crowned at the end of the race at Phoenix Speedway on November 7.  The champion will be the driver that finishes in front of the other three; without necessarily winning the race.

While the points have been reset to 5,000, points no longer matter in determining the winner; only the final placement in the final point standings.


In the Xfinity Series, the final four are Noah Gragson, Austin Cindric, Daniel Hemric, and AJ Allmendinger.


The final four in the Camping World Truck Series are John Hunter Nemechek, Ben Rhodes, Matt Crafton, and Sheldon Creed.