After 26 races to get to this point, 16 drivers have done what they've needed to do in order to stand out above the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series field. Now, the NASCAR playoffs begin, with 10 races and four rounds separating one driver from the Bill France Cup and the right to forever be called a NASCAR Cup Series champion.

It only took one set of corners for trouble to start striking playoff contenders in the opening race of the playoffs, as Josh Berry started the Southern 500 and his first playoff appearance by spinning out and crashing in Turn 2 on the opening lap at Darlington. While Berry, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman and others either suffered major setbacks or had to come back from major adversity in the playoff opener, Chase Briscoe earned peace of mind with a second-straight Souther

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