2018 NASCAR points without the playoffs

I entered 2,000+ data entries to see what the NASCAR points would look like without the playoff format. Here are the results…

Two complete versions of the classic NASCAR point standings for the current season are posted below. One is with stage points and one is without stage points. Both exclude the playoffs.

in the 2018 NASCAR standings. They then tied again with 8 wins. Harvick had 23 top-5’s to Busch’s 22.

Do you wonder who would be leading the season long NASCAR points championship? What if the NASCAR playoffs and stage racing didn’t exist? Well, here is what that story would look like.

View the 2018 classic NASCAR standings below.

What is this exactly? This is what the current NASCAR points would look like without rounds or eliminations in the NASCAR playoffs. It’s the classic season long NASCAR point standings.

Why are there two versions? Because in recent years, a lot has changed in the NASCAR world. And, I wanted to see the points without those format changes.

I totaled all the race points earned and all the stage points earned from every race, separately. That allowed me to create two versions and eliminate a scenario.

– Format 1: The first version shows what the current point standings would look like without the playoffs or playoff points. However, stage points are still included. In 2018, drivers earn 10 points for a stage win and 1 point for 10th in a stage. Those points are still included in the first chart.

– Format 2: The other format shows what the points would look like without the playoff eliminations, stage points or playoff points. All the changes from recent years are excluded.

How the points are totaled

Are penalties included? Yes, I’m clearly insane.

If we’re going to step into tin foil hat land, we might as well do it in the full body tin foil suit. So, I decided to go the extra mile to destination insanity and deduct all point penalties that have been handed out in 2018 from both charts posted below.

How are they tallied? This isn’t the full classic NASCAR point structure. The older version of the point distributions featured points differences greater than 1, per position. This uses the current NASCAR point payout of 1 point per position with the classic season long point structure.

Example: 1st (40 points), 2nd (35 points), 3rd (34 points), 4th (33 points), 5th (32 points) 36th-40th (1 point)

Additionally, the Championship 4 drivers are not awarded stage points for the final race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. In this tally below, they were still awarded those points.

Why do all this? I’m a converted fan of the NASCAR Playoffs. I’ve grown to love the format in recent years. But, I’m still curious as to who would be leading without the playoff format.

Curiosity has sent me to pulling numbers for the last 48 hours. I broke down the stage points and race points from every race so far in 2018. With that, I present the 2018 NASCAR points without the playoffs…


2018 NASCAR Points
without the Playoffs

The 2018 NASCAR point standings below include stage points. It does not include playoff points of any kind or the points bonuses given to drivers that advance between rounds.

As of: Homestead-Miami Speedway
(November 18, 2018)

Pos | Driver | Points

1. Kyle Busch | 1418
2. Kevin Harvick | 1378
3. Martin Truex Jr | 1264
4. Joey Logano | 1234
5. Kurt Busch | 1220
6. Brad Keselowski | 1143
7. Kyle Larson | 1100
8. Chase Elliott 1092
9. Clint Bowyer | 1069
10. Denny Hamlin | 1060
11. Ryan Blaney | 1056
12. Aric Almirola | 1047
13. Erik Jones | 930
14. Jimmie Johnson | 869
15. Alex Bowman | 785
16. Ryan Newman | 764
17. Austin Dillon | 746
18. Paul Menard | 698
19. Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 694
20. Jamie McMurray | 681
21. Daniel Suarez | 671
22. AJ Allmendinger | 602
23. William Byron | 587
24. Chris Buescher | 584
25. David Ragan | 520
26. Michael McDowell | 493
27. Ty Dillon | 482
28. Darrell Wallace Jr | 463
29. Matt DiBenedetto | 369
30. Kasey Kahne | 358
31. Trevor Bayne | 284
32. Matt Kenseth | 268
33. Regan Smith | 157
34. Corey LaJoie | 144
35. Cole Whitt | 132
36. Landon Cassill | 123
37. Gray Gaulding | 119
38. Jeffrey Earnhardt | 110
39. DJ Kennington | 82
40. Reed Sorenson | 60
41. Brendan Gaughan | 49
42. Kyle Weatherman | 33
43. Harrison Rhodes | 24
44. Blake Jones | 21
45. Mark Thompson | 15
46. Cody Ware | 11
47. Derrike Cope | 8
48. Tanner Berryhill | 7
49. Chris Cook | 6
50. Tomy Drissi | 5
51. Danica Patrick | 2
52. Alon Day | 1
53. Hermie Sadler | 1
54. Stanton Barrett | 1


2018 NASCAR Points
without stage points or the playoffs

The 2018 NASCAR points below exclude all stage points and playoff points that were earned in 2018.

As of: Homestead-Miami Speedway
(November 18, 2018)

Pos | Driver | Points

1. Kyle Busch | 1055
2. Kevin Harvick | 983
3. Martin Truex Jr | 966
4. Joey Logano | 965
5. Kurt Busch | 900
6. Denny Hamlin | 882
7. Aric Almirola | 877
8. Chase Elliott | 858
9. Brad Keselowski | 855
10. Kyle Larson | 855
11. Clint Bowyer | 825
12. Erik Jones | 819
13. Ryan Blaney | 787
14. Jimmie Johnson | 735
15. Alex Bowman | 723
16. Ryan Newman | 712
17. Austin Dillon | 711
18. Jamie McMurray | 652
19. Ricky Stenhouse Jr | 637
20. Daniel Suarez | 637
21. Paul Menard | 632
22. Chris Buescher | 577
23. AJ Allmendinger | 573
24. William Byron | 546
25. David Ragan | 515
26. Ty Dillon | 470
27. Darrell Wallace Jr | 458
28. Michael McDowell | 457
29. Matt DiBenedetto | 368
30. Kasey Kahne | 344
31. Trevor Bayne | 278
32. Matt Kenseth | 257
33. Regan Smith | 157
34. Corey LaJoie | 144
35. Cole Whitt | 132
36. Landon Cassill | 123
37. Gray Gaulding | 119
38. Jeffrey Earnhardt | 110
39. DJ Kennington | 82
40. Reed Sorenson | 60
41. Brendan Gaughan | 49
42. Kyle Weatherman | 33
43. Harrison Rhodes | 24
44. Blake Jones | 21
45. Mark Thompson | 15
46. Cody Ware | 11
47. Derrike Cope | 8
48. Tanner Berryhill | 7
49. Chris Cook | 6
50. Tomy Drissi | 5
51. Danica Patrick | 2
52. Alon Day | 1
53. Hermie Sadler | 1
54. Stanton Barrett | 1


Non Playoff Point Standings

2017 NASCAR Points – without the Playoffs

2016 NASCAR Points – without the Playoffs

2015 NASCAR Points – without the Playoffs

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