Who’s in, who’s out: Round of 8 set after Kansas

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs field was whittled from 12 drivers to eight on Sunday following an elimination race at Kansas Speedway, with Martin Truex Jr. winning.

Kansas was the site of the third and final race in the Round of 12, with the four drivers lowest in the standings eliminated from the postseason and the ability to compete for a championship in Miami.

The following drivers advanced to the Round of 8; they are listed by official seeding and points.

1. Martin Truex Jr., 4,069 points
2. Kyle Busch, 4,042 points
3. Brad Keselowski, 4,026 points
4. Kevin Harvick, 4,017 points
5. Jimmie Johnson, 4,017 points
6. Denny Hamlin, 4,014 points
7. Ryan Blaney, 4,009 points
8. Chase Elliott, 4,006 points

WHO’S OUT: Kyle Larson, Matt Kenseth, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Jamie McMurray

UP IN SMOKE: Kyle Larson’s engine trouble produced a story line perhaps no one saw coming: The No. 42 was eliminated from the Round of 12. Larson entered the day third in the standings, but severe engine issues relegated him to a 39th-place finish. He could only watch helplessly from the garage as he dropped below the cutoff line.

BUBBLE BOYS: The playoff picture was tight entering Kansas, with plenty of big names on the bubble. Ryan Blaney entered the day seventh, but started from the rear of the field after his post-qualifying time was disallowed. Jimmie Johnson sat on the cutoff line, with Kyle Busch (-7) and Matt Kenseth (-8) below him. Blaney’s charge through the field cemented his spot in the next round, while Busch and Johnson capitalized on misfortune that befell both Larson and Kenseth.

PLAYOFF BONANZA: Martin Truex Jr. will be the top seed for the Round of 8 by virtue of his playoff points. He has 69. The point totals for the eight playoff drivers will reset to 4,000 for the Round of 8, with each driver’s playoff points total added to that.