NASCAR playoffs at Las Vegas: Live updates as the Round of 8 begins with Reddick on pole

The NASCAR Cup Series begins its playoff Round of 8 this weekend in Las Vegas with eight drivers vying for a spot in Phoenix’s championship race next month. It is the youngest Round of 8 crop in the history of the Cup playoffs with Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, William Byron and Ross Chastain advancing this far for the first time.

Bell enters with the momentum, winning last week at Charlotte to give him the free pass to advance while 2020 series champion Chase Elliott comes in with a 20-point lead atop the point standings. Tyler Reddick starts from the pole, while William Byron starts highest among playoff drivers inside the second row.

Here is what you need to know for the South Point 400:

NASCAR Cup Series Las Vegas playoff weekend schedule and how to watch

Fans in the United States can watch the race on NBC or the NBC Sports app (cable or satellite subscription required) and pos-trace coverage will be on Peacock. Radio coverage is available on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM.

Sunday, Oct. 16

Pre-race show: 2 - 2:30 p.m. ET (NBC)

South Point 400: 2:30 - 6 p.m. ET (NBC, NBC Sports app, MRN, SiriusXM)

Post-race show: 6 - 7 p.m. ET (Peacock)

South Point 400 starting grid

Tyler Reddick (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford

William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford

Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford

Daniel Suarez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford

Bubba Wallace (45), 23XI Racing Toyota

Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford

Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford

Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Noah Gragson (48) Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Kyle Busch (18), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Ty Gibbs (23), 23XI Racing Chevrolet

Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

AJ Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Erik Jones (43), Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet

Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Cole Custer (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford

JJ Yeley (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford

Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet

Corey Lajoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Landon Cassill (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Ty Dillon (42), Petty GMS Motorsports Chevrolet

Cody Ware (51), Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet

Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford

BJ McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford

Top drivers and best bets for the South Point 400

Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, seeking his first Cup title, enters with the best odds according to BetMGM, coming into the weekend with a +550 moneyline. Bell, Elliott and reigning series champion Kyle Larson all follow at +800. Tyler Reddick enters +900 while Chastain and two-time champion Kyle Busch open with a +1000 moneyline.

Yahoo Sports' Nick Bromberg suggests finding good mid-tier value in Bubba Wallace (+1400), who has shown strong form on intermediate tracks this season and Joey Logano (+1600) as he has the best average finish at Las Vegas of all drivers this weekend at 8.9. Bromberg is still fading Chastain, anticipating comeuppance for past rough racing in the regular season.

NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings entering the weekend

Chase Elliott - 4,046

Joey Logano - 4,026

Ross Chastain - 4,021

Christopher Bell - 4,018

Ryan Blaney - 4,015

William Byron - 4,015

Denny Hamlin - 4,013

Chase Briscoe - 4,009

Weather for the South Point 400

It's Las Vegas and it's not winter. The forecast calls for a clear sky and temperatures in the upper 80s, meaning tire degradation will be a factor but late pit strategy could again prove to be the difference.