Full Entry List for Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Well, folks, the dust has barely settled from the absolute mayhem at the Charlotte Roval, and already we’re packing our bags and heading west. The Round of 12 is in the rearview mirror, and for four drivers, the championship dream is over for another year. Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, and Austin Cindric all fought like hell, but the Roval is a cruel beast, and it sent them out of contention.

Now, the real pressure cooker begins. Eight drivers, three races, and only four spots in the Championship 4 at the upcoming Phoenix playoff finale. It all kicks off today at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the South Point 400, and you can feel the tension ratcheting up. This isn’t just another race. This is where championship hopes are either solidified or shattered under the desert sun.

The Vegas Entry List: Who’s In and Who’s Out?

As the haulers roll into Sin City, the entry list for this weekend’s Cup Series race is set. All the usual suspects are on the entry list for this race, but the spotlight is squarely on the eight playoff warriors left standing. It’s a make-or-break moment, and every single point, every position on the track, is going to feel like a battle for survival.

A notable name on the entry list is Katherine Legge. She’s back in a Cup car for the first time since August, strapping into the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet. She’s had a decent run in her limited starts this season, grabbing a couple of top-20 finishes. It’s always great to see her get another shot on the big stage, and you know she’ll be looking to turn some heads and prove she belongs.

South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Cup Series: Entry List

(i) indicates drivers on this entry list who are ineligible for playoff or championship points 

• 1. Ross Chastain, No.1 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
• 2. Austin Cindric, No. 2 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 3. Austin Dillon, No. 3 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 4. Noah Gragson, No. 4 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 5. Kyle Larson, No. 5 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 6. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 7. Justin Haley, No. 7 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 8. Kyle Busch, No. 8 (Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet)
• 9. Chase Elliott, No. 9 (Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
• 10. Ty Dillon, No. 10 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 11. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 12. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 13. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 (Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet)
• 14. Chris Buescher, No. 17 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 15. Chase Briscoe, No. 19 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 16. Christopher Bell, No. 20 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 17. Josh Berry, No. 21 (Wood Brothers Racing, Ford)
• 18. Joey Logano, No. 22 (Team Penske, Ford)
• 19. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 (23Xl Racing, Toyota)
• 20. William Byron, No. 24 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 21. Todd Gilliland, No. 34 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 22. Riley Herbst, No. 35 (23Xl Racing, Toyota)
• 23. Zane Smith, No. 38 (Front Row Motorsports, Ford)
• 24. Cole Custer, No. 41 (Haas Factory Team, Ford)
• 25. John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
• 26. Erik Jones, No. 43 (Legacy Motor Club, Toyota)
• 27. JJ Yeley (i), No. 44 (NY Racing Team, Chevrolet)
• 28. Tyler Reddick, No. 45 (23Xl Racing, Toyota)
• 29. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 (HYAK Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 30. Alex Bowman, No. 48 (Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 31. Cody Ware, No. 51 (Rick Ware Racing, Ford)
• 32. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 (Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota)
• 33. Ryan Preece, No. 60 (RFK Racing, Ford)
• 34. Michael McDowell, No. 71 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 35. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 (Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 36. Katherine Legge, No. 78 (Live Fast Motorsports, Chevrolet)
• 37. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)
• 38. Daniel Suárez, No. 99 (Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet)

Breaking Down the Playoff Picture

Let’s look at where things stand with the playoff picture and drivers on today’s entry list. Four drivers are breathing a little easier, sitting above that dreaded cutline. Denny Hamlin is leading the charge with a small but crucial eight-point cushion. He’s been chasing that championship his whole career, and you can bet he’s feeling the weight of it.

Right there with him are Ryan Blaney (+6), Kyle Larson (+4), and William Byron (+4). They’re in control for now, but a bad day in Vegas could wipe that advantage out in a heartbeat. One mistake, one loose wheel, one wreck, and they could find themselves on the outside looking in.

Desperation in the Desert

Then you’ve got the four drivers on today’s entry list who are coming to Vegas with their backs against the wall. These are the guys on the entry list who have to gamble and push the limits to keep their title hopes alive. Christopher Bell is staring at a four-point deficit. He knows how to win these clutch races, but the pressure is on. And how about this?

Chase Elliott, the fan favorite, is tied with Chase Briscoe, both sitting 14 points below the cutline. It’s a tough spot for the No. 9 team, but if anyone can rally, it’s them. Briscoe and his Stewart-Haas crew have been fighting tooth and nail all season; don’t count them out.But the guy with the steepest hill on today’s entry list to climb is Joey Logano. He’s the defending winner of this very race, which has to give him some confidence.

The problem? He’s a whopping 24 points out. He pretty much needs a win, plain and simple. Logano knows what it takes to win championships, and you can expect him to throw everything he has at it this weekend. He’s got to be aggressive, maybe even a little desperate. That’s a dangerous combination, and it’s going to make for some incredible racing.

What’s Next?

This weekend is about more than just an entry list. It’s about dreams, desperation, and the relentless pursuit of a championship. Las Vegas is the first roll of the dice in this high-stakes round, and you can be sure nobody is leaving anything on the table. So, stay tuned for what is expected to be an action-packed and intense weekend and all-out battle at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as drivers fight to keep a spot in the playoff bubble.