The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs takes to Las Vegas Motorspeedway this weekend with first of the three legs in the round of eight playoffs. 

A.J. Allmendinger led a race-best 46 laps, including the last 33, on The Roval at Charlotte to win for the third time in his career in NASCAR’s top series.

Two-time champion Kyle Busch (2015, 2019) was eliminated from the playoffs along with Ross Chastain, last year’s title runner-up, 2012 champion Brad Keselowski and Bubba Wallace. 

The eight remaining are William Byron, who finished second, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Chris Buescher, 2021 champion Kyle Larson and 2017 champion Martin Truex Jr. 

Byron leads Truex by five points, Hamlin by nine and Larson by 17. The second four in the standings with four races remaining are all within 10 points of the top four.

Practice and qualifying is at 11:30 am Saturday morning. Race time is 1:30 pm Sunday.

In the XFinity series, Sam Mayer rallied from the verge of elimination into the next round of the playoffs with a dominating win on The Roval at Charlotte.

XFinity racers will also head to Las Vegas this weekend as its playoff run continues.

Mayer was last among the 12 drivers contending for spots in the round of eight at the start of the race. He led 51 of the 67 laps in his third career victory, all this season and all on road courses. 

Defending series champion Daniel Hemric, Parker Kligerman, Berry and Jeb Burton were eliminated from the playoffs. Mayer is joined by Justin Allgaier, John Hunter Nemechek, Cole Custer, Austin Hill, Chandler Smith, Sheldon Creed and Sammy Smith in the round of eight.

Practice and qualifying is 6 pm tonight. Race time is 2:30 pm Saturday afternoon.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns next weekend at Homestead Miami on Saturday night.