In reality, not only does the race for the championship and the 15 playoff points don’t have any clear favorite, but the driving force probably to win can be something of a surprise.
After a late victory in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Kyle Larson returned to the highest of the series standings and now holds a 10-point lead over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliot.
Normally, the thought of ​​Larson — a former series champion and one of the crucial talented drivers in the game — wouldn’t be in any respect surprising, but there’s a vital distinction to it: He’s driven one fewer race this season than all the opposite contenders.
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro
Photo: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsports images
When Larson managed to finish a “double” race – the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the identical day in May – as a result of poor weather at each venues, Larson was only capable of finish the five hundred.
Although NASCAR granted Larson an exemption for missing the race, he still didn’t earn any points for the event. That means Larson competed at a level this season that allowed him to outperform the competition, but he essentially ran one fewer race than everyone else.
“I think the disappointment in the 600, not being able to finish, was extra motivation,” team owner Rick Hendrick said of Larson’s victory Sunday. “I’m glad NASCAR gave us the exemption.
“I can't tell you how disappointed we were with how the weekend ended. I think it was more of a celebration than usual, because of the disappointment of not getting the job done.”
Even with a series-best 4 wins, Larson will not be keeping the lead within the points, but his upcoming schedule bodes well for him.
At the ultimate 4 tracks before the playoffs – Richmond, Michigan, Daytona and Darlington – Larson has won in any respect but Daytona and has six total wins on the remaining tracks.
However, one mistake can significantly change the position within the standings.
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Camaro
Photo: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsports images
Elliott trails Larson by just 10 points, but has led only one lap within the last 4 races. He looked like he could challenge for wins within the last two races, but was held back by a penalty in each. He has no profession wins at the opposite 4 tracks.
In terms of momentum, Tyler Reddick has one of the best likelihood of catching as much as Larson.
Reddick has eight top-10 finishes within the last nine races and five more this season to earn second-place top-10 finishes, moving him to 3rd overall, 15 points behind Larson.
It’s a formidable run of consistency that might repay. Although Reddick has also never won on the 4 upcoming tracks, he has been in contention for victory several times within the last five races.
At one point this season, Denny Hamlin looked like he was headed for the regular-season title, but he had a rough summer, ending twenty fourth or worse in five of the last seven races.
Hamlin, who’s fourth within the points standings and forty third behind Larson, has one big advantage that those ahead of him don’t have — he won in any respect 4 other tracks through the regular season. His combined 14 wins at those tracks include a victory on this 12 months’s spring race at Richmond.
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, FedEx Toyota Camry Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing, Monster Energy Toyota Camry
Photo: Danny Hansen / NKP / Motorsports images
Hamlin and his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team appear like they’ve a likelihood to win at almost every track this season.
Three other drivers remain inside 100 points of Larson – Willilam Byron is 95 points behind, Martin Truex Jr. 96 and Christopher Bell 98.
These are undoubtedly unlikely odds, but given the indisputable fact that each of the remaining candidates has had to beat adversity this season, the title race is way from decided.
