NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Picture: Martin Truex Jr. makes a statement
By Asher Fair
Two races into the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, Martin Truex Jr. is still the only driver to win a playoff race, as he won again at Richmond Raceway.
Just six days after securing his first NASCAR Cup Series victory in nearly three months to open up the 2019 playoffs at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. struck again to win at Richmond Raceway.
Truex, who was already locked into the round of 12 thanks to his victory last Sunday, has now secured a series-high six victories so far this season, which is two wins higher than the second highest win total among all drivers, which is shared by Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, two of his three teammates.
Aside of Truex, both Busch and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick are also locked into the round of 12 as a result of their point totals.
More from NASCAR Cup Series
- NASCAR Cup Series: New team set to compete in 2024
- NASCAR: Surprising name continuously linked to new seat
- NASCAR driver at risk of missing the Daytona 500?
- NASCAR set for rare appearance last seen 13 years ago
- NASCAR team adds third car, names driver for 2024 Daytona 500
Hamlin and Team Penske’s Brad Keselowski pretty much just need to show up at the round of 16 finale at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval next week to be able to say the same.
However, each of the four drivers below the round of 12 cut line are within 15 points of it, and the lowest four of the 12 drivers above it are all within 13 points of it.
With the race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval anticipated to be the craziest race of the season just like it was last year in its inaugural season, the unsecured round of 12 berths will be very much up for grabs in it, likely until the checkered flag flies once again.
Here is the NASCAR Cup Series playoff picture following the 2019 Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway.
Rank – Driver – Car, Team, Manufacturer: Points (Behind), Playoff Points (Rank)
1st – Martin Truex Jr. – #19, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: IN (2 WINS), 41 (2nd)
2nd – Kevin Harvick – #4, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 2118 (+68), 28 (5th)
3rd – Kyle Busch – #18, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 2117 (+67), 29 (4th)
4th – Denny Hamlin – #11, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 2105 (+55), 46 (1st)
5th – Brad Keselowski – #2, Team Penske, Ford: 2104 (+54), 24 (6th)
6th – Joey Logano – #22, Team Penske, Ford: 2100 (+50), 18 (7th)
7th – Chase Elliott – #9, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet: 2086 (+36), 30 (3rd)
8th – Kyle Larson – #42, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet: 2074 (+24), 5 (9th)
9th – Ryan Newman – #6, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford: 2063 (+13), 1 (13th)
10th – Ryan Blaney – #12, Team Penske, Ford: 2058 (+8), 4 (12th)
11th – Aric Almirola – #10, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 2053 (+3), 5 (9th)
12th – William Byron – #24, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet: 2052 (+2), 1 (13th)
————————— PLAYOFF CUT LINE —————————
13th – Alex Bowman – #88, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet: 2050 (-2), 0 (15th)
14th – Erik Jones – #20, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota: 2049 (-3), 11 (8th)
15th – Clint Bowyer – #14, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford: 2047 (-5), 0 (15th)
16th – Kurt Busch – #1, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet: 2037 (-15), 5 (9th)
Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark. Next
The next race on the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series playoff schedule is the third and final race of the round of 16. This race is the Bank of America Roval 400, and it is set to be broadcast live on NBC from the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval in Concord, North Carolina beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 29.