NASCAR: 3 drivers with the most momentum entering the playoffs

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Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Driver No. 3 – Kyle Larson

To say that Kyle Larson has taken the NASCAR Cup Series by storm this year is an understatement. Larson picked up his first road course victory at Sonoma Raceway and then added another one at Watkins Glen International.

On top of this, he also picked up his first Crown Jewel victory, putting on a dominant performance to win the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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The 29-year-old Elk Grove, California native has already set a new career-high in wins in a single season with five, and even in his time away from NASCAR, he has shown his ability as a wheelman, winning dirt races across the country.

Most importantly, Larson has secured his first regular season championship to earn 15 bonus playoff points, making him the highest seeded driver in the playoffs by a sizable 28-point margin. His average finish of 9.7 is the best of his career, and he has already led 1,566 laps, eclipsing his previous single-season career-high of 1,352.

While stranger things have happened in the world of NASCAR, such as Kevin Harvick winning nine races last year and then missing the Championship 4, Larson’s season seems different. Coming off of a suspension, he has proven to be ready to make the most of the second chance he has earned with Hendrick Motorsports.

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With five top four finishes in his last nine starts at Phoenix Raceway, he should be a threat if he reaches the Championship 4. His 52 total playoff points will help, but the winning capability of the driver of the #5 Chevrolet should provide him with what he needs as he aims to grab his first Cup Series championship trophy.

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