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Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings after Richmond

By Nick Tylwalk

RICHMOND, VA - APRIL 30: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet, leads Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway on April 30, 2017 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
RICHMOND, VA - APRIL 30: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet, leads Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway on April 30, 2017 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /
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Kyle Larson remains atop the Cup Series standings, though four drivers are now within 100 points of the lead.

Joey Logano battled all the way from the back of the field to a Toyota Winners 400 victory at Richmond, but it wasn’t quite enough to shake up the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings.

Logano’s first victory of the 2017 season was definitely big, as it effectively locks him into the playoffs. He also now has six bonus playoff points, more than all but three other drivers.

One of those others is Kyle Larson, who remains the leader in the Cup Series standings as he has for most of this campaign. Logano is now fourth, just 65 points behind.

Martin Truex Jr. (40 points) and Chase Elliott (52 points) are even closer, though Elliott has yet to find his way to a winners circle. Still, his lead over Ricky Stenhouse Jr., the last driver who would make the playoffs if they started today, is an impressive 145 points, so the 24 team has some margin for error even if it can’t find a way to get a win.

Kurt Busch, now 17th in points, is the lone driver to need his win to claim a playoff spot. And two-car teams are suddenly all the rage, as Chip Ganassi Racing, Team Penske and (surprisingly) Roush Fenway Racing all have both their cars in playoff position at the moment.

Next: Dale Earnhardt Jr. not quite done with XFINITY Series racing

Here’s a look at how everyone is faring coming out of Richmond and heading to Talladega, which always has the potential to shake things up.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings after Richmond (nine of 26 regular season races)

  1. Kyle Larson, 398 points, 1 win
  2. Martin Truex Jr., 358 points, -40, 1 win
  3. Chase Elliott, 346 points, -52
  4. Joey Logano, 333 points, -65, 1 win
  5. Brad Keselowski, 327 points, -71, 2 wins
  6. Kevin Harvick, 286 points, -112
  7. Jamie McMurray, 282 points, -116
  8. Jimmie Johnson, 270 points, -128, 2 wins
  9. Clint Bowyer, 266 points, -132
  10. Kyle Busch, 235 points, -163
  11. Denny Hamlin, 231 points, -167
  12. Ryan Blaney, 229 points, -169
  13. Ryan Newman, 225 points, -173, 1 win
  14. Trevor Bayne, 216 points, -182
  15. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 201 points, -197
  16. Erik Jones, 193 points, -205
  17. Kurt Busch, 192 points, -206, 1 win
  18. Matt Kenseth, 192 points, -206
  19. Aric Almirola, 189 points, -209
  20. Kasey Kahne, 179 points, -219
  21. Austin Dillon, 171 points, -227
  22. Daniel Suarez, 169 points, -229
  23. Ty Dillon, 157 points, -241
  24. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 141 points, -257
  25. Paul Menard, 139 points, -259
  26. AJ Allmendinger, 117 points, -281
  27. Chris Buescher, 114 points, -284
  28. Michael McDowell, 110 points, -288
  29. Danica Patrick, 110 points, -288
  30. Landon Cassill, 104 points, -294
  31. Cole Whitt, 104 points, -294
  32. Matt DiBenedetto, 99 points, -299
  33. David Ragan, 97 points, -301
  34. Corey LaJoie, 57 points, -341
  35. Reed Sorensen, 43 points, -355
  36. Jeffrey Earnhardt, 36 points, -362
  37. Gray Gaulding, 31 points, -367
  38. Michael Waltrip, 29 points, -369
  39. Derrike Cope, 15 points, -383
  40. D.J. Kennington, 1 point, -397
  41. Cody Ware, 1 point, -397
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