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Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings after Atlanta

By Nick Tylwalk

HAMPTON, GA - FEBRUARY 25: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 25, 2018 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
HAMPTON, GA - FEBRUARY 25: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on February 25, 2018 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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The standings don’t look quite like we might have expected two races into the new Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, but that just keeps things interesting.

In the playoff era, it’s hard to even decide for sure how to list drivers when it comes to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings. Should we go by points, the traditional way of telling who’s in first place, or by wins and playoff points since that’s what really counts when you boil it all down?

We’re going to be wishy-washy and do both. The points are still important, considering that a few drivers end up sneaking into the 16-deep playoff field that way, and let everyone know who’s been doing consistently well. But the playoffs are of utmost importance, so it’s good to see who’s in and who’s out each week.

After the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, it’s pretty safe to say we really don’t know a whole lot just yet. Austin Dillon and Kevin Harvick have each essentially punched playoff tickets already, but the latter did it in more convincing fashion than the former despite Dillon winning a much more prestigious race (no disrespect, Atlanta, we love you).

Defying all expectations, the prominent Ford organizations, Team Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing, both look like the top teams in the garage right now. The theory that the new Camaro would elevate the games of Hendrick Motorsports and Chip Ganassi Racing hasn’t proven correct at all, as both teams are off to slow starts.

Then there’s the curious case of 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. Despite starting from the back at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Truex was able to charge through the field with little trouble, but he never really threatened for the win. The 78 looks just a tick off from its form from last year, something to keep an eye on in the weeks to come.

But we can analyze all day if we want, and two races is too small a sample size to know too much at the moment. Let’s get to the numbers, which are what matter in the end.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings after Atlanta – Points

(regular season race 2 of 26)

  1. Joey Logano, 89 points
  2. Ryan Blaney, -6
  3. Denny Hamlin, -12
  4. Kevin Harvick, -14 (1 win)
  5. Clint Bowyer, -15
  6. Austin Dillon, -19 (1 win)
  7. Martin Truex Jr., -20
  8. Kurt Busch, -21
  9. Paul Menard, -23
  10. Aric Almirola, -23
  11. Kyle Busch, -28
  12. Brad Keselowski, -31
  13. Kyle Larson, -35
  14. Bubba Wallace, -37
  15. Michael McDowell, -37
  16. Ryan Newman, -40
  17. Alex Bowman, -43
  18. Chris Buescher, -44
  19. Chase Elliott, -45
  20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., -46
  21. Jamie McMurray, -48
  22. AJ Allmendinger, -53
  23. Erik Jones, -54
  24. Trevor Bayne, -56
  25. William Byron, -56
  26. Daniel Suarez, -62
  27. David Ragan, -64
  28. Jeffrey Earnhardt, -70
  29. Kasey Kahne, -70
  30. Gray Gaulding, -71
  31. Matt DiBenedetto, -73
  32. Mark Thompson, -74
  33. D.J. Kennington, -76
  34. Ty Dillon, -77
  35. Jimmie Johnson, -78
  36. Brendan Gaughan, -80
  37. Cole Whitt, -80
  38. Harrison Rhodes, -85
  39. Danica Patrick, -87
  40. Corey LaJoie, -88

Next: What's wrong with Jimmie Johnson right now?

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings after Atlanta – Playoffs

  1. Kevin Harvick, 1 win, 6 playoff points
  2. Austin Dillon, 1 win, 5 playoff points
  3. Ryan Blaney, 1 playoff point
  4. Kurt Busch, 1 playoff point
  5. Brad Keselowski, 1 playoff point
  6. Joey Logano
  7. Denny Hamlin
  8. Clint Bowyer
  9. Martin Truex Jr.
  10. Paul Menard
  11. Aric Almirola
  12. Kyle Busch
  13. Kyle Larson
  14. Bubba Wallace
  15. Michael McDowell
  16. Ryan Newman, +3 points above cutoff
  17. Alex Bowman, -3 points behind cutoff
  18. Chris Buescher, -4
  19. Chase Elliott, -5
  20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., -6
  21. Jamie McMurray, -8
  22. AJ Allmendinger, -13
  23. Erik Jones, -14
  24. Trevor Bayne, -16
  25. William Byron, -16
  26. Daniel Suarez, -22
  27. David Ragan, -24
  28. Jeffrey Earnhardt, -30
  29. Kasey Kahne, -30
  30. Gray Gaulding, -31
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