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Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings after Las Vegas

By Nick Tylwalk

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 04: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 4, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 04: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 4, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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Kevin Harvick’s car really is “Freaky Fast” right now, and he sits atop the NASCAR Cup Series standings in every way that’s important.

Unlike the old days, it’s not possible to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship in the early part of the season by giving yourself such a big lead that no one can catch up. That’s good news for everyone not named Kevin Harvick, because it means that there’s still plenty of hope for them.

Unfortunately, it’s going to mean both other drivers speeding up and Harvick slowing down. The 4 blew away the field for the second straight week, earning Harvick a trip to Victory Lane for the second straight week. He now leads in points, wins and playoff points, but more importantly, he’s left everyone else in the garage scrambling for answers.

Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney are two of the drivers who have been the best of the “Everyone But Harvick” bunch. Just three and four points behind the leader, respectively, they’ve run well and been near the front almost all the time. Logano is the only driver to finish in the top 10 in every race, a far cry from the inconsistency that derailed the second half of his 2017 season.

And don’t look now, but defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. is only 20 points back despite what for him is a slow start. The 78 might be a bit off its title-winning form, but it’s not by much.

Next: William Byron still adjusting to fame, 24 legacy

Here’s a complete look at how both the points and playoff pictures look right now, as NASCAR gets set for the second stop on its western swing.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings after Las Vegas – Points

(regular season race 3 of 26)

  1. Kevin Harvick, 135 points
  2. Joey Logano, -3
  3. Ryan Blaney, -4
  4. Martin Truex Jr., -20
  5. Kyle Busch, -31
  6. Kyle Larson, -31
  7. Brad Keselowski, -36
  8. Denny Hamlin, -38
  9. Paul Menard, -39
  10. Austin Dillon, -41
  11. Clint Bowyer, -42
  12. Aric Almirola, -42
  13. Kurt Busch, -58
  14. Ryan Newman, -60
  15. Bubba Wallace, -67
  16. Chris Buescher, -68
  17. Alex Bowman, -68
  18. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., -69
  19. Erik Jones, -71
  20. Michael McDowell, -82
  21. Chase Elliott, -83
  22. Trevor Bayne, -85
  23. AJ Allmendinger, -92
  24. William Byron, -92
  25. Jamie McMurray, -93
  26. David Ragan, -96
  27. Daniel Suarez, -97
  28. Kasey Kahne, -98
  29. Jimmie Johnson, -99
  30. Matt DiBenedetto, -104
  31. Jeffrey Earnhardt, -110
  32. Ty Dillon, -110
  33. Gray Gaulding, -113
  34. Cole Whitt, -117
  35. Mark Thompson, -120
  36. D.J. Kennington, -122
  37. Brendan Gaughan, -126
  38. Harrison Rhodes, -131
  39. Danica Patrick, -133
  40. Corey LaJoie, -134

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings after Las Vegas – Playoffs

  1. Kevin Harvick, 2 wins, 13 playoff points
  2. Austin Dillon, 1 win, 5 playoff points
  3. Ryan Blaney, 1 playoff point
  4. Brad Keselowski, 1 playoff point
  5. Kurt Busch, 1 playoff point
  6. Joey Logano
  7. Martin Truex Jr.
  8. Kyle Busch
  9. Kyle Larson
  10. Denny Hamlin
  11. Paul Menard
  12. Clint Bowyer
  13. Aric Almirola
  14. Ryan Newman
  15. Bubba Wallace
  16. Chris Buescher, 0 points above cutoff
  17. Alex Bowman 0 points behind cutoff
  18. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., -1
  19. Erik Jones, -3
  20. Michael McDowell, -14
  21. Chase Elliott, -15
  22. Trevor Bayne, -17
  23. AJ Allmendinger, -24
  24. William Byron, -24
  25. Jamie McMurray, -25
  26. David Ragan, -28
  27. Daniel Suarez, -29
  28. Kasey Kahne, -30
  29. Jimmie Johnson, -31
  30. Matt DiBenedetto, -36
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