Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series News and Notes

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

 

Grand Theft Auto: Keselowski Steals Win At Atlanta, Goes For Second Straight Victory At Las Vegas

Brad Keselowski took advantage of Kevin Harvick’s late speeding penalty by passing Kyle Larson with six laps left to win last Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

The victory extends Keselowski’s streak of seasons with at least one win to seven. The No. 2 Ford driver ranks third in the points standings (six markers behind Harvick) as the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Kobalt 400 (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX).

 

Keselowski is the defending race winner in Sin City. He took the checkered flag there last year in a highly competitive contest in which five different drivers led 24 or more laps – Keselowski, first-place, 24 laps led; Joey Logano, second, 74; Jimmie Johnson, third, 76; Kyle Busch, fourth, 38; Kurt Busch ninth, 31.

 

Keselowski has won two of the last three races at Las Vegas. In eight starts there, he claims two victories, three top fives and 10 top 10s.

 

The Kids Are Alright: NASCAR Youth Movement In Full Force Through First Two Races

The “young guns” in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series have proved they can battle with the veterans for wins through the first two races, even though they haven’t been able to close the deal yet.

 

Chase Elliott, 21, led the DAYTONA 500 with three laps remaining, while Kyle Larson, 24, ran the point in The Great American Race with one lap left before he was passed by race-winner Kurt Busch.

 

Last week at Atlanta was similar, with Larson leading with six laps to go before he was passed by race-winner Brad Keselowski.

 

Through the first two races, five drivers in the top-10 in the points standings are 26 or younger: 4. Chase Elliott (21 years old, 8 points behind Kevin Harvick, 14th at Daytona with 39 laps led, fifth at Atlanta), 5. Joey Logano (26 years old, -10, sixth at Daytona with 16 laps led, sixth at Atlanta) 6. Kyle Larson (24 years old, -11, 12th at Daytona with 16 laps led, second at Atlanta with seven laps led), 8. Ryan Blaney (23 years old, -27, second at Daytona with two laps led, 18th at Atlanta), 10. Trevor Bayne (26 years old, -32, 10th at Daytona, 12th at Atlanta).

 

Ford Strong Out Of The Gate

Ford has come out in full force to start the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. The first two winners of the season drive Fords – Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski. Also, four of the top five drivers in the points standings through the first two races wheel Fords – 1. Kevin Harvick; 2. Kurt Busch; 3. Brad Keselowski; 5. Joey Logano.

Kyle Busch (Toyota) is the only non-Ford driver who has won a stage so far. He took Stage 1 in the DAYTONA 500.

Kevin Harvick, whose Stewart-Haas Racing team switched to Ford in the offseason, has won the other three stages.

“But it was good from a Ford perspective, when you see two or three or four cars in the top five or six, you know how strong the Toyotas have been and the Chevys have been,” Roger Penske said following the Atlanta race. “This gives us at least a chance to say we're on par with these guys. Now with a couple of wins I'd have to say we might be an inch or two ahead.”

Harvick Heads Point Standings After Leading Most Laps In Each Of The First Two Races

Kevin Harvick must be a fan of NASCAR’s race enhancements – particularly the stages. Despite finishing 22nd at Daytona and ninth at Atlanta, he leads the point standings (four points ahead of second-place Kurt Busch) due to his dominance in the two races. Harvick has won three stages and led the most laps in each of the first two races, with 50 circuits led at Daytona and 292 at Atlanta.

 

As a result of his three stage wins, the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing driver boasts three playoff points.

 

Don’t be surprised to see Harvick enjoy the stages even more as the year goes on. Since 2014, he has led 6,157 laps – 2,861 go-arounds more than the next closest driver (Brad Keselowski, 3,296). Joey Logano has led the third-most laps (3,143) over that time span. He’s followed by Jimmie Johnson (2,613) and Kyle Busch (2,586).

 

Larson Looking For First Victory Of 2017

Once Kyle Larson figures out how to close races, the wins look like they’ll start to pile up for the 24-year-old Californian.

 

Larson has come up just short of winning in each of his last three races. In last year’s season-finale at Homestead, the No. 42 Chevrolet driver led until Jimmie Johnson blew past him on the final restart to win the race. In the first two races this season, he was passed for the lead by Kurt Busch on the final lap at Daytona and Brad Keselowski with six laps remaining at Atlanta.

 

In his last five races, Larson has finished third (Phoenix), second (Homestead), 12th (Daytona) and second (Atlanta) for an average showing of 4.75 – second to Joey Logano (4.25).

 

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.

Fogerty of Creedance Clearwater Revival To Serve As Grand Marshal – Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Fogerty – the leader of Creedance Clearwater Revival – will serve as grand marshal for Sunday’s Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

 

"Headed out after my shows at the Wynn to NASCAR. Rock and Roll and fast cars... ain't nothin' better," Fogerty said.

 

Home Sweet Home – It’s homecoming weekend for Kyle (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) and Kurt (No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford) Busch when they race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The brothers got their start in racing at the Bullring, located right next door to the big track. Kyle has one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win at LVMS (2009), while Kurt is still looking to land in Victory Lane at Las Vegas.