Martin Truex Jr.

The Dover International Speedway will host the first race of the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 on Sunday.

After a number of drivers battled to make their way into the final 12 last time out in Charlotte, North Carolina, thoughts will begin to turn to winning the title, with just seven races left on the calendar.

Despite a disappointing performance at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kyle Busch is seeded first, with Joe Gibbs Racing team-mates Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin in second and third place, respectively. Defending champion Joey Logano sits in fourth as things stand.

Here are the key details for the race weekend, as well as ticketing information, the broadcast schedule and a preview of what to expect from Delaware.

                   

Schedule (ET)

Saturday, October 5

12:05 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying

1:35 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

3 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series, Use Your Melon Drive Sober 200

          

Sunday, October 6

2:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Drydene 400

        

Tickets are available to buy on Stubhub. 

Broadcast information: In the United States, the race will be available to watch on NBC, PRN and SiriusXM, as well as the NBC Sports app.

             

Preview

The pressure will be starting to build on the drivers, as only 12 remain in the hunt for the NASCAR Cup Series title.

The playoff format has made even the best competitors edgy too. Busch, who has earned the top seeding spot based on his performances throughout the year, finished in 37th last time out. That will be a concern for the Joe Gibbs star, especially on a track that should have suited his style.

In North Carolina, Busch cut a particularly disconsolate figure as he came into the pits under a red flag with seven minutes remaining. After the race, the playoff top seed explained his thinking:

Because of the damage from the incident n turn 1 n the flat tire, we had a broken sway bar. Our race was over b4 the red flag came out. We decided to not risk tearing up our car anymore. Others had more on the line. Better to call it a day n move on to Dover for the round of 12👊🏻

— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) September 30, 2019

Given his inconsistent form, there are some doubts about whether Busch is a serious contender for the title this year, with his average placing at 19.3 through the three postseason races. 

The NASCAR Twitter account noted it's been a long time since the regular-season champion was on the top step of the podium:

It's been 15 races since @KyleBusch last visited Victory Lane.

Will he return to the top at the @MonsterMile? pic.twitter.com/XR4JV3qCrO

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 4, 2019

However, he's proved himself to be a strong competitor when it comes to the clutch moments of a season and has won three times at Dover previously.

Chase Elliott was the man who capitalised on a difficult day for Busch, Truex Jr. and others in Charlotte and has a sixth-place seeding

Kevin Harvick has also started to pick up results at an opportune time, with two podium finishes in the postseason, including a third-placed finish at Charlotte. The Stewart-Haas racing driver said he relishes this rapid racetrack too, per Pete Pistone of Motor Racing Network:

"Dover is the racetrack where you feel the sensation of speed more than anything. It's a place where you drop off into the corner and slam into a lot of banking and then, as you come out of the corner, it's kind of like jumping out of a hole and up onto the straightaway. It's a really fun place to race.

He's seeded fifth, while Brad Keselowski, who has three top-five finishes in a row, is seventh and a potential dark horse for the overall prize.

Truex Jr. may well be the man to beat again, though. Not only has he shown the best form in the playoffs—he won the first two races of the postseason—but he also clinched victory at this circuit in the regular season.

Martin Truex Jr. earned his second straight win to open the 2019 Monster Energy Cup Series playoffs after holding off Kyle Busch to take the Federated Auto Parts 400 in Richmond, Virginia, on Saturday. 

RETWEET to congratulate @MartinTruex_Jr on sweeping the season at @RichmondRaceway! pic.twitter.com/IdM4U1I6mi

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 22, 2019

CHECKERED FLAG: Break out the brooms! @MartinTruex_Jr sweeps @RichmondRaceway and goes back-to-back to open the #NASCARPlayoffs!

Results: https://t.co/RMpI3HyfhQ pic.twitter.com/QMpD5H5byY

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 22, 2019

Truex, who won the South Point 400 in Las Vegas last Sunday, also won Stage 1. He is atop the Monster Energy Cup Series leaderboard with six wins and first in the playoff standings.

Busch paced the field by leading for 202 laps and won Stage 2. He's first in laps led and stages won this season.

Denny Hamlin and Erik Jones finished third and fourth, respectively, giving Joe Gibbs Racing the top four Richmond finishers.

Here's a look at the top-10 results, the latest playoff standings, a quick recap and some highlights and reaction.

                   

Top-10 Results

1. Martin Truex Jr.

2. Kyle Busch

3. Denny Hamlin

4. Erik Jones

5. Brad Keselowski

6. Ryan Newman

7. Kyle Larson

8. Kevin Harvick

9. Clint Bowyer

10. Daniel Suarez

Full results can be found on NASCAR.com.

        

Top-16 Playoff Standings Post-Richmond:

1. Martin Truex Jr.

2. Kevin Harvick

3. Kyle Busch

4. Denny Hamlin

5. Brad Keselowski

6. Joey Logano

7. Chase Elliott

8. Kyle Larson

9. Ryan Newman

10. Ryan Blaney

11. Aric Almirola

12. William Byron

13. Alex Bowman

14. Erik Jones

15. Clint Bowyer

16. Kurt Busch

Results via NBC Sports Network broadcast.

     

The evening didn't look particularly promising for Truex after Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spun him out in the final stage:

🚨 @MartinTruex_Jr gets spun by @StenhouseJr! 🚨

The No. 19 was the leader! pic.twitter.com/aTN7mElH1O

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 22, 2019

Aaron Bearden of Motorsports Beat provided some context behind the spin:

https://twitter.com/aaronbearden93/status/1175592724810088448

However, Truex lined up third when he returned to the track:

Despite all that, @MartinTruex_Jr will line up in third!

A sigh of relief from the 19 team. pic.twitter.com/Cz5ft42mWO

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 22, 2019

By that point, Busch held the lead, but Truex drove his way back into contention and eventually passed him with 25 laps left:

He's there!@MartinTruex_Jr | @KyleBusch pic.twitter.com/0P8BV9aGJa

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 22, 2019

At the line ... @MartinTruex_Jr leads! pic.twitter.com/xd5IRCw0my

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 22, 2019

Truex stayed in first for the rest of the night before a post-race celebration:

Statement made.@MartinTruex_Jr might be the man to beat in the #NASCARPlayoffs. pic.twitter.com/fjd15WjtK6

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 22, 2019

The Monster Energy Cup Series will return Sunday, Sept. 29 with the Bank of America ROVAL 400 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Charlotte Motor Speedway race will conclude the first round of the playoffs. Afterward, the 16-driver playoff field will be cut down to 12.

Per Kelly Crandall of RACER, Truex, Harvick and Busch have clinched top-12 spots.

The NASCAR Cup Championship Playoffs continue Saturday at Richmond Raceway in Virginia, the second of three races in the round of 16.

Martin Truex Jr. is coming off a win in Las Vegas and won at this track earlier this season, while defending champion Joey Logano is in need of a big result after disappointing in qualifying, finishing 28th.

NBC will provide coverage of the race, which is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tickets are available via StubHub.

Here is a look at the lineup, shared by NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass:

38 Cup cars Richmond. 27-Houff 51-Theriault 52-Smithley 53-Boyd. #nascar pic.twitter.com/n5FU1KmB7t

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) September 17, 2019

Brad Keselowski will start from pole position, with Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott his closest rivals in qualifying:

It’s double Penske poles at @RichmondRaceway!

Brad @keselowski to lead the field to green tomorrow night!

15th - Ryan @Blaney / @MenardsRacing
28th - @joeylogano / @ShellMotorsport #NASCAR | #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/WDt1mQuQvm

— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) September 20, 2019

Harvick sits in second place in the playoff standings after the first race of the round of 16, courtesy of his second-placed finish in Las Vegas. He has a three-point deficit to overcome to Truex Jr., while Logano sits third, seven points behind the leader.

The 39-year-old was ecstatic to take the win in Las Vegas to book his spot in the next round:

YES! Awesome way to start the #NASCARPlayoffs!! Unbelievable job by our @BassProShops team! #TeamToyota pic.twitter.com/sCyyxPlaOO

— Martin Truex Jr. (@MartinTruex_Jr) September 16, 2019

He will like his chances for repeat success in Richmond after a dominant showing in Las Vegas, where he finished more than four seconds ahead of the pack.

In April, he narrowly beat Logano to the finish line at Richmond, marking his first win on a short track in 81 tries. It was a close call:

He's done it! @MartinTruex_Jr captures his first short-track victory by holding off @joeylogano in Richmond! pic.twitter.com/fwrAol22Lm

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 14, 2019

Further down the field, Kurt Busch needs to put together a run after finishing in last place in Las Vegas. He qualified in ninth place for Saturday's race and is ranked 14th and on the outside looking in for the round of 12, which starts in October.

Denny Hamlin will be another one to watch, as he has three career wins at the track:

Pole-sitter Keselowski finished in third place in Las Vegas and seventh in the spring race at Richmond, so he too will be one to keep an eye on.

                 

Prediction: In-form Harvick secures his spot in the next round with a win at Richmond.

Martin Truex Jr. advanced to the next round of the 2019 NASCAR playoffs with a victory in the South Point 400 on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Truex dominated late, leading 32 laps and cruising to his fifth checkered flag. He finished 4.173 seconds ahead of second-place Kevin Harvick.

.@MartinTruex_Jr and @ToyotaRacing WIN at @LVMotorSpeedway!@JoeGibbsRacing pic.twitter.com/hklgfydF4m

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 16, 2019

Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top five, with the full leaderboard available at NASCAR.com.

          

South Point 400 Leaderboard

1. Martin Truex Jr.

2. Kevin Harvick

3. Brad Keselowski

4. Chase Elliott

5. Ryan Blaney

6. Alex Bowman

7. William Byron

8. Kyle Larson

9. Joey Logano

10. Ryan Newman

         

"It takes the pressure off for sure, and the biggest thing is just more playoff points," Truex said of the win, per the Associated Press (via USA Today). "And that's huge. Any playoff points you can get will help you get to Homestead."

Truex can now rest a little easier knowing he's through to the next round, and the scores will once again reset when the first round concludes. As he noted, though, playoff points do carry over. A driver can earn five points for a race win and one point for winning a stage.

Five points separated Truex from cup champion Joey Logano last year. That was the same gap in 2017 when Truex beat out Kyle Busch, and the difference was even smaller (three points) when Jimmie Johnson edged out Logano in 2016.

Truex isn't wrong when he highlights the need to collect whatever points he can accumulate over the next two weeks.

Kurt Busch's hopes of advancing to the next round took a big hit as his race ended early.

Shortly after a restart on the 186th lap, Busch was caught in a four-wide situation. With nowhere to go, he was stuck between Truex and Elliott and absorbed contact to his driver's side wheel well from the No. 19 car.

Busch briefly continued on, but the damage eventually wore down his tire too much, leaving him unable to avoid slamming into the wall.

Kurt Busch has a tire go down, and pancakes the wall!#NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/piS1hQYgug

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 16, 2019

Busch entered Sunday in eighth place with 2,011 points. After the South Point 400, he's now in 14th place with 2,019 points.

While the focus was on Busch following the restart, Logano didn't come away unscathed either as he made contact with Daniel Suarez. His race changed drastically as a result.

Logano led 105 laps and seemed poised to push for a win when the final stretch arrived. Instead, the No. 22 car headed to pit road for a time-consuming stop for the necessary fixes.

Joey Logano is in for major repairs. The crew is also changing tires, reports @prnbrett. He has damage on the right side of the car and the left front is badly damaged after contact on the restart.

Todd Gordon is telling the crew to fix the damage first and change tires later.

— PRN (@PRNlive) September 16, 2019

Unlike Busch, Logano returned to the race but couldn't climb back into contention. Although finishing in ninth is a bitter pill to swallow given how long he led, the result could have been worse.

Kyle Busch came away frustrated as well, focusing his anger on the lapped cars. He rammed into the back of Garrett Smithley, which caused damage to his front end.

Here's what ticked off @KyleBusch at the end of the race at @LVMotorSpeedway.

Contact with the No. 52 of Garrett Smithley. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/rDilsgePLV

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 16, 2019

Busch subsequently started losing positions and wound up in 19th. He didn't hide his feelings in his post-race interview:

"We've got guys that have never won late model races running out here. It's pathetic."@KyleBusch was not happy after a run-in with lapped traffic late at @LVMotorSpeedway. pic.twitter.com/zo3V553bp3

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) September 16, 2019

He's still in fourth place overall with 2,063 points, so all isn't lost for the 2015 cup champion.

The same can't be said of his brother and the trio of Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer and Erik Jones. They occupy the bottom four spots in the playoff field. Jones, in particular, is in serious trouble. He's 26 points back of Aric Almirola in 12th.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series moves to Richmond Raceway on Saturday for the Federated Auto Parts 400.

Denny Hamlin won the pole position for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race in Bristol, Tennessee, on Friday thanks to a qualifying time of 14.848.

Denny Hamlin on pole at Bristol.

His and Toyota's first pole of 2019.

31st career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series pole for @dennyhamlin #NASCAR

— Chris Knight (@Knighter01) August 16, 2019

Kyle Larson finished second at 14.874 on the Bristol Speedway track, while Martin Truex Jr. took third.

Kyle Busch, who has won three times at Bristol since 2017, will start 31st.

Here's a look at the entire race order, final times and reaction with the Cup Championship Playoffs only one month away.

           

Race Order and Final Times

1. Denny Hamlin: 14.848

2. Kyle Larson: 18.474

3. Martin Truex Jr.: 14.875

4. Kurt Busch: 14.896

5. Aric Almirola: 14.901

6. Chase Elliott: 14.923

7. Matt DiBenedetto: 14.937

8. Kevin Harvick: 14.940

9. Erik Jones: 14.945

10. Alex Bowman: 14.963

11. Joey Logano: 14.976

12. Ryan Blaney: 14.981

13. Brad Keselowski: 14.997

14. Ryan Newman: 15.002

15. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: 15.028

16. David Ragan: 15.053

17. Daniel Hemric: 15.084

18. Daniel Suarez: 15.088

19. Austin Dillon: 15.116

20. Clint Bowyer: 15.129

21. William Byron: 15.166

22. Bubba Wallace: 15.188

23. Ryan Preece: 15.192

24. Ty Dillon: 15.225

25. Paul Menard: 15.243

26. Corey LaJoie: 15.273

27. Matt Tifft: 15.275

28. Michael McDowell: 15.311

29. Chris Buescher: 15.314

30. Jimmie Johnson: 15.331

31. Kyle Busch: 15.340

32. Landon Cassill: 15.366

33. BJ McLeod: 15.468

34. Quin Houff: 15.579

35. Josh Bilicki: 15.631

36. JJ Yeley: 15.732

37. Reed Sorenson: 15.733

38. Kyle Weatherman: 15.786

39. Ross Chastain: 15.840

Results via NASCAR.com.

    

Reaction

Hamlin has been on fire of late, finishing no worse than fifth in each of his last five races and winning at Pocono Raceway. 

That streak may roll to six after Hamlin won the pole.

He referenced his momentum in post-qualifying remarks, per Performance Racing Network:

Denny Hamlin: "I didn't want another Toyota to steal that and I knew Erik was super good qualifying here. Just driving it to the fastest of my ability and it's producing some great results...We're rolling right now, you just want to keep the momentum going at all costs."

— PRN (@PRNlive) August 16, 2019

The 34-time Monster Energy Cup Series winner also had a funny remark regarding the runner-up Larson:

Denny Hamlin didn’t know until just know that it was Larson he beat for the pole. Denny: “I was wondering why he gave me the finger when I pulled in…”

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) August 16, 2019

The 38-year-old has won three times this year, also taking down the Daytona 500 and the O'Reilly Auto Parts 500. He is fourth in the Monster Energy Cup Series standings.

Elsewhere, a prominent story going into this race will be whether the Busch brothers can take down another race at Bristol.

The two have historically dominated the two Monster Energy Cup races held at Bristol every year. Kyle Busch won the Food City 400 five times from 2007-2019, including the last two races. Older brother Kurt has won that event four times, including three straight in 2002-2004.

Kyle also has the one-win edge at the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, taking it down four times compared to his older brother's three. However, Kurt won the last edition there in 2018.

Kurt is well-positioned for another victory thanks to finishing fourth in qualifying, although Kyle will start 31st.

Coming from behind to win hasn't been an insurmountable task for Busch at Bristol, as he started 18th in the 2017 Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race before winning. Going from 31st to first is a far tougher task, but it's hard to bet against the Busches at Bristol.

The 266.5-mile race will begin Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. NBCSN will carry the television broadcast.

There's no stopping Kevin Harvick at Michigan International Speedway.

Harvick defended his title at Sunday's Consumers Energy 400 in Brooklyn, Michigan, in dramatic fashion. He was trailing a combination of Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and others for extended stretches but charged to the lead with 17 laps and never relinquished it on his way to victory.

Saved enough to get it done. ✅

Retweet to congratulate @KevinHarvick on another victory at @MISpeedway! 🏁 pic.twitter.com/p4SrlUTEWT

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 11, 2019

He defeated second-place finisher Hamlin by 1.054 seconds.

Here is a look at the top finishers, per NASCAR.com:

1. Kevin Harvick

2. Denny Hamlin

3. Kyle Larson

4. Martin Truex Jr.

5. Daniel Suarez

6. Kyle Busch

7. Ryan Preece

8. William Byron

9. Chase Elliott

10. Alex Bowman

Many of the sport's biggest names had momentum entering Sunday's race.

Chase Elliott was coming off a win at the Go Bowling at the Glen at Watkins Glen International, while Truex and Hamlin finished closely behind him in second and third place. What's more, Keselowski won the pole position in Friday's qualifying.

The Michigan native had nothing but open track in front of him as he looked to win at his home track for the first time in his career, but it was Truex who set the tone early.

The No. 19 car found himself at the back of the field in Stage 1 but rallied to the leader's spot, held off Hamlin and seized a playoff point in his 500th career start.

The green flag is out, and @MartinTruex_Jr officially has 500 starts in @NASCAR!

What an accomplishment for the 2017 Cup Series champ. @JoeGibbsRacing pic.twitter.com/PCLmqqgN9b

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 11, 2019

From last to first!

Martin Truex Jr. wins Stage 1 at Michigan, presented by @Kroger #ClickList. pic.twitter.com/54VTjLWmWC

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 11, 2019

It was more of the same for Truex, who is one of nine drivers who arrived at Michigan having already qualified for the playoffs. Hamlin, Elliott, Keselowski, Logano, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Harvick and Alex Bowman were the others.

Truex nearly won the second stage as well but lost in a drama-filled ending.

There was a one-lap shootout following a spin from Keselowski, and Kyle Busch came from right behind the first stage winner to take Stage 2. Daniel Hemric, Austin Dillon and Aric Almirola crashed behind him as he earned a playoff point, and Almirola was held for two laps because he had too many men over the wall under damaged vehicle policy.

Things can happen in a hurry at @MISpeedway.

Take a look at what unfolded coming to the end of Stage 2. pic.twitter.com/iQc6clSAOE

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 11, 2019

Kyle Busch won the stage, but Keselowski's save was the most impressive part of the head-turning stretch:

What a save by Brad @keselowski!

Sparks fly from the @Team_Penske No. 2, but he hangs on to that car at @MISpeedway. Watch @NASCAR on NBCSN or stream here: https://t.co/wmwQrlNwAP pic.twitter.com/nqeZgdaaSl

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 11, 2019

Clint Bowyer was not as fortunate and crashed into the outside wall during the early going of Stage 3. It was a particularly important crash because he is firmly on the NASCAR playoffs bubble entering the race at 15th in the standings.

Correction: Because Clint Bowyer scored two points for finishing ninth in Stage 2, he will earn a total of three points today -- currently a single point more than Johnson, who could still move up in the running order.

— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) August 11, 2019

Elsewhere, Kurt Busch and Logano each took their turn in front of the rest of the field heading into the stretch run. Busch fell back, though, temporarily clearing the way for Logano, Ryan Blaney and Keselowski up front in a dream for Team Penske.

Still, the fuel situation loomed as the primary storyline, which helped Harvick propel his way into second:

Fuel concerns for @Blaney as the laps wind down?

🔊🆙 for the No. 12's team radio. pic.twitter.com/4Pogcv5BZk

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 11, 2019

🔼: @KevinHarvick
🔽: @Blaney

The 4⃣ is on the march once again as he moves into second. pic.twitter.com/Gmr0J9yQ2e

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 11, 2019

When you have no idea who’s gonna make it on fuel...#ConsumersEnergy400 pic.twitter.com/bYbqJXwsCH

— Michigan International Speedway (@MISpeedway) August 11, 2019

Harvick was in control from there, taking the lead with 17 laps remaining and extending the advantage over Logano without any fuel concerns. Logano and Keselowski could not say the same and were forced to pit, but Hamlin attempted to close the gap without stopping.

The decision was enough for second place, but there was no catching Harvick down the stretch.

Harvick was the best on the Michigan International Speedway track once again and will look to keep the momentum rolling as attention turns toward Saturday's Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

NASCAR's return to Watkins Glen for the final road race of the 2019 Monster Energy Cup Series was a successful one for Chase Elliott.

Elliott and Martin Truex Jr. started this weekend in a prime position for victory. The duo has combined to win the previous four road races, including Sunday, on the circuit dating back to 2018 and fought for the lead throughout today's event, with Elliott prevailing by .454 seconds.

What. A. Race.

Retweet to congratulate @chaseelliott on his second win of 2019! 🏁 pic.twitter.com/wwGRqJjz6N

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 4, 2019

Elliott seemed to have the momentum coming into Sunday after winning the pole. The No. 9 car controlled most of the race, leading 80 of 90 laps.

     

Go Bowling at the Glen Results—Top 10

1. Chase Elliott

2. Martin Truex Jr.

3. Denny Hamlin

4. Erik Jones

5. Ryan Blaney

6. Matt DiBenedetto

7. Kevin Harvick

8. Kyle Larson

9. Brad Keselowski

10. Kurt Busch

Full results can be found on NASCAR.com.

     

Elliott has been on hot and cold streaks throughout this season. The 23-year-old had a string of five consecutive top-five finishes snapped at the Firekeepers Casino 400 on June 10. He followed that up with seven straight races outside the top 10, including three of the previous four in 29th place or lower.

Last year's race at Watkins Glen was Elliott's first victory on the Monster Energy circuit. It came in a race he started third in, a fact not lost on him when he took the top spot in Saturday's qualifying run.

"Qualifying well here is important, because the strategy is important," he said, via NASCAR.com's Reid Spencer. "Pitting these cars backwards (with fuel intakes on the right side instead of left), you need good pit selection and track position. This is a great result for our NAPA Chevy team."

Elliott picked up a lot of points along the way, including winning both stages before taking home the checkered flag. The second stage ended under caution when Bubba Wallace crashed into the tire barrier.

Picking up right where he left off.

After winning at Watkins Glen last year, Chase Elliott leads every lap of Stage 1, presented by @Kroger #ClickList! pic.twitter.com/2KHiyIRdPg

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 4, 2019

Even though there were 37 drivers in the field, this race was a two-man showdown between Elliott and Truex. They were in the top two spots for the final 25 laps when Elliott slid past Truex coming out of a caution, though the battle was going on long before that moment.

Chase Elliott in the lead, with Martin Truex Jr. trying to chase him down.

Where and when have we seen this before? @NASCAR // @WGI pic.twitter.com/0iQWZm9W3c

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 4, 2019

The caution flag had to come out because Ryan Blaney made contact with Jimmie Johnson, who took great exception to the incident.

Here's what happened to the 7-time Champ to bring out the yellow. pic.twitter.com/4Fx3MGEjGE

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 4, 2019

By the way ... @JimmieJohnson was NOT happy after the last caution ...

🔊🆙 pic.twitter.com/IUrQgoDXUM

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 4, 2019

Johnson has historically struggled at Watkins Glen—his last top-10 finish was in 2015—and this year was no different with the No. 48 car being forced to settle for 19th place.

As Elliott celebrates his second win of the season, the race for the playoffs is picking up steam. There are only four events remaining until the Round of 16 begins.

Nine drivers have already clinched a postseason berth, including Truex, Elliott, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Alex Bowman.

Johnson and Ryan Newman are currently tied for 16th place on points, but Johnson has the edge for the final playoff spot by virtue of having one stage victory.

The Monster Energy Series will get back to a traditional track next weekend when NASCAR converges on Michigan International Speedway for the Consumers Energy 400 on Aug. 11.

Denny Hamlin held off Erik Jones in overtime as the 2019 Daytona 500 winner took down the Gander RV 400 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.

Good to the last drop!@DennyHamlin saves enough fuel to win in a thrilling overtime finish at @PoconoRaceway! pic.twitter.com/ZsJflIKW9v

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 28, 2019

The victory marked Hamlin's third win of the 2019 Monster Energy Cup Series season and the 34th of his career.

Hamlin overtook Jones and Martin Truex Jr. in the final stage and never relinquished the lead during the race's closing stretch, which included two caution flags and overtime. Jones and Truex took second and third, respectively.

Move Denny Hamlin to the lead!

Less than 15 to go on NBCSN. @PoconoRaceway // @NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ed2sB8ZQf4

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 28, 2019

Kyle Busch, who is second in the Monster Energy Cup Series standings and won the Pocono 400 earlier this season, won the first stage but finished ninth in the 160-lap race on the 2.5-mile track. Jimmie Johnson won the second stage and finished 15th overall.

Here's a look at the Gander RV 400 standings, the most notable highlights and some reaction.

         

Gander RV 400 (Top 10)

1. Denny Hamlin

2. Erik Jones

3. Martin Truex Jr.

4. William Byron

5. Kyle Larson

6. Kevin Harvick

7. Daniel Hemric

8. Brad Keselowski

9. Kyle Busch

10. Ryan Blaney

Full results can be found on NASCAR.com.

        

Highlights and Reaction

As Jeff Gluck of The Athletic wrote, the decision to stretch the No. 11 car's fuel proved to be a winning one. That was a crucial choice for Hamlin, who is now fourth in the Monster Energy Series standings.

Hamlin spoke about the topic post-race to NBC Sports (h/t Performance Racing Network).

"I was real worried (about fuel)," Hamlin said. "We just did a great job with the car, once we lost track position there to the 19 and 20...Thanks to Pocono for putting in the PJ1 there in Turn 3."

The win was sweet for Hamlin, who finished second at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last Sunday despite leading 113 laps.

The Gander RV 400 featured two cautions in the final 10 laps, with Josh Bilicki's car stopping on the track with eight laps left and Kurt Busch hitting the wall and blowing a tire with four remaining.

Trouble for Kurt Busch and Michael McDowell!

OVERTIME. NOW. NBCSN. pic.twitter.com/HLGvzFANnj

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 28, 2019

Hamlin didn't relinquish his pre-caution leads, though, holding on in overtime.

Busch was the race leader after Stage 1 despite an early pit stop from third place, but that didn't stop him from winning his eighth stage of the year. Gluck reported that mark tops the Monster Energy Cup Series this season.

The Kyle's are movin'.@KyleBusch has driven his way back into the top 10 after being one of the first cars to hit pit road. pic.twitter.com/wuiDo0bLwm

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 28, 2019

Johnson took the second stage, though, which Gluck wrote was his first win of the season and second stage victory during his career. It was a nice bounce-back after a close call on pit road earlier in the race:

When the scooter hits your ankle.

A close call on pit road as Jimmie Johnson's jack clips the rear tire, sending the jack spinning. @NASCAR // @PoconoRaceway pic.twitter.com/yGosHHxrLN

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 28, 2019

Elsewhere, Chase Elliott's horrible stretch of luck continued following a Stage 2 crash:

Chase Elliott's day is done after a hard crash in Stage 2 at @poconoraceway

Watch @NASCAR on NBCSN or stream here: https://t.co/ciKLfM2Z8b pic.twitter.com/Iw6XwOzxKu

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 28, 2019

Elliott, who won at Talladega and finished fourth or fifth in his following four races, has now endured a tough run as Kelly Crandall of RACER reported:

This will be the seventh straight week that Chase Elliott has failed to finish inside the top 10. His best finish in this stretch was an 11th at Chicago, and he has four finishes of 20th or worse #NASCAR

— Kelly Crandall (@KellyCrandall) July 28, 2019

Elliott raced his backup car after a crash during a practice run. On June 30, he had a drill-hose issue that forced him to lose spots on pit road at Chicagoland Speedway. Elliott also encountered tire trouble at Kentucky Speedway.

The 23-year-old was naturally disappointed in a post-race interview Sunday but was focused on pressing onward:

"It's been a rough month."

Chase Elliott hasn't had luck on his side as of late, but says the "stuff that matters is still ahead." pic.twitter.com/zh89HM397r

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 28, 2019

Overall, Pocono proved to be entertaining once again, as Matt Weaver of Autoweek noted:

Pocono can be such a hit-or-miss track and it's so circumstantial.

This has been a really entertaining race. Various strategies, timing of cautions, part of the race contested under the threat of rain.

I know fuel mileage races aren't universally popular but I enjoy them.

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) July 28, 2019

The Monster Energy Cup series goes to Watkins Glen International in Watkins Glen, New York, on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.

With the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series playoffs getting closer, the battle for positions will continue Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

There are seven races remaining before the playoffs begin with the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sept. 15. With only eight drivers notching wins this season, there are still plenty of playoff berths available.

Any driver who notches a win over the next seven races will qualify for the postseason, and only a few points separate the drivers in from those who are out.

Here's everything you need to know entering this week's Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire.

                    

NASCAR Sprint Cup Race Info

Date: Sunday, July 21

Time: 3 p.m. ET

TV: NBC Sports Network

Tickets: Available on StubHub

Lineup: Full lineup on NASCAR.com

                

Preview

For the first time since August 2017, Brad Keselowski will be leading the Sprint Cup field to the green flag for Sunday's race at New Hampshire.

Keselowski is third in the points standings behind Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr., and he will be looking for his first win at the track since 2014.

"This definitely surprised me," Keselowski said, according to NASCAR.com's Reid Spencer. "It's been a while since we've had a pole. We've had really good cars but haven't been able to make the most of it with the driver in qualifying, so it's nice to get one here in Loudon."

Although Keselowski hadn't led the field to the green flag in some time, he's looking forward to the opportunity to capitalize on his strong starting position.

"The first pit stall will be huge for sure," Keselowski said, per Spencer. "This track on pit road has a lot of chaos. I'm not saying you can't wreck in pit stall No. 1, but it's a little harder there and it certainly makes life a lot easier for your pit crew. It's like you're in the HOV lane [on pit exit]."

Kurt Busch will be starting alongside Keselowski on the front row after he won the previous race at Kentucky Speedway. Busch sits seventh in the standings, just ahead of Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman, who have one win each this season.

Prior to qualifying, Elliott had the fastest time during the first practice at New Hampshire, turning a lap at 137.086 mph. With that strong showing and a 12th-place starting position, Elliott will be looking to earn his second victory of the Sprint Cup season.

Meanwhile, Keselowski will be hoping to turn his pole position into a victory and momentum.

"We're happy with that effort," Keselowski said, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "It certainly bodes well for our shot to get those stage wins and of course the overall race win come Sunday. But we still have to go earn it. So you're happy for it. You take a breath and you celebrate it and you get your head back down and go to work."

Keselowski could move into a tie for the most Sprint Cup wins this season with Kyle Busch and Truex if he can win Sunday's race. That would bode well as this trio of drivers looks to gain momentum as the playoffs draw nearer.

Daniel Suarez had an excellent qualifying run at Kentucky Speedway on Friday and won the pole for Saturday's Quaker State 400. 

This will be Suarez's second career start from the front of the pack. He'll be joined in the front row by Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Aric Almirola. 

Second career pole for @Daniel_SuarezG!

He'll lead the field to green Saturday night at @KYSpeedway on NBCSN. pic.twitter.com/pZI9DdSdQh

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 12, 2019

Here's how the entire field will lineup for the race, via NASCAR.com:

Row 1: Daniel Suarez (pole), Aric Almirola

Row 2: Brad Keselowski, Kurt Busch

Row 3: Kevin Harvick, Daniel Hemric

Row 4: Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr. 

Row 5: Austin Dillon, Kyle Busch

Row 6: Joey Logano, William Byron

Row 7: Jimmie Johnson, Paul Menard

Row 8: Ryan Blaney, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 

Row 9: Michael McDowell, Denny Hamlin

Row 10: Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott

Row 11: Erik Jones, Alex Bowman

Row 12: Ryan Newman, Matt DiBenedetto

Row 13: David Ragan, Chris Buescher

Row 14: Ty Dillon, Bubba Wallace

Row 15: Corey LaJoie, Ryan Preece

Row 16: Matt Tifft, Bayley Currey

Row 17: Ross Chastain, Landon Cassill

Row 18: B.J. McLeod, Quin Houff

Suarez, 27, is still seeking his first win on the Monster Energy circuit. He's been inconsistent this season with a 40th-place finish last week at Daytona and just two top-10 finishes in the past 10 races. The Mexico native started from the pole at Pocono last July and registered his best-ever finish (second).  

Getting into the winner's circle is very much on Suarez's mind after he won the pole:

"I really want to win so bad."@Daniel_SuarezG is staying motivated, and looks to win his first @NASCAR Cup Series race Saturday on NBCSN for @StewartHaasRcng. pic.twitter.com/S5NxCGj7mf

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 12, 2019

Almirola was right on Suarez's heels for the top spot. The No. 10 Ford finished his qualifying lap in 29.380 seconds, just 0.126 seconds off the pace. 

Based on the point standings, reigning series champion Joey Logano left the door open for Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski to narrow their deficit. Harvick trails Logano by 75 points, with Keselowski 87 off the lead. 

Logano will start from the 11th position, marking the second time in the past five races he's qualified outside the top 10. Keselowski, his Penske Racing teammate, will start right behind Suarez and Almirola from the third position, while Harvick, another SHR driver, will begin in the fifth spot. 

Defending Kentucky champion Martin Truex Jr. is also in a good spot to make noise in the race. The Joe Gibbs Racing star will be on the outside of the fourth row. The Toyota driver won the pole and led the most laps last year en route to taking home the checkered flag. 

All 36 drivers in the field will have a chance to leave their mark in prime time on Saturday night when the Quaker State 400 begins at 7:30 p.m.