USA Today via Reuters
Mar 14, 2021; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (19) celebrates after winning the NASCAR Instacart 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 14, 2021; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Martin Truex Jr. (19) celebrates after winning the NASCAR Instacart 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Martin Truex Jr emerged victorious at the NASCAR Cup Series race at the Martinsville Speedway. Behind him, Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin finished in second and third, respectively. Owing to this, Truex Jr became the first driver to clinch a second Cup Series win in 2021.
So, what are the updated 2021 Cup Series points standings?
In an update that not surprising to anymore, Hamlin was able to preserve his championship lead despite not winning the race. Considering that he has still not won a Cup race, many are shocked that Hamlin is still leading. However, a solid explanation goes down to his insane level of consistency; he has finished in the top five in every race, except for Homestead-Miami, where he finished 11th.
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Cup grid (18 races to go): Hamlin +194, Truex-2w, Logano-1w, Larson-1w, Blaney-1w, Byron-1w, Bell-1w, McDowell-1w, Elliott +75, Harvick +68, Keselowski +59, KyBusch +27, Dillon +24, Stenhouse +17, Buescher +7, KuBusch +5, Bowman -5, Newman -23, Wallace -33, Preece -35 pic.twitter.com/sup3OoOOLA
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 12, 2021
With this win, Truex Jr has solidified his own position in the top two. However, he is under attack from the #22 Ford of Joey Logano who is just one point behind. Kyle Larson is leading the charge for the Hendrick Motorsports team in 4th place. In addition to that, he is also the meat in a Ford/Penske sandwich with Ryan Blaney.
How does the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series pack line up behind Hamlin?
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Blaney himself is caught in a Chevrolet/Hendrick Motorsports sandwich with William Byron behind him. Propping up seventh place is defending champion, Chase Elliott. Meanwhile, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, and Christopher Bell round out the Top 10. Kyle Busch is just outside the top 10, five points adrift of Bell. Austin Dillon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Chris Buescher, Kurt Busch, and Daytona 500 winner, Michael McDowell make up the Top 16.
USA Today via Reuters
Apr 10, 2021; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) leads Joey Logano (22) during the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Ryan Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Bowman props up the last of the Hendrick quartet in 17th place. Behind him are Ryan Newman, Bubba Wallace, and Ryan Preece completing the top 20. Meanwhile, Cole Custer, Chase Briscoe, and Aric Almirola are languishing well down the order. Custer sits in 24th, while Briscoe and Almirola are 27th and 28th.
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On the bright side, the season is still long and there is time for the order to shake itself up. However, time is running out for Hamlin to bag that first win, and his consistent top fives can only take him so far.
