USA Today via Reuters
Apr 18, 2021; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Aric Almirola (10) races NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain (42) and NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Apr 18, 2021; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Aric Almirola (10) races NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain (42) and NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
On Sunday, Alex Bowman became the ninth different winner in the NASCAR Cup Series. However, Denny Hamlin continues to rule the roost in the championship standings. It also helped mattered that he finished second at Richmond while Martin Truex Jr finished fifth.
After Hamlin and Truex Jr, Joey Logano also retains his top 3 positions in the championship. However, William Byron and Ryan Blaney managed to overtake Kyle Larson. This was after the latter could only muster 18th to Blaney’s 11th and Byron’s 7th place finish. Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, and Christopher Bell round out the Top 10.
Cup grid (17 races to go): Hamlin +234, Truex-2w, Logano-1w, Byron-1w, Blaney-1w, Larson-1w, Bell-1w, Bowman-1w, McDowell-1w, Elliott +81, Harvick +69, Keselowski +65, KyBusch +41, Dillon +35, Stenhouse +18, KuBusch +10, Buescher -10, DiBenedetto -39, Newman -40, Wallace -46 pic.twitter.com/XCpMVEBs0b
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 19, 2021
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Kyle Busch still finds himself on the edge of the Top 10, with Austin Dillon behind him. Meanwhile, this Richmond win propelled Alex Bowman from 17th to 13th in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series standings. It also means that he leapfrogged Ricky Stenhouse Jr, Kurt Busch, Chris Buescher, and Michael McDowell.
How does the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series pack line up?
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Other notable championship changes include Matt DiBenedetto vaulting from 22nd to 18th. He sits ahead of Ryan Newman, Bubba Wallace, and Ryan Preece. This also means that Tyler Reddick is pushed to 22nd, ahead of Trackhouse Racing’s Daniel Suarez. Ross Chastain also managed to overtake Cole Custer, while Erik Jones secures his 26th place in the standings.
USA Today via Reuters
Apr 18, 2021; Richmond, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman (48) crosses the finish line to win the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
Aric Almirola swapped places with Chase Briscoe, while Corey LaJoie did the same with Anthony Alfredo. Quin Houff, Josh Bilicki, and James Davison find no changes in their championship positions. The same applies for Jamie McMurray and Joey Gase in 34th and 35th places respectively.
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Now, the NASCAR Cup Series paddock is expected to prepare for the GEICO 500. This race will kick off at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama and will be very interesting to watch. Without a doubt, Talladega is an iconic track and has even featured in popular culture, namely a few movies.
