Kyle Larson is preserving an in depth eye on the NASCAR Cup Collection level standings as extra rivals enter the image for the regular-season championship.
“Completely, I take note of it each week, and I’d think about everyone in all probability does — even the blokes that say they don’t,” Larson mentioned at Pocono Raceway. “I take note of it loads.”
Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports workforce lead the championship standings. He has an 11-point benefit on teammate Chase Elliott going into Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway (2:30 p.m. ET, USA), and that is regardless of Larson having competed in a single much less race than the competitors as a result of he didn’t begin and earn factors within the Coca-Cola 600.
There are seven drivers lower than 100 factors behind him within the level standings. Christopher Bell is eighth, 85 factors again.
A driver can earn a most of 60 factors in a race. There are six races left within the common season earlier than NASCAR awards 15 playoff factors to the regular-season champion.
“I really feel like all of us in all probability really feel like we’ve missed out on alternatives to both achieve factors…particularly right here recently for us,” Larson continued. “Iowa after which Chicago — if I might have these two races again and be somewhat bit extra conservative, I’d in all probability have a 60-point lead proper now.
“That’s irritating on my finish, however now we have six races left, so we simply need to get again to these constant runs and hopefully that’s sufficient to get these 15 bonus factors.”
The ever-changing panorama within the level standings doesn’t shock him. He, like a lot of his friends, has discovered that competitors within the Subsequent Gen period is extra inconsistent than in years previous. In different phrases, it’s far simpler now to see groups be scorching one week, chilly the subsequent, and backwards and forwards.
As such, when Larson seems to be on the standings as a lot as he does, some drivers stand out. One, recently, has been Tyler Reddick, who now sits third.
“He has shocked me the place he’s at at the moment as a result of I really feel like he’s simply been quiet, which is odd for Tyler Reddick…” Larson mentioned. “I used to be shocked [because] earlier than Chicago, I regarded and was like, ‘Man, he’s truly inside vary.’ I’ve simply been so centered the final 4 or 5 weeks on the No. 9 (Elliott) and the No. 11 (Denny), after which it was like, ‘Wow, he might simply steal this factor.’
“I believe you’ve seen some inconsistent runs from myself, the No. 11, the No. 9 right here recently with totally different points on the finish of the races the place Tyler has been sort of quietly up there and completed [well] the final couple of weeks. Runs like that basically assist. We simply need to proceed getting good stage factors, which we’ve finished a extremely good job at, however then get again to ending races.”
Larson leads the factors and the collection in laps led (754) and is tied with Reddick for probably the most top-five finishes within the collection (eight). Reddick leads the collection in prime 10 finishes (13).
Bell leads the collection in playoff factors (24). Elliott leads the collection in common end (10.6).
