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Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott among four drivers 26 and under in top six in points

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Ryan Blaney's crew chief, Jeremy Bullins, explains what offseason adjustments have led the team to a fast start and his expectations for this weekend's race at Phoenix.

Through the first three races of the NASCAR Cup season, it’s good to be young.

To be more specific, it’s good to be 26 years old or younger.

Four drivers who fit that description find themselves in the top 10 in points heading to Phoenix Raceway this weekend for the Camping World 500.

Despite no race wins or stage wins in the first three races of 2017, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney are all in the top six in points.

The only drivers over the age of 30 in the top six are points leader Brad Keselowski (33) and Martin Truex Jr. (36), who is fourth.

Larson (24 years old) is one point behind Brad Keselowski for the points lead. Elliott (21) is third, three points back from Keselowski. The oldest of the group, Logano (26), is fifth, 13 points back. Blaney (23), is sixth, 26 points behind the lead.

Larson has had the best season so far with two runner-up finishes in the first three races.

Elliott has two top fives and a finish of 14th in the Daytona 500.

Logano hasn’t finished worse than sixth this season and goes to Phoenix as the most recent winner (last fall’s playoff race) on the 1-mile track.

After finishing second in the Daytona 500, Blaney has finished 18th (Atlanta) and seventh (Las Vegas).

Logano and Larson are the only two of the group with Cup wins, with Logano’s fall 2016 win the only Phoenix victory between them.

With an average finish of 13.2 in six starts, Larson has finished better than 10th at Phoenix once. He claimed third in the race Logano won.

“I’m not like a short track racer, so I seem to struggle at those places, but last year we had some good runs at short tracks,” Larson said in a press release. “I feel like I’ve gotten a little bit better and I think my crew chief has kind of learned what I need at short tracks to help me out. It’s weird, but I kind of look forward to going to those places right now.”

Elliott finished eighth and ninth in his two Phoenix starts last year. Blaney finished 10th and eighth.

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