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Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott lead playoff standings going into Easter break

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400

FONTANA, CA - MARCH 26: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, leads Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Chevrolet, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on March 26, 2017 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Getty Images

After seven races, we’ve reached the first off-week of the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.

Teams will resume the long haul of the season April 23 at Bristol Motor Speedway (with only one more weekend break in late August through the Nov. 19 finale at Miami).

With that in mind, here’s a look at the playoff standings following Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway:

Only 16 drivers will qualify for the playoffs, which will begin Sept. 17 at Chicagoland Speedway.

Kyle Larson, who has one win and four runner-up finishes, leads the standings over Chase Elliott, who is the only driver ranked in the top four who hasn’t won this season.

Denny Hamlin is currently on the bubble, 164 points back from Larson.

The first four behind Hamlin are Kasey Kahne, Aric Almirola, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch have race wins but no stage wins.

Elliott, Ryan Blaney and Kevin Harvick have multiple stage wins but no race wins.

Below is the top 20 in standings through seven races. Drivers in green would make the playoffs based on wins, drivers in yellow would based on points.

playoff standings

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