Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Kyle Larson moves atop points standings, but Martin Truex Jr. increases playoff lead

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400

BROOKLYN, MI - JUNE 18: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, races during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 18, 2017 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Kyle Larson retook the Cup points lead from Martin Truex Jr. with his victory Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, but the Chip Ganassi Racing driver lost ground to Truex in another important category.

Truex, who finished sixth and dropped five points behind Larson, increased his series-leading playoff points total to 20 with two stage wins at Michigan. He is five points ahead of Jimmie Johnson and seven in front of Larson in the playoff standings. Those points will carry through the first nine races of the playoffs.

Truex has a series-high 10 stage victories this season, four more than second-ranked Kyle Busch.

The regular-season champion will be awarded 15 playoff points (five more than the runner-up), so Larson still can gain ground on Truex by maintaining the points lead through the first 26 races.

Click here for the points standings after Sunday’s race at Michigan.