NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Playoffs Get Underway in Chicago
The Monster Energy Cup series playoffs get underway in Chicago this weekend, and 16 drivers will be vying for the championship.
Truex Jr., who leads the series heading into the playoffs, has never won a championship, but he'll be in a good position to do so this time around. Truex Jr. has won four races this season and leads the series with 17 top-10 finishes in 2017. Truex is the defending champion at Chicagoland Speedway.
Kyle Larson, in second place as the postseason begins, is trailing Martin Truex Jr. by 20 points heading into Chicagoland. Larson tied for the most wins in the sport this season, triumphing on four different occasions and finishing in the top ten on 15 different occasions.
The 2015 series winner, Busch won the 2008 race at Chicagoland Speedway. Busch comes into the playoffs in third position, with two wins and 16 top-ten finishes to his credit.
A two-time champion at Chicagoland, Keselowski will also be looking for his second career NASCAR title, having won the series crown in 2012. He has won two races this season and has 14 top-ten finishes, and he currently sits fourth in the standings.
Jimmie Johnson, the defending series champion, is gunning for his eighth championship, which would break the record currently held by Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Richard Petty. Shockingly, Johnson has never won a race at Chicagoland.
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In sixth place as the playoffs begin, Harvick won one race this season and finished in the top 10 in 16 races. He'll be looking to win his second championship after winning the 2014 title. Harvick won the first two races ever held at Chicagoland Motor Speedway in 2001 and 2002.
The 2015 winner at Chicagoland, Hamlin has a pair of wins and 15 top-ten finishes to his credit this season.
Stenhouse Jr. has won two races this season, and currently sits in eighth place in the standings entering the playoffs. He only had seven top-ten finishes this season.
Ryan Blaney picked up a win and has nine top-ten finishes this season. He'll come into the playoffs in the ninth position, and he'll look to begin climbing the ranks this weekend.
Currently ranked 10th in the standings, Elliott is the highest-ranked driver without a win this season, as he racked up 14 top-ten finishes. He did win two race stages however, and will look to get his first career win at Chicagoland this weekend.
Newman, currently in 11th place in the standings, won the 2003 edition of the race at Chicagoland, and has one win and 11 top-ten finishes this season.
This year's Daytona 500 winner is gunning for his second series title and his first since 2004. He begins the playoffs in 12th place and has 13 top-ten finishes this season.
Kahne comes into Chicagoland ranked 13th in points, and he'll be looking to get his second win of the season at the track. He also has four top-ten finishes to his credit this season.
Dillon picked up a victory this season and four top-ten finishes, but he'll have a lot of work to do as he begins the playoffs in the 14th spot in the standings.
Matt Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR champion, won the 2013 race at Chicagoland and will look to do the same again this year. He has 12 top-ten finishes this year, and comes into the playoffs in the 15th position.
McMurray sneaked into the playoffs thanks to 13 top-ten finishes this season, but he has yet to register a win yet this season.
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