LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE – JULY 19: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 McDonald’s Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019, in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Even factoring in his laidback Californian-cool personality, listening to Kyle Larson this week, it’s obvious that he is both optimistic and confident about his chances to qualify for the 2019 edition of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE – JULY 19: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, drives through the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019, in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
Seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has never missed any form of a series Playoff, but mechanical issues in Sunday’s Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 dropped him farther into the danger zone.
SONOMA, CA – JUNE 24: Kyle Busch, driving the (18) Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing and Joey Logano, driving the (22) Ford for Team Penske head up the 2nd wave of cars around turn 4a after a restart on Sunday, June 24, 2018 at the NASCA Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 Race at Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, CA Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – New venue, new winner. First stop. First win. That’s certainly what a substantial portion of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series field is hoping for this weekend at the season’s first road course event at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 25: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Patriotic Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Alex Bowman showed up in the Pocono Raceway Media Center feeling as confident and optimistic as he has in his young career. The 26-year old is coming off the best four-race stretch he’s ever turned in – including three consecutive runner-up finishes at Talladega, Dover and Kansas.
FORT WORTH, TX – MARCH 31: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Office Toyota, crosses the finish line to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on March 31, 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images *** Local Caption *** Denny Hamlin
As the NASCAR Monster
Energy Cup Series takes a week break from short track racing, and heads to
Texas Motor Speedway for the O’Reilley Auto Parts 500. So far this season, it
has been a hot start for two racing teams. Team Penske and Joe Gibbs Racing
have been the teams winning all the racing so far. Both teams have won three
races a piece out of the six total races heading into yesterday’s 500-mile race
in Texas.