Kyle Larson leading field in NASCAR Cup Series stage points

LAS VEGAS — Kyle Larson has earned the most stage points in the NASCAR Cup Series three races into the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Larson leads with 45 stage points. He padded his lead winning both stages and earning 20 points Sunday in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Defending champion Ryan Blaney has the second-most with 34 points.

In total, 26 drivers have earned at least one stage point in the first three races. Among them are five stage winners – Larson (2 stage wins), Blaney, Austin Cindric, Chase Elliott and Michael McDowell (one apiece).

STAGE POINT TOTALS

_{^{*excluding points earned in Daytona Duel qualifying races}}

Kyle Larson: 45
Ryan Blaney: 34
Martin Truex Jr.: 27
Kyle Busch: 25
Tyler Reddick: 24
Austin Cindric: 21
Ross Chastain: 19
Denny Hamlin: 18
Chase Elliott: 16
Daniel Suarez: 16
William Byron: 13
Alex Bowman: 10
Michael McDowell: 10
Bubba Wallace: 10
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. : 7
Todd Gilliland: 6
Ty Gibbs: 5
Austin Dillon: 4
Brad Keselowski: 4
Corey LaJoie: 4
Harrison Burton: 3
Chase Briscoe: 2
Joey Logano: 2
Christopher Bell: 1
Chris Buescher: 1
Erik Jones: 1

STAGE POINTS EXPLAINED

NASCAR awards points to the Top-10 finishers in each stage of a points race (except the Clash, Duels and All-Star Race). Each race has two stages except the Coca-Cola 600, which has three.

A stage winner earns 10 points while the second-place driver earns 9. Third-place earns 8 points, down to the 10th-place driver who earns 1.

Stage points are added to a driver’s points for their finishing position. Finishing first pays a driver 40 points, second pays 34, down to 36th through 40th-place each paying 1 point.

OUTLOOK
The next race for the NASCAR Cup Series is scheduled for Sunday, March 10 at Phoenix Raceway