Larson joins 500 career stage points club

Kyle Larson became the third driver in the history of the Monster Energy Cup Series Sunday to earn 500 stage points since the introduction of stage racing in 2017.

Larson netted 17 points between his top-five stage finishes in the Overton’s 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, bringing his career total to 507.

The only other drivers who have scored more stage points are Martin Truex Jr. (572) and Kyle Busch (557). Both drivers hit the 500-point stage mark earlier this year.

Kevin Harvick (497) is the next driver on the all-time stage points list who could mathematically hit the mark by earning three or more points next Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway.

PLAYOFF POINTS EARNED
Thirteen drivers have acquired playoff points through 17 races.

If the postseason started today, Busch would lead all drivers with playoff points earned solely through stage wins and race wins.

Busch, the 2015 series champion, has earned 30 playoff points between his five stage wins and five race victories.

Harvick, who has won five races and nine stages, has the second most playoff points at 27.

Rounding out the top five are Martin Truex Jr. (18), Clint Bowyer (10) and Joey Logano (7).

OVERALL
In total, 30 drivers have earned stage points, with 12 of them winning stages in 2018.

With the exception of the Coca-Cola 600 in May (four stages), every points awarding race in 2018 is broken up into three stages.

Each of the first two stages awards points to the top-10 finishing drivers. A first-place finish earns 10 points, second-place gets nine points, and so forth.

STAGE POINTS/STAGE WINS/PLAYOFF POINTS AFTER CHICAGOLAND

SOURCES
Racing-Reference.info