The 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series saw Joey Logano claim his first career Cup Series championship over Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch. In this article, I take a look at what I think the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season will have in store- race by race.
Daytona 500- Daytona
1. 11 Denny Hamlin
2. 12 Ryan Blaney
3. 22 Joey Logano
4. 41 Kurt Busch
5. 21 Paul Menard
6. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
7. 1 Kurt Busch
8. 37 Chris Buescher
9. 2 Brad Keselowski
10. 48 Jimmie Johnson
Denny Hamlin breaks his winless streak with his second Daytona 500 win, outlasting the Team Penske duo of Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano.
Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500- Atlanta
1. 18 Kyle Busch
2. 8 Daniel Hemric
3. 2 Brad Keselowski
4. 41 Daniel Suarez
5. 42 Kyle Larson
6. 14 Clint Bowyer
7. 88 Alex Bowman
8. 48 Jimmie Johnson
9. 12 Ryan Blaney
10. 36 Matt Tifft
Kyle Busch wins his third race at Atlanta, as rookies Daniel Hemric and Matt Tifft have strong top-10 runs.
Pennzoil 400- Las Vegas
1. 4 Kevin Harvick
2. 2 Brad Keselowski
3. 20 Erik Jones
4. 14 Clint Bowyer
5. 18 Kyle Busch
6. 48 Jimmie Johnson
7. 11 Denny Hamlin
8. 88 Alex Bowman
9. 1 Kurt Busch
10. 10 Aric Almirola
Kevin Harvick earns his third victory at Las Vegas, continuing the momentum of his eight-win season in 2018.
Ticket Guardian 500- ISM
1. 42 Kyle Larson
2. 9 Chase Elliott
3. 22 Joey Logano
4. 18 Kyle Busch
5. 1 Kurt Busch
6. 4 Kevin Harvick
7. 38 David Ragan
8. 48 Jimmie Johnson
9. 14 Clint Bowyer
10. 6 Ryan Newman
Kyle Larson breaks his year-long winless streak, as David Ragan and Ryan Newman earn top-10 finishes.
Auto Club 400- Auto Club
1. 20 Erik Jones
2. 22 Joey Logano
3. 8 Daniel Hemric
4. 2 Brad Keselowski
5. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
6. 9 Chase Elliott
7. 36 Matt Tifft
8. 3 Austin Dillon
9. 4 Kevin Harvick
10. 21 Paul Menard
Erik Jones gambles on fuel mileage at and saves up just enough to get his second career win.
STP 500- Martinsville
1. 42 Kyle Larson
2. 4 Kevin Harvick
3. 14 Clint Bowyer
4. 41 Daniel Suarez
5. 48 Jimmie Johnson
6. 6 Ryan Newman
7. 18 Kyle Busch
8. 22 Joey Logano
9. 11 Denny Hamlin
10. 1 Kurt Busch
Larson gets his second win of the season at Martinsville, moving past Jimmie Johnson with just a few laps to go and outlasting three Stewart-Haas Racing drivers.
O’Reilly Auto Parts 500- Texas
1. 4 Kevin Harvick
2. 14 Clint Bowyer
3. 12 Ryan Blaney
4. 11 Denny Hamlin
5. 22 Joey Logano
6. 18 Kyle Busch
7. 10 Aric Almirola
8. 9 Chase Elliott
9. 20 Erik Jones
10. 42 Kyle Larson
Harvick claims his second win of the season, holding off teammate Clint Bowyer by over three seconds, the widest margin of victory of the season.
Food City 500- Bristol
1. 18 Kyle Busch
2. 12 Ryan Blaney
3. 42 Kyle Larson
4. 22 Joey Logano
5. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
6. 20 Erik Jones
7. 9 Chase Elliott
8. 3 Austin Dillon
9. 1 Kurt Busch
10. 4 Kevin Harvick
Busch gets his second win of the year, moving around Ryan Blaney with 10 laps to go to grab his eighth Cup win at Bristol.
Toyota Owners 400- Richmond
1. 9 Chase Elliott
2. 11 Denny Hamlin
3. 42 Kyle Larson
4. 41 Daniel Suarez
5. 24 William Byron
6. 4 Kevin Harvick
7. 48 Jimmie Johnson
8. 10 Aric Almirola
9. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
10. 2 Brad Keselowski
Chase Elliott earns a popular win, taking his first victory of the season by outpacing old rival Denny Hamlin.
GEICO 500- Talladega
1. 4 Kevin Harvick
2. 41 Daniel Suarez
3. 20 Erik Jones
4. 14 Clint Bowyer
5. 2 Brad Keselowski
6. 21 Paul Menard
7. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
8. 18 Kyle Busch
9. 12 Ryan Blaney
10. 1 Martin Truex Jr.
Joe Gibbs Racing dominates most of the first Talladega race, but are broken up late as Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Harvick and Daniel Suarez break away late, allowing Harvick to get his second Talladega victory.
AAA 400- Dover
1. 42 Kyle Larson
2. 18 Kyle Busch
3. 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
4. 9 Chase Elliott
5. 2 Brad Keselowski
6. 14 Clint Bowyer
7. 88 Alex Bowman
8. 1 Kurt Busch
9. 4 Kevin Harvick
10. 2 Brad Keselowski
The breakthrough season for Larson continues as he takes his third of the year, with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. having a strong run in the top-five.
KC Masterpiece 400- Kansas
1. 12 Ryan Blaney
2. 18 Kyle Busch
3. 10 Aric Almirola
4. 41 Daniel Suarez
5. 20 Erik Jones
6. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
7. 9 Chase Elliott
8. 88 Alex Bowman
9. 42 Kyle Larson
10. 48 Jimmie Johnson
Blaney gets his first victory of the season on a last lap pass around Aric Almirola in overtime.
Coca-Cola 600- Charlotte
1. 18 Kyle Busch
2. 11 Denny Hamlin
3. 2 Brad Keselowski
4. 42 Kyle Larson
5. 3 Austin Dillon
6. 21 Paul Menard
7. 14 Clint Bowyer
8. 4 Kevin Harvick
9. 22 Joey Logano
10. 20 Erik Jones
Joe Gibbs Racing again leads for most of the race, but this time they finish the job as Busch claims his third win of the season and second-straight Coca-Cola 600 win.
Pocono 400- Pocono
1. 4 Kevin Harvick
2. 1 Kurt Busch
3. 18 Kyle Busch
4. 14 Clint Bowyer
5. 11 Denny Hamlin
6. 9 Chase Elliott
7. 3 Austin Dillon
8. 48 Jimmie Johnson
9. 2 Brad Keselowski
10. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
Harvick takes his fourth win of the season and first win at Pocono, despite a late charge from former teammate Kurt Busch.
FireKeepers Casino 400- Michigan
1. 41 Daniel Suarez
2. 2 Brad Keselowski
3. 18 Kyle Busch
4. 4 Kevin Harvick
5. 22 Joey Logano
6. 20 Erik Jones
7. 12 Ryan Blaney
8. 11 Denny Hamlin
9. 14 Clint Bowyer
10. 9 Chase Elliott
Daniel Suarez takes his first career Cup Series win, leading the most laps but having to hold on after a late caution causes overtime.
Toyota/Save Mart 350- Sonoma
1. 42 Kyle Larson
2. 9 Chase Elliott
3. 1 Kurt Busch
4. 4 Kevin Harvick
5. 48 Jimmie Johnson
6. 22 Joey Logano
7. 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
8. 14 Clint Bowyer
9. 41 Daniel Suarez
10. 10 Aric Almirola
Larson claims his fourth victory of the season and first on a road course.
Overton’s 400- Chicagoland
1. 14 Clint Bowyer
2. 10 Aric Almirola
3. 24 William Byron
4. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
5. 22 Joey Logano
6. 1 Kurt Busch
7. 88 Alex Bowman
8. 18 Kyle Busch
9. 8 Daniel Hemric
10. 42 Kyle Larson
Clint Bowyer becomes the beneficiary of weather for the second year in a row, as he is out front as the race is called for rain 96 laps short of the scheduled finish.
Coke Zero Sugar 400- Daytona
1. 2 Brad Keselowski
2. 4 Kevin Harvick
3. 22 Joey Logano
4. 42 Kyle Larson
5. 18 Kyle Busch
6. 41 Daniel Suarez
7. 47 Ryan Preece
8. 1 Kurt Busch
9. 95 Matt DiBenedetto
10. 20 Erik Jones
More rain continues to plague the NASCAR schedule as the race is postponed from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon, however Brad Keselowski holds off Kevin Harvick to take his first victory of the season and second at Daytona.
Quaker State 400- Kentucky
1. 18 Kyle Busch
2. 41 Daniel Suarez
3. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
4. 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
5. 9 Chase Elliott
6. 22 Joey Logano
7. 11 Denny Hamlin
8. 4 Kevin Harvick
9. 2 Brad Keselowski
10. 12 Ryan Blaney
Busch ties with Harvick and Larson in wins on the season with his fourth, taking advantage of race leader Ryan Newman having a flat tire with 12 laps to go.
Foxwoods Casino 301- New Hampshire
1. 41 Daniel Suarez
2. 11 Denny Hamlin
3. 12 Ryan Blaney
4. 20 Erik Jones
5. 10 Aric Almirola
6. 1 Kurt Busch
7. 18 Kyle Busch
8. 2 Brad Keselowski
9. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
10. 9 Chase Elliott
Suarez takes his second victory of the season in the series’ lone trip to New Hampshire.
Gander Outdoors 400- Pocono
1. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
2. 1 Kurt Busch
3. 41 Daniel Suarez
4. 8 Daniel Hemric
5. 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
6. 18 Kyle Busch
7. 4 Kevin Harvick
8. 22 Joey Logano
9. 14 Clint Bowyer
10. 42 Kyle Larson
Martin Truex Jr. looks to pick up where he left off in 2018, taking his first win of the season in a wild last lap shootout seeing Daniel Hemric and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. end up in the top-five.
Go Bowling at the Glen- Watkins Glen
1. 18 Kyle Busch
2. 9 Chase Elliott
3. 22 Joey Logano
4. 12 Ryan Blaney
5. 4 Kevin Harvick
6. 2 Brad Keselowski
7. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
8. 88 Alex Bowman
9. 10 Aric Almirola
10. 47 Ryan Preece
Busch grabs his fifth win of the season and third at Watkins Glen, holding off Chase Elliott who takes his second-straight second place road course finish.
Consumers Energy 400- Michigan
1. 18 Kyle Busch
2. 4 Kevin Harvick
3. 12 Ryan Blaney
4. 22 Joey Logano
5. 10 Aric Almirola
6. 41 Daniel Suarez
7. 1 Kurt Busch
8. 14 Clint Bowyer
9. 42 Kyle Larson
10. 2 Brad Keselowski
Busch carries the momentum of the Watkins Glen win into Michigan, getting his sixth win of the season and second at Michigan, as well as being the first driver of the year to get back-to-back wins.
Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race- Bristol
1. 9 Chase Elliott
2. 18 Kyle Busch
3. 21 Paul Menard
4. 24 William Byron
5. 4 Kevin Harvick
6. 2 Brad Keselowski
7. 48 Jimmie Johnson
8. 20 Erik Jones
9. 22 Joey Logano
10. 43 Bubba Wallace
Elliott gets his second win of the year, holding off a furious charge from Kyle Busch looking to get his third consecutive victory, but coming up short by less than a car length.
Bojangles’ Southern 500- Darlington
1. 11 Denny Hamlin
2. 42 Kyle Larson
3. 88 Alex Bowman
4. 18 Kyle Busch
5. 20 Erik Jones
6. 41 Daniel Suarez
7. 10 Aric Almirola
8. 2 Brad Keselowski
9. 6 Ryan Newman
10. 12 Ryan Blaney
Hamlin gets his second of the season and first since winning the Daytona 500, as well as claiming his third Cup victory at Darlington.
Big Machine Vodka 400- Indianapolis
1. 41 Daniel Suarez
2. 22 Joey Logano
3. 2 Brad Keselowski
4. 42 Kyle Larson
5. 14 Clint Bowyer
6. 11 Denny Hamlin
7. 48 Jimmie Johnson
8. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
9. 1 Kurt Busch
10. 9 Chase Elliott
Suarez gets the third of the season at the Brickyard, the final race before heading into the playoffs.
Playoff Point Standings
1. 18 Kyle Busch (6 wins)
2. 4 Kevin Harvick (4 wins)
3. 42 Kyle Larson (4 wins)
4. 41 Daniel Suarez (3 wins)
5. 9 Chase Elliott (2 wins)
6. 11 Denny Hamlin (2 wins)
7. 2 Brad Keselowski (1 win)
8. 14 Clint Bowyer (1 win)
9. 12 Ryan Blaney (1 win)
10. 20 Erik Jones (1 win)
11. 19 Martin Truex Jr. (1 win)
12. 22 Joey Logano- in on points
13. 1 Kurt Busch- in on points
14. 10 Aric Almirola- in on points
15. 48 Jimmie Johnson- in on points
16. 88 Alex Bowman- in on points
South Point 400- Las Vegas
1. 22 Joey Logano
2. 4 Kevin Harvick
3. 12 Ryan Blaney
4. 9 Chase Elliott
5. 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
6. 14 Clint Bowyer
7. 48 Jimmie Johnson
8. 8 Daniel Hemric
9. 41 Daniel Suarez
10. 88 Alex Bowman
Logano gets his first win of the season, coming in the first round of the playoffs to automatically advance to the next round two races early.
Federated Auto Parts 400- Richmond
1. 4 Kevin Harvick
2. 41 Daniel Suarez
3. 18 Kyle Busch
4. 22 Joey Logano
5. 88 Alex Bowman
6. 12 Ryan Blaney
7. 20 Erik Jones
8. 6 Matt Kenseth
9. 14 Clint Bowyer
10. 3 Austin Dillon
Harvick continues his winning ways with his fifth of the season, as Stewart-Haas Racing finishes one-two.
Bank of America Roval 500- Charlotte Roval
1. 88 Alex Bowman
2. 9 Chase Elliott
3. 42 Kyle Larson
4. 48 Jimmie Johnson
5. 14 Clint Bowyer
6. 1 Kurt Busch
7. 18 Kyle Busch
8. 22 Joey Logano
9. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
10. 4 Kevin Harvick
Alex Bowman claims his first career Cup victory with a daring last-lap pass around teammate Chase Elliott, as Elliott finishes second at all three road courses.
Eliminated From Playoffs
2 Brad Keselowski
19 Martin Truex Jr.
11 Denny Hamlin
10 Aric Almirola
Gander Outdoors 400- Dover
1. 18 Kyle Busch
2. 4 Kevin Harvick
3. 22 Joey Logano
4. 41 Daniel Suarez
5. 12 Ryan Blaney
6. 9 Chase Elliott
7. 11 Denny Hamlin
8. 20 Erik Jones
9. 14 Clint Bowyer
10. 42 Kyle Larson
Busch takes his seventh victory of the season and fourth at Dover, advancing into the next round of the playoffs two races early.
1000Bulbs.com 500- Talladega
1. 14 Clint Bowyer
2. 4 Kevin Harvick
3. 10 Aric Almirola
4. 9 Chase Elliott
5. 18 Kyle Busch
6. 2 Brad Keselowski
7. 3 Austin Dillon
8. 8 Daniel Hemric
9. 42 Kyle Larson
10. 41 Daniel Suarez
Stewart-Haas Racing finishes one-two-three, as Bowyer grabs his second win of the season as Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola help push him to victory.
Hollywood Casino 400- Kansas
1. 22 Joey Logano
2. 12 Ryan Blaney
3. 2 Brad Keselowski
4. 20 Erik Jones
5. 18 Kyle Busch
6. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
7. 88 Alex Bowman
8. 8 Daniel Hemric
9. 4 Kevin Harvick
10. 11 Denny Hamlin
Logano gets his second of the season and the playoffs, as Team Penske follows the lead of Stewart-Haas Racing and finishes one-two-three as well.
Eliminated From Playoffs
42 Kyle Larson
1 Kurt Busch
48 Jimmie Johnson
88 Alex Bowman
First Data 500- Martinsville
1. 18 Kyle Busch
2. 12 Ryan Blaney
3. 41 Daniel Suarez
4. 42 Kyle Larson
5. 22 Joey Logano
6. 4 Kevin Harvick
7. 37 Chris Buescher
8. 47 Ryan Preece
9. 1 Kurt Busch
10. 9 Chase Elliott
Busch grabs his eighth of the season in an intense battle between Ryan Blaney and Daniel Suarez, as Busch again advances to the final four round of the playoffs.
AAA Texas 500- Texas
1. 10 Aric Almirola
2. 11 Denny Hamlin
3. 41 Daniel Suarez
4. 18 Kyle Busch
5. 9 Chase Elliott
6. 1 Kurt Busch
7. 14 Clint Bowyer
8. 22 Joey Logano
9. 19 Martin Truex Jr.
10. 42 Kyle Larson
Almirola picks up his first win of the season and the only win for a playoff-eliminated driver.
Can-Am 500- ISM
1. 4 Kevin Harvick
2. 18 Kyle Busch
3. 20 Erik Jones
4. 22 Joey Logano
5. 2 Brad Keselowski
6. 41 Daniel Suarez
7. 14 Clint Bowyer
8. 10 Aric Almirola
9. 8 Daniel Hemric
10. 34 Michael McDowell
Harvick claims his final four bid with an exclamation point as he gets his sixth win of the season and tenth career win at ISM Raceway. Joey Logano and Daniel Suarez finish fourth and sixth respectively to find their way into the final four as well
Eliminated From Playoffs
9 Chase Elliott
20 Erik Jones
14 Clint Bowyer
12 Ryan Blaney
Final Four
1. 18 Kyle Busch (8 wins)
2. 4 Kevin Harvick (6 wins)
3. 41 Daniel Suarez (3 wins)
4. 22 Joey Logano (2 wins)
Ford EcoBoost 400- Homestead
1. 18 Kyle Busch
2. 22 Joey Logano
3. 4 Kevin Harvick
4. 37 Chris Buescher
5. 2 Brad Keselowski
6. 41 Daniel Suarez
7. 42 Kyle Larson
8. 88 Alex Bowman
9. 9 Chase Elliott
10. 14 Clint Bowyer
Kyle Busch wins his second Cup championship, and first since 2015, denying Joey Logano back-to-back titles as Busch pulls away in the closing laps. Kevin Harvick’s quest for a second championship is also squashed and Daniel Suarez’s chance at a first championship in his first visit to the final four is also ended.
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