2017 NASCAR Cup Series Season Recap

Originally published on May 13, 2020

By Zane Miller

On Sunday, November 19th, 2017, the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season concluded with Martin Truex Jr. defeating Kyle Busch by 5 points to win the 69th championship in Cup Series history. It was the first (and, as of this writing, only) Cup Series championship for Truex. Truex also claimed the regular season championship.

The 2017 Daytona 500 was won by Kurt Busch, while Kevin Harvick led the most laps with 50. Busch passed Kyle Larson, who had run out of fuel, on the final lap for his only lap led during the race.

2017 playoff results

Out in Round 1

#31 Ryan Newman

#3 Austin Dillon

#5 Kasey Kahne

#41 Kurt Busch

Out in Round 2

#42 Kyle Larson

#20 Matt Kenseth

#1 Jamie McMurray

#17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Out in Round 3

#24 Chase Elliott

#11 Denny Hamlin

#12 Ryan Blaney

#48 Jimmie Johnson

Final Four

4. #2 Brad Keselowski (-10, Finished 7th in final race)

Keselowski grabbed fourth as he had three wins, 15 top-fives and 21 top-10s, scoring an average finish of 12.4 while leading the most laps in two races.

3. #4 Kevin Harvick (-7, Finished 4th in final race)

Harvick claimed the third spot with two wins, 14 top-fives and 23 top-10s for an average finish of 11.1. Harvick also led the most laps in three races.

2. #18 Kyle Busch (-5, Finished 2nd in final race)

Busch took runner-up with five wins, 14 top-fives and 22 top-10s for an average finish of 11.5. Busch led the most laps in 10 races during the season.

1. #78 Martin Truex Jr. (Won final race)

Truex earned the championship with eight wins, 19 top-fives and 26 top-10s, getting an average finish of 9.4 while leading the most laps in nine races.

Race Winners (left) & Lap Leaders (right)

 

Link to stats database: https://www.racing-reference.info/yeardet/2017/W