2019 NASCAR Cup Series Season Recap

Originally published on May 14, 2020 

By Zane Miller

On Sunday, November 17th, 2019, the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season concluded with Kyle Busch defeating Martin Truex Jr. by 5 points to win the 71st championship in Cup Series history. It was the second (and, as of this writing, most recent) Cup Series championship for Busch. Busch also claimed the regular season championship.

The 2019 Daytona 500 was won by Denny Hamlin, while Matt DiBenedetto led the most laps with 49.

2019 playoff results

Out in Round 1

#10 Aric Almirola

#6 Ryan Newman

#24 William Byron

#20 Erik Jones

Out in Round 2

#2 Brad Keselowski

#14 Clint Bowyer

#88 Alex Bowman

#1 Kurt Busch

Out in Round 3

#22 Joey Logano

#42 Kyle Larson

#12 Ryan Blaney

#9 Chase Elliott

Final Four

4. #11 Denny Hamlin (-13, Finished 10th in final race)

Hamlin claimed fourth with six wins, 19 top-fives and 24 top-10s along the way to an average finish of 9.5, while leading the most laps in three races.

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

Harvick took third with four victories, 15 top-fives and 26 top-10s for an average finish of 10.0. Harvick also led the most laps in six races.

2. #19 Martin Truex Jr. (-5, Finished 2nd in final race)

Truex had the runner-up spot with seven wins, 15 top-fives and 24 top-10s for an average finish of 9.8, leading the most laps in four starts.

1. #18 Kyle Busch (Won final race)

Busch won the championship on the strength of five wins, 17 top-fives and 27 top-10s for an average finish of 8.9. Busch led the most laps in nine races during the season.

Race Winners (left) & Lap Leaders (right)

 

Link to stats database: https://www.racing-reference.info/yeardet/2019/W