Brad Keselowski’s triple-win score is something that doesn’t happen often in NASCAR, even if it’s been relatively frequent this year. David Allio/Icon Sportswire The 2018 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs started in style on Sunday, and what better locale for drama, controversy and oodles of Miller Lite than Las Vegas? The attrition rate and unpredictability bodes well

8:51 AM ET The Big Three. That’s the term we’ve heard throughout the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season, referring to collectively dominant performances of Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and defending series champion Martin Truex Jr. Between them, they have hoarded 17 wins in 27 races. On Sunday evening, Brad Keselowski made his case for a

10:10 AM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports Dale Earnhardt Jr. will return to the driver’s seat on Friday, and he insists he won’t worry about whether he will return to Victory Lane at Richmond Raceway. Earnhardt, who retired from NASCAR

8:17 PM ET Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Brad Keselowski raced to his third consecutive NASCAR Cup victory Sunday, persevering through a wreck-filled Sunday afternoon and roaring away from the field in overtime to claim the playoff opener. Keselowski secured team owner Roger Penske’s 500th victory across all competitions with a resourceful performance amid trying

6:24 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports LAS VEGAS — NASCAR Cup Series championship contender Kevin Harvick blasted Goodyear for what he said were inconsistent tires following a right front tire going flat, resulting in an accident that ended his

10:20 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports LAS VEGAS — Paul Wolfe, celebrating his third consecutive victory as crew chief for Brad Keselowski, laughed at the question. “If I had told you before Darlington that you’d win three races just

2:09 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports LAS VEGAS — Barney Visser walked through the Las Vegas Motor Speedway garage Sunday getting hugs from employees and others as he came to his first race since announcing Sept. 4 that he

9:57 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports LAS VEGAS — Ross Chastain works on a watermelon farm in Florida but has spent the past seven years competing on the national series level to realize his dream of winning a NASCAR

5:07 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports LAS VEGAS — Ryan Newman won’t return to Richard Childress Racing after the 2018 season, ending a five-year run driving the No. 31 car. Newman, who has driven the RCR No. 31 car

12:22 AM ET Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Grant Enfinger won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Friday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after leader Brett Moffit ran out of fuel on the third overtime shootout attempt. Enfinger advanced to the second round of the playoffs with his second career victory. The 2015