Last season, all the hullabaloo in NASCAR was about "Big 3" this, "Big 3" that.
Not anymore.
We're still only six weeks into the 2019 Cup Series season, and yet it's already evident what this year's new craze will be. So long to the days of Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Kyle Busch versus the field. So long to the Big 3.
Everyone, welcome the Big 2.
Those two being Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske. It's not as fun or convenient (or specific) when it is full teams excelling rather than individual drivers, but in this case, the results speak for themselves. JGR and Penske drivers have won every race so far this year, and while that could change as soon as this week _ Stewart-Haas Racing's Harvick to win at Texas, anyone? _ it's not something we can just cast aside.
Gibbs' roster includes Busch, Truex, Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, and Erik Jones. Penske has reigning Cup champion Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, and Ryan Blaney. Six of those are currently in the top eight of the points standings, with Jones in 14th as the lone exception. That is definitely something.
Of course, those organizations are buoyed by their respective stars. Busch and Truex stand out for Gibbs, having advanced to the championship race each of the last two years. Logano obviously is the reigning champ, and Keselowski has a title of his own plus two wins already in 2019.
That's not to knock Jones or Blaney, who have one and two Cup wins in their careers, respectively. Or Hamlin, who just won NASCAR's most prestigious race a month ago. That's elite depth from JGR and Penske, which you can't say about any other team.
The other big-name programs _ Stewart-Haas, Hendrick Motorsports, Chip Ganassi Racing _ all have their good drivers, too. Let's not pretend they don't. Just this past weekend, Chase Elliott earned HMS its first top five of the year. Harvick already has three such finishes. Their wins are coming, make no mistake about it.
But just like last year, when we could appreciate strong performances from anyone on any given afternoon, we also knew who to put our faith in when the engines started. If you took the Big 3 against the field last year, more times than not, you made a safe bet. Same goes this year for the Big 2.
It's entirely possible the Big 2 doesn't last the entire season. If last season's championship race taught us anything, it's that a popular nickname absolutely does not guarantee future success.
Strong racing does, though. And until proven otherwise, I'll take the Big 2 over the field.
For now, of course.
