Take 5: Lessons learned from Pocono-2

Kyle Busch added another win for the 'Big 3' on Sunday after taking the checkered flag at Pocono Raceway. However, with the playoffs looming, the battle for the final spots are heating up. Here are five lessons learned from a tricky race.

Charmed pupils: Two members of the 'Kyle Busch School of Charm' -- a nickname Busch gave the young drivers he brought up through his Camping World Truck Series team -- may be schooling their own teacher soon. While 'Rowdy' brought home the victory for the No. 18 team, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates (and former KBM drivers) Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones battled one another for the runner-up spot. Suarez scored his first career second-place finish in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, while Jones -- who won at Daytona on July 7 -- finished fifth. 'I'm running myself out of a job is what I'm doing,' Busch said lightheartedly after the race. 'One of these days, they're going to have it all put together, and they're going to be able to outshine me and beat me.'

Too bad for the No. 2: With his fourth-place starting position and innovative crew chief Paul Wolfe atop the pit box for a tricky Pocono race, Brad Keselowski looked poised to earn his first win of 2018. Keselowski's absence in Victory Lane this season has been surprising as the No. 2 Team Penske driver had earned two wins by this point last season. A blown tire marred his chance at the checkered flag at Pocono and scored 38th, marking his second straight finish outside the top 30. He also wrecked at Daytona three weeks earlier, finishing 36th. It begs the question, is this just a phase for the No. 2 or is something wrong? 'We were just trying to make all we can out of it,' he said after his accident Sunday. 'We just aren't good enough to really run any better than we are, but we sure are trying.'

Started from the bottom, now they're ... ?: After 13 cars failed post-qualifying inspection on Saturday, the back of the field looked slightly different on race day, with race favorites like Kevin Harvick and eventual race winner Kyle Busch charging from the rear. While a pit road collision with Aric Almirola essentially removed the No. 4 from checkered flag contention, he still managed a fourth-place effort and won Stage 2. Of the drivers who started from the rear, Busch (first), Harvick (fourth), William Byron (sixth), Clint Bowyer (11th), Ryan Blaney (12th) and Austin Dillon (13th) ended the day in the top 15. Jimmie Johnson (17th), Paul Menard (21st), Kyle Larson (23rd), Almirola (25th), Joey Logano (26th) and Kasey Kahne (30th) all started from the rear, too. Bubba Wallace also started the race from the back, but his hard crash sidelined the No. 43 early for a 33rd-place finish.

Banner day for JGR: Race winner Kyle Busch wasn't the only Joe Gibbs Racing vehicle to have a solid day at the Tricky Triangle. Daniel Suarez scored his career-best second-place finish, while Erik Jones nabbed a fifth-place result after battling with Suarez for the runner-up spot in the waning laps. Denny Hamlin completed the four-team entry with a solid 10th-place showing in the No. 11 Toyota. JGR also swept the top three starting positions, with Suarez, Hamlin and Jones (respectively). 'I think Daniel gave it everything he had today,' team owner Joe Gibbs said. 'We keep waiting for Denny to hit it, and I really appreciate today. ... Really proud, and big day for us. I think it does give you a lot of confidence going forward and getting ready for the (playoffs).'

Playoff picture shaping up: With five races left until the playoff field is set, the time is running out for several drivers outside the bubble to race their way into the championship hunt. Sunday's race at Pocono saw that urgency, as several drivers near the edge of the playoff bubble made runs for the top of the speed charts. Sunday's runner-up Daniel Suarez sits 96 points outside the playoff field after Pocono, but came close to winning his way into the playoffs if he'd been able to run down Kyle Busch at the end. Hendrick Motorsports teammates Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott remain on the 'in' side of the bubble and put on strong performances Sunday, as Bowman nabbed a career-best third, while Elliott finished seventh. Rookie William Byron sits outside the top 20 in the playoff standings, but led 10 laps around Pocono, earning a season-best sixth-place result.