NASCAR Power Rankings: The Pennsylvania 400 From Pocono
By Mike Hutton
Each week, BeyondTheFlag.com will bring you the Power Rankings heading into the upcoming event on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Schedule. The results will be derived from both season-to-date performance as well as the finish order from the most recent event. Be sure to check back each Tuesday to see if your favorite driver made the list, and to let us know if you agree or disagree!
The series now returns to the “tricky triangle” for the second time this season, which is three too many. Nonetheless, drivers will be back to the standard 2015 rules package after the high-drag configuration used at Indianapolis. This race will also be the next stop in the “Jeff Gordon’s final race here” series, which began in Daytona in early July. With Martin Truex, Jr.’s return to the Top-10 this week coupled with his victory here in June, will he return to the consistency we saw earlier this season? Check back next week to find out!
New (or returning) to the list this week: 22, 78
Dropping off of the list this week: 24, 88
Honorable Mention
HM. (Last Week: NR) – Nice recovery from your early contact for a strong top ten finish.. No. 15. Michael Waltrip Racing. CLINT BOWYER
HM. (Last Week: NR) – Sure looked like he took what he learned in Saturday’s Xfinity race with another strong Indy run to finish 12th.. No. 21. The Wood Brothers. RYAN BLANEY
Power Rankings
No. 48. Hendrick Motorsports. JIMMIE JOHNSON. #10. (Last Week: 10) – He makes the cut because of his tie for his season-to-date four wins. All of his HMS teammates were too busy knocking down walls (Gordon,) mowing grass (Earnhardt, Jr.) or just out for a leisurely drive (Kahne.)
#9. (Last Week: NR) – This team is getting some momentum back similar to what they displayed earlier this year with the consecutive top 10 streak. They’ve also got to have their eyes on the Toyota resurgence as well as they contemplate a rumored manufacturer change for next season.. No. 78. Furniture Row Racing. MARTIN TRUEX, JR.
Penske Racing. JOEY LOGANO. #8. (Last Week: NR) – Came so close to giving car owner Roger Penske his first Indianapolis NASCAR victory with his 2nd-place finish. He said before the race that he was very confident because he felt the re-starts would be crazy and that he has always been good on re-starts. Yeah… except there was one guy just a little better.. No. 22
#7. (Last Week: 2) – He led three times for 17 laps. Not bad considering his 31st-place starting spot. He just seemed a little gassed (figuratively) at the end.. No. 2. Penske Racing. BRAD KESELOWSKI
No. 11. Joe Gibbs Racing. DENNY HAMLIN. #6. (Last Week: 8) – Back at the shop today conducting interviews for a new hood-pin-putter-inner guy, since somebody dropped the ball (and his hood) on Indy’s main straightaway during Friday’s opening practice session.
CARL EDWARDS. #5. (Last Week: 4) – Helping lead the strong showing of Toyota power lately with a pole-winning qualifying run, and then envisioned his characteristic back flip if he was to also win the race. First things first, Carl.. No. 19. Joe Gibbs Racing
Stewart-Haas Racing. KURT BUSCH. #4. (Last Week: 6) – Getting beaten by your kid brother each week has to hurt. Take comfort in the fact that your ex-girlfriend is making you look better and better.. No. 41
#3. (Last Week: 5) – He said that if he had invented Indy’s high-drag rules package, he would have run for the Bahamas. Still spots open on the plane for Nassau during Michigan weekend, where the series will use the same package again.. No. 20. Joe Gibbs Racing. MATT KENSETH
#2. (Last Week: 3) – Did you really think the No. 11 was going to push you by his team mate at the end? I didn’t think so, either.. No. 4. Stewart-Haas Racing. KEVIN HARVICK
#1. (Last Week: 1) – Not only will he acquire the 23 points remaining to make him Chase-eligible, he’ll be a Chase contender to the end. Anything less would be a disappointment at this point.. No. 18. Joe Gibbs Racing. KYLE BUSCH
Did your favorite driver make the list? Be sure to share your opinion below and via our social media channels today!
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