SCS NASCAR Power Rankings: Dover
Hey, race fans! I apologize for the delay in Power Rankings this week. Check out who’s on fire after Dover, and who dropped out!
New this week are Martin Truex Jr., Marcos Ambrose, and Brad Keselowski. They replace David Ragan, Regan Smith, and Paul Menard.
1. Carl Edwards(Last Week: 1[+/-0]): Carl was one of two drivers who dominated at Dover but got burned late by pit strategy. This team is still unarguably the best in NASCAR right now.
2. Kyle Busch(LW: 2[+/-0]): Kyle came from 43rd starting spot to finish fourth, and did so quietly. Perhaps this is the best example of the new Rowdy that we’ve seen to this point.
3. Jimmie Johnson(LW: 3[+/-0]): Jimmie led the most laps on Sunday but didn’t finish in the top 5. More upsetting was the fact that he didn’t win on Jimmie Johnson Day. Oh well, I hear Chad Knaus Day is coming up here soon.
4. Clint Bowyer(LW: 5[+1]): After Saturday’s race, Clint was probably just happy to finish on all four wheels. To cross in the sixth position was just an added bonus for The Boy.
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr(LW: 4[-1]): Another week for Junior where a top 10 run was turned into a top 15 finish. Still, Dale Earnhardt(that’s what they’re calling him now) is at least running well.
6. Kevin Harvick(LW: 8[+2]): Harvick finished tenth at Dover. But Not-So-Happy better be careful what he says to his pit crew, or they may not be so quick to defend him the next time he tries to start a fistfight.
7. Matt Kenseth(LW: 11[+4]): Matt came from nowhere to win Sunday at Dover. Now that they’re calling Harvick “The Closer”, can we please start calling Kenseth “Mr. Where Did He Come From?”
8. Greg Biffle(LW: 10[+2]): Not a stellar run for the Biff, but 19th isn’t bad considering his throttle pedal broke before Lap 40.
9. Ryan Newman(LW: 6[-3]): Not much to write about here…
10. Tony Stewart(LW: 7[-3]): …or here. Oh hey, did I ever tell you about the time Tony went to Australia?
11. AJ Allmendinger(LW: 9[-2]): The best run Dinger’s had all year was hampered by mechanical problems. Story of his career. At least the #43 got to run up front for a little bit.
12. Kurt Busch(LW: 12[+/-0]): Another race, another big fat “meh” from the #22 team. At least they’re consistent.
13. Mark Martin(LW: 17[+4]): Good to see the Kid up near the front at Dover. Don’t look now, but he’s holding down a wild card Chase spot at the moment in 11th.
14. Denny Hamlin(LW: 13[-1]): Kind of an off day for a driver still looking to find a consistent groove. But 16th at a track Hamlin considers his worst isn’t awful.
15. Jeff Gordon(LW: 16[+1]): A part of me almost hopes somebody else from 11th-20th in the standings wins a race before the Chase. Because the way Jeff’s running, he won’t even be a factor.
16. Kasey Kahne(LW: 14[-2]): Tough luck on the blown motor for Kahne. Still, this #4 team is putting together solid runs, and we go to Charlotte next; Kahne’s best track.
17. Martin Truex Jr(LW: NR): The Napa guy has put together two straight top 10 finishes. Must be all that “Know How”.
18. Marcos Ambrose(LW: NR): The Tasmanian can’t seem to decide whether he wants to be a top contender or a middle-of-the-road driver. Marcos was the former at Dover, and he’s starting to string together a career year.
19. Brad Keselowski(LW: NR): B.K. now has a couple of decent runs put together. I’d make a big deal about how he’s finished ahead of his teammate in each of the last two races, but it really isn’t that hard.
20. Juan Pablo Montoya(LW: 15[-5]): Put simply, the Colombian is heading in the wrong direction. Fast.