Power Rankings: The FedEx 400 From Dover

After an exciting Sunday of racing which saw this author attend his 38th consecutive Indianapolis 500, summer feels like it is officially underway! The Power Rankings for the FedEx 400 from Dover are below:

A note about this week’s honorable mentions: I usually will not repeat a driver in that slot – they either need to step up and earn a “regular” spot in the top 10 or else fall down and not be worthy of a mention. My reasons for this week’s repeats I feel are compelling, and are outlined below.

New to the list this week: 19

Dropping off the list this week: 48

Honorable Mention

KYLE BUSCH

No. 18 | Joe Gibbs Racing

(Last Week: NR) – Kyle has now competed successfully two weeks in a row to show that he appears fine physically. Breaking into the top 10 finishers would go a long way to include him on the “real” list.

GREG BIFFLE

No. 16 | Roush-Fenway Racing

(Last Week: NR) – This is the best showing by a RFR driver in quite some time, but one 2nd place finish doesn’t break you in to the top 10 considering the strength of the weekly players in that group. Consistent finishes like this do, though.

CARL EDWARDS

No. 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing

#10

(Last Week: NR) – Winning a race goes a long way to getting you on the list. Winning NASCAR’s longest one goes even further. Whatever that sticky goo was on your shoe early in the race, you might want to bottle that up and bring it to Dover this week too.

JOEY LOGANO

No. 22 | Team Penske

(Last Week: 9) – Joey actually used the phrase “back in the day” during an interview this week. Son, you just turned 25…. I have a pair of jeans older than you are. You don’t get to use that phrase yet. Oh wait – you must have meant back in the day when people who qualified 2nd actually maintained that spot during the race and didn’t fall back. I see.

DENNY HAMLIN

No. 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing

(Last Week: 8) – Last week you were 8th. You finished 8th in the race. This week you’re ranked 8th. See how this works?

BRAD KESELOWSKI

No. 2 | Team Penske

(Last Week: 10) – Your new daughter needs daddy to sign over the $172,911 paycheck to her right now. Get used to it.

JEFF GORDON

No. 24 | Hendrick Motorsports

(Last Week: 3) – Jeff should have stayed in Indianapolis. That was the only look he got this weekend of leading a race.

MATT KENSETH

No. 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing

(Last Week: 7) – Got a plane to catch, Matt? You were looking anywhere but into the camera during your post-race comments on FOX. You could have at least acknowledged your teammate Edwards’ victory. JGR isn’t all about you.

KURT BUSCH

No. 41 | Stewart-Haas Racing

(Last Week: 6) – You need to get Allmendinger, Patrick and your boss Stewart and all go do the Indy/Charlotte double one of these years. Each of you has already competed in both races. Realistically, it would never happen, but it might be a great story. Take your Chevrolets with you, though… the Hondas are junk up there.

DALE EARNHARDT, JR.

No. 88 | Hendrick Motorsports

(Last Week: 4) – He’s in the chase and admittedly wants to gamble to win races and isn’t concerned about points. Be careful – at the rate we’re going, we could have more than 16 race winners come Chase time, and then points will matter. Love the aggressiveness, though.

MARTIN TRUEX, JR.

No. 78 | Furniture Row Racing

(Last Week: 5) – Poor guy cannot catch a break. He led 131 laps on Sunday night and might have won if he didn’t have to save fuel. That’s solid enough for me to move him up.

KEVIN HARVICK

No.4 | Stewart-Haas Racing

(Last Week: 1) – Jimmie was your closest rival to the top of the list, and he mailed it in this week, so you’re safe for now. That black No. 78 is getting larger in your mirror, though.

Did your favorite driver make the list? If not, who above would you replace to get them in? Discuss below!