Power Rankings: The Federated Auto Parts 400 From Richmond
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 week to see if your favorite driver made the list, and to let us know if you agree or disagree!
The series now heads to Richmond International Raceway for the Federated Auto Parts 400, where Kurt Busch won in dominating fashion by leading 291 of 400 laps earlier this year in a race that was rain-delayed from Saturday night until Sunday.
New (or returning) to the list this week: 78
Falling off the list this week: 55
Honorable Mention
HM. (Last Week: NR) – In a race where success was more a factor of driver’s skill than it was car, it’s no wonder Stewart had a strong run and led 10 laps. Now if he can just get a pit crew to show up… . No. 14. Stewart-Haas Racing. TONY STEWART
HM. (Last Week: NR) – A.J.’s car had the driver name “Justin Wilson” over the door this weekend. He gets an honorable mention for being the classiest guy in the cup garage. . No. 47. JTG Daugherty Racing. A.J. ALLMENDINGER
Power Rankings
#10. (Last Week: NR) – He’s looking like he did earlier this season when he consistently finished in the top 10. That works well with the Chase format.. No. 78. Furniture Row Racing. MARTIN TRUEX, JR.
DALE EARNHARDT, JR.. #9. (Last Week: 8) – A big improvement over practice and qualifying. He wasn’t heard from until the end, and then shows up in the top-10, but there’s some concern that he was the only Hendrick car which did so.. No. 88. Hendrick Motorsports
Stewart-Haas Racing. KURT BUSCH. #8. (Last Week: 9) – He could have contributed to the throwback theme by finding someone to bang doors with like he did with Ricky Craven. Instead, he just spun all by himself.. No. 41
Joe Gibbs Racing. MATT KENSETH. #7. (Last Week: 5) – The No. 20 hit the wall on lap No. 20. That always leaves a mark.. No. 20
(Last Week: 3) – He’s now mathematically guaranteed to finish in the top-30 in points and has the wins to put him in the Chase. Returning to Richmond where he used the “eight tires are better than four” a few years back should be interesting.. No. 18. Joe Gibbs Racing. KYLE BUSCH. #6
#5. (Last Week: 7) – His team chose to put scuffed tires back on the car to preserve new tires for the end of the race. That only works if you actually USE all of your allotted sets, and not have them left after the race.. No. 11. Joe Gibbs Racing. DENNY HAMLIN
#4. (Last Week: 2) – He said that they set the car up for the end of the race. Huh? He was stronger at the beginning.. No. 4. Stewart-Haas Racing. KEVIN HARVICK
#3. (Last Week: 1) – He said he really liked the white pants worn by the No. 3 crew on Friday. Fashion queen replaces sliced bread as his new nickname.. No. 22. Penske Racing. JOEY LOGANO
BRAD KESELOWSKI. #2. (Last Week: 6) – Another skillful execution of his “maybe I’ll go and maybe I won’t” restarts. NASCAR has your number, now.. No. 2. Penske Racing
Joe Gibbs Racing. CARL EDWARDS. #1. (Last Week: 4) – Carl book-ended his summer with wins on Memorial Day and Labor Day. Do that in the Chase as well and he’ll like the result.. No. 19
So… has your favorite driver won already and therefore securely in the Chase? Are they just barely in on points? Just on the outside looking in? Be sure to comment below or on our social media pages.