NASCAR Power Rankings: The Bank Of America 500 From Charlotte
By Mike Hutton
Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Each week, BeyondTheFlag.com will bring you the NASCAR 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 Contender round of the Chase now begins on Saturday night at Charlotte for the Bank of America 500. Denny Hamlin won the All-Star race back in May, while Carl Edwards used fuel strategy to win the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend. Charlotte also gives us the only (scheduled) night race in the Chase. Just because Jimmie Johnson has been eliminated from championship contention, he and the No. 48 team are very reliable here, so don’t be surprised if he’s the spoiler and steals a win.
New (or returning) to the list this week: 42
Falling off the list this week: 48
Honorable Mention
(Last Week: NR) – Have to give the team credit for keeping him appraised of where he needed to be and whom he needed to pass at Dover. He made a gutsy outside move on McMurray to earn a spot in the Contender round.. No. 88. Hendrick Motorsports. DALE EARNHARDT, JR.. HM
HM. (Last Week: NR) – Another top-5 finish from a team who, had they performed this consistently earlier in the season, just might still be championship eligible at this point. . No. 43. Richard Petty Motorsports. ARIC ALMIROLA
Power Rankings
#10. (Last Week: 10) – Anyone else have the feeling he is going for the low-drama approach this year and will just quietly advance until it’s time to turn it up?. No. 24. Hendrick Motorsports. JEFF GORDON
(Last Week: 8) – Two lengthy pit stops to work on front-end geometry issues didn’t help their cause at Dover.. No. 41. Stewart-Haas Racing. KURT BUSCH. #9
#8. (Last Week: NR) – You were Tony Stewart’s original choice to replace him in the No. 14 in 2017, but it didn’t work out. Had you won the race by beating Stewart’s current driver Harvick, and therefore knocking Kevin out of the Chase, it <em>really</em> wouldn’t have worked out. Smart move.. No. 42. Chip Ganassi Racing. KYLE LARSON
#7. (Last Week: 5) – The “aw, shucks” approach almost got him lapped and sent home, but I hear the fall colors in Michigan are beautiful this time of year. . No. 2. Penske Racing. BRAD KESELOWSKI
Joe Gibbs Racing. CARL EDWARDS. #6. (Last Week: 4) – He said there was a “fluke” lug nut situation at the end. Was it three pit stops flukey, ’cause that’s how many you made?. No. 19
DENNY HAMLIN. #5. (Last Week: 2) – Speeding. Twice. Again.. No. 11. Joe Gibbs Racing
#4. (Last Week: 3) – Quite an accomplishment to go a whole race and the only cars you passed were in the pits.. No. 22. Penske Racking. JOEY LOGANO
Joe Gibbs Racing. MATT KENSETH. #3. (Last Week: 1) – Getting better… he only asked for the Packer’s score twice before he realized they were in San Francisco and had just started when the race ended.. No. 20
No. 18. Joe Gibbs Racing. KYLE BUSCH. #2. (Last Week: 6) – How he caught grief for continuing to advocate for improved safety is beyond my pay grade. Don’t let it bother you, Kyle. The people who want to see wrecks and injuries aren’t true fans, anyway.
No. 4. Stewart-Haas Racing. KEVIN HARVICK. #1. (Last Week: 7) – That’s about as close to calling your shot and then delivering it as this sport gets.