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NASCAR: Driver Power Rankings After Kentucky

By Asher Fair

SPARTA, KY - JULY 08: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Snickers Toyota, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, lead the field during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway on July 8, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
SPARTA, KY - JULY 08: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Snickers Toyota, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, lead the field during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway on July 8, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /
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SPARTA, KY – JULY 08: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Snickers Toyota, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, lead the field during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway on July 8, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
SPARTA, KY – JULY 08: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Snickers Toyota, and Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota, lead the field during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway on July 8, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /

After the 18th of 36 races this season, how do the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver power rankings look? Who is trending upwards after Kentucky, and who is falling?

With 18 races down, there are still eight races for NASCAR drivers to lock up a spot for themselves in the playoffs. Which drivers have the best chance of doing so with the new playoff format?

NOTE:  The “Last Race” category includes each driver’s rankings in the previous edition of the NASCAR driver power rankings.

Not Ranked

  • Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #17, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford (-2)
  • Ryan Newman, #31, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet (-1)
  • Matt Kenseth, #20, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota
  • Austin Dillon, #3, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet
  • Trevor Bayne, #6, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford
  • Kurt Busch, #41, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford
  • Kasey Kahne, #5, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
  • Daniel Suarez, #19, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota
  • Erik Jones, #77, Furniture Row Racing, Toyota
  • Ty Dillon, #13, Germain Racing, Chevrolet
  • Aric Almirola, #43, Richard Petty Motorsports, Ford
  • Paul Menard, #27, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet
  • Dale Earnhardt Jr., #88, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
  • Chris Buescher, #37, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet
  • David Ragan, #38, Front Row Motorsports, Ford
  • Michael McDowell, #95, Leavine Family Racing, Chevrolet
  • Cole Whitt, #72, TriStar Motorsports, Chevrolet/Ford
  • AJ Allmendinger, #47, JTG Daugherty Racing, Chevrolet
  • Landon Cassill, #34, Front Row Motorsports, Ford
  • Matt DiBenedetto, #32, Go FAS Racing, Ford
  • Danica Patrick, #10, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford
  • Corey Lajoie, #83, BK Racing, Toyota
  • Reed Sorenson, #15, Premium Motorsports, Chevrolet/Toyota
  • Gray Gaulding, #23, BK Racing, Toyota
  • Jeffrey Earnhardt, #33, Circle Sport/TMG, Chevrolet
  • Michael Waltrip, #15, Premium Motorsports, Chevrolet/Toyota
  • Derrike Cope, #55, Premium Motorsports, Chevrolet/Toyota
  • DJ Kennington, #96, Gaunt Brothers Racing, Toyota
  • Cody Ware, #55, Premium Motorsports, Chevrolet/Toyota
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