NASCAR: Driver Power Rankings After Indianapolis

Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JULY 23: Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on July 23, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

After the 20th of 36 races this season, how do the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver power rankings look? Who is trending upwards after the Indianapolis race, and who is falling?

With 20 races down, there are still six 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

Clint Bowyer, #14, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford (-2)
Ryan Blaney, #21, Wood Brothers Racing, Ford (-1)
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., #17, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford
Ryan Newman, #31, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet
Austin Dillon, #3, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet
Trevor Bayne, #6, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford
Kurt Busch, #41, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford
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

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 23: Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag under caution to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on July 23, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

Honorable Mentions

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 23: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Chevrolet, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on July 23, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

#10 and #9

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 23: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Tide Pods Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on July 23, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

#8 and #7

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 23: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on July 23, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

#6 and #5

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 23: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Skittles Toyota, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on July 23, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

#4 and #3

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JULY 23: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, leads Erik Jones, driver of the #77 Sport Clips Toyota, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on July 23, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

#2 and #1

Next: NASCAR Team Power Rankings

Asher Fair

Asher has been with FanSided since Feb. 2017, primarily covering motorsport – NASCAR, IndyCar, and F1 – for Beyond the Flag. He became an officially accredited media member in Sep. 2019 and was hired as Junior Editor in Oct. 2020. Following a promotion to Associate Editor in Jul. 2021, he continues to manage the site and also occasionally contributes on FanSided's NFL and NCAA sites.