NASCAR: Driver Power Rankings After Watkins Glen

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WATKINS GLEN, NY – AUGUST 05: Daniel Suarez driver of the #19 STANLEY Toyota drives during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series I Love NY 355 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 5, 2017 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images /

#10 and #9

#10. [Last Race: Honorable Mention (+2)] — Rookie Daniel Suarez appears to be the hottest driver in the Cup Series right now. He is the only driver who has finished each of the last four races in the top 8, and he has done so with finished of 6th place, 7th place, 7th place and 3rd place, respectively. It took 19 races for Joe Gibbs Racing to finally win one this season, but that race is when Suarez really turned it on. Unfortunately he will likely need to win his first career Cup Series race in order to qualify for this season’s playoffs, as it may be too little, too late for him to get in on points.. No. 19. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota. DANIEL SUAREZ

#9. [Last Race: 8th (-1)] — Chase Elliott has not finished higher than 10th place in any of the last four races, and given the fact that he has not won a race yet this season, or in his entire Cup Series career at that, that statistic does not bode well for him in terms of qualifying for this season’s playoffs. While he would currently be in the playoffs if they started today, his gap above the playoff cut line has been shrinking, and an unexpected first-time race winner in 2017 or even one really bad race could throw a huge wrench into his chances of getting in.. No. 24. Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet. CHASE ELLIOTT

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