NASCAR: Ranking the 16 playoff drivers in 2017

By Asher Fair | Sep 14, 2017

RICHMOND, VA - SEPTEMBER 09: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 Mountain Dew Chevrolet,, Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 DOW Chevrolet,, Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 Hurricane Harvey Relief Toyota, Ryan Newman, driver of the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, Jamie McMurray, driver of the #1 McDonald's Chevrolet, Ryan Blaney, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Great Clips Chevrolet, Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Fitzgerald Glider Kits Ford, Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John's Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #17 Fastenal Ford, and Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, pose for a photo after making the playoffs following the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway on September 9, 2017 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

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RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 09: Playoff drivers pose for a photo after making the playoffs following the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond Raceway on September 9, 2017 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

The 2017 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs are finally here. How do each of the 16 drivers in the playoffs rank against the others?

The 2017 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs have finally arrived. The 16 drivers who will go at it in attempt to win this year’s championship have been determined, with 13 having won at least one race so far this season. Who are they?

Before we start ranking those 16 drivers, let’s have a look at who they are in alphabetical order.

Ryan Blaney drives the #21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford.
Kurt Busch drives the #41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.
Kyle Busch drives the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
Austin Dillon drives the #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.
Chase Elliott drives the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
Denny Hamlin drives the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
Kevin Harvick drives the #4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.
Jimmie Johnson drives the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
Kasey Kahne drives the #5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
Matt Kenseth drives the #20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
Brad Keselowski drives the #2 Team Penske Ford.
Kyle Larson drives the #42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet.
Jamie McMurray drives the #1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet.
Ryan Newman drives the #31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. drives the #17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford.
Martin Truex Jr. drives the #78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota.

How do the 16 drivers stack up against one another before the playoffs begin? Let’s start with #16 and work our way all the way up to #1 on the list.

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