NASCAR Playoff Driver Power Rankings: Martin Truex Jr. leads

After the 27th race of the season and first race of the playoffs at Chicagoland,how do the NASCAR Cup Series driver power rankings look?

With 27 races down, of which one has been a playoff race, there are just nine more races until the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion will be crowned. Which drivers look the best as we head into the second race 2017 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs at New Hampshire?

Here are the updated NASCAR Cup Series driver power rankings following the action from Chicagoland, the first venue of the playoffs. Which drivers rank where after Martin Truex Jr.’s victory?

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

Also note that the “Last Race” category reflects rankings from the pre-playoff 16 driver rankings, not from last week’s edition of the NASCAR driver power rankings.

Non-Playoff Drivers (Not Ranked)

• Erik Jones, #77, Furniture Row Racing, Toyota
• Clint Bowyer, #14, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford
• Daniel Suarez, #19, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota
• Joey Logano, #22, Team Penske, Ford
• Trevor Bayne, #6, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford
• 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