NASCAR Driver Power Rankings: Martin Truex Jr. is the favorite
By Asher Fair
Which of the four Championship 4 drivers look the best as the final race of the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season at Homestead-Miami approaches?
With 35 of 36 races of the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season now complete, of which nine have been playoff races, just one race remains until the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion will be crowned. That race will be held next Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.
Which of the four Championship 4 drivers who will be battling for the right to be called 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion rank where in these rankings as the series heads to the final playoff race of the season at Homestead-Miami?
Here are the updated NASCAR Cup Series driver power rankings following the action from Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, the ninth of 10 venues in the 2017 playoffs and the third and final venue in the Round of 8.
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Which of the four Championship 4 drivers rank where in these rankings after Matt Kenseth and in Joe Gibbs Racing’s victory at the track in the first playoff race and first overall race of the season that was won by a playoff driver who was not mathematically still in championship contention at the time of his victory?
NOTE: The “Last Race” category includes each driver’s rankings in the previous edition of the NASCAR driver power rankings, which were the rankings after the Texas Round of 8 playoff race.
Non-Championship 4 Playoff Drivers (Not Ranked)
- Chase Elliott, #24, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Denny Hamlin, #11, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota
- Ryan Blaney, #21, Wood Brothers Racing, Ford
- Jimmie Johnson, #48, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
- Kyle Larson, #42, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet
- Matt Kenseth, #20, Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota
- Jamie McMurray, #1, Chip Ganassi Racing, Chevrolet
- Ricky Stenhouse, #17, Roush Fenway Racing, Ford
- Ryan Newman, #31, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet
- Austin Dillon, #3, Richard Childress Racing, Chevrolet
- Kurt Busch, #41, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford
- Kasey Kahne, #5, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
- 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
#4 through #1
#4. [Last Race: 4th (-)] — Brad Keselowski qualified for the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami because of his point total, but he did not close out the Round of 8 with a whole lot of momentum, as he was only able to finish in 16th place at Phoenix. Nevertheless, he is still looking to win his second career NASCAR Cup Series championship.<p class=. No. 2. Team Penske, Ford. BRAD KESELOWSKI
#3. [Last Race: 3rd (-)] — While he only finished in 7th place, Kyle Busch made the most of a fairly lackluster day at Phoenix to close out the Round of 8. That race did not change the fact that he still has his sights set on winning his second career NASCAR Cup Series championship at Homestead-Miami.<p class=. No. 18. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota. KYLE BUSCH
#2. [Last Race: 1st (-1)] — Kevin Harvick may have only two victories so far this season, but he is heating up at the right time. In each of the last three races, including his win at Texas, he has finished in the top 5 as he prepares to attempt to win his second career NASCAR Cup Series championship at Homestead-Miami.. No. 4. Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford. KEVIN HARVICK
#1. [Last Race: 2nd (+1)] — While he didn’t win any of the three races in the Round of 8, Martin Truex Jr. never finished lower than 3rd place. While he is the only Championship 4 driver without a career NASCAR Cup Series championship to his name, he enters the season finale at Homestead-Miami as the favorite and with tons of momentum, as he has racked up four consecutive podium finishes.. No. 78. Furniture Row Racing, Toyota. MARTIN TRUEX JR.
Next: NASCAR Playoffs: Pros and Cons
The Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, the site of the Championship 4, will take place next Sunday, November 19th and will be broadcast live on NBC starting at 3:00 PM ET. Will it be Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch or Brad Keselowski winning the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series championship?