NASCAR: Post-Season Driver Grades

DANIEL SUAREZ. C. Daniel Suarez had a solid rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series, as he racked up 12 top 10 finishes, which included a career-high 3rd place finish at Watkins Glen as his lone top 5 result. Driving for a top-tier team, he can definitely improve and become a regular contender in the future.. No. 19. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota

B+. In what was likely his final season as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver, Matt Kenseth only missed out on qualifying for the Championship 4 because of a technicality in the Round of 12 race at Kansas. Because of that technicality, he was unable to advance to the Round of 8, where he won his first race of the season at Phoenix. He ended up finishing in 7th place in the final standings.. No. 20. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota. MATT KENSETH

Had Denny Hamlin not wrecked Chase Elliott at Martinsville in the opening race of the Round of 8, he would never have been hit by Elliott at Phoenix in the closing race of the Round of 8. And had he not been hit by Elliott, he would have qualified for the Championship 4 and had a shot to compete for his first career NASCAR Cup Series championship. Instead, he finished the season with two wins and a 6th place result in the final standings.. No. 11. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota. DENNY HAMLIN. B+

A. With his 2nd place finish at Homestead-Miami to close out the season, Kyle Busch was only about a half-second away from securing his second career NASCAR Cup Series championship. The 2017 season was still a great one for Busch, as he ended it with five victories in the last 16 races of the season after finishing no higher than 2nd in the first 20.. No. 18. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota. KYLE BUSCH