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NASCAR Cup Series: 2018 preseason driver power rankings

By Asher Fair

TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 15: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, and Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, lead a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Alabama 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 15, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
TALLADEGA, AL - OCTOBER 15: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, and Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, lead a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Alabama 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 15, 2017 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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AVONDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 12: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
AVONDALE, AZ – NOVEMBER 12: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

#10 through #8

#10. Joey Logano started out the 2017 season stronger than anyone. He won at Richmond, which appeared to secure him a spot in the playoffs. However, that win was encumbered, and Logano had an awful rest of the regular season, causing him to miss the playoffs. Given his recent success prior to the 2017 season, it is hard to see him having a 2018 season that is as bad as the 2017 season was for him. Expect him to bounce back.. No. 22. Team Penske, Ford. JOEY LOGANO

#9. Aside of his two wins and several other solid results early on in the 2017 season, Brad Keselowski didn’t really stand out throughout the year. While he did make it to the Championship 4, he really was not one of the sport’s top four drivers throughout the season. With so many other drivers on the rise and Keselowski not having been super strong as of late, the 2012 champion is not one of the drivers who should be deemed early favorites to get to the Championship 4.. No. 2. Team Penske, Ford. BRAD KESELOWSKI

#8. Denny Hamlin is one of the drivers who consistently finds himself in the late rounds of the playoffs but is unable to win the championship. In fact, he has not been to the Championship 4 since its introduction in the 2014 season, but he has been in the round of 8 in each of the last two seasons. Hamlin has won at least one race in each of his 12 full seasons in the sport, but he has never won a title, which is why he is ranked where he is in these power rankings.. No. 11. Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota. DENNY HAMLIN

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