NASCAR Cup Series Driver Power Rankings after 2018 South Point 400
By Asher Fair
Conclusion
The point totals of the 16 playoff drivers were reset to 2,000 before the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs started and only their respective playoff point totals, which ranged from zero to 50 points among the 16 drivers, were added to their respective overall point totals.
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As a result, it was not surprising to see several notable changes in both the formulated and the non-formulated sets of NASCAR Cup Series Driver Power Rankings before the opening race of the opening round of the four-round, 10-race playoffs.
Following his third consecutive victory, Brad Keselowski took the top spot in both sets of rankings. Over the course of the last three races, his average finish in the last five races has plummeted from 21.0 to 4.2, which is a huge reason why he has been able to shoot up several positions to get to the top of both sets of rankings.
Prior to his three-race winning streak, Keselowski had just one top 15 finish in the last five races. Now he has just one finish lower than second place in the last five races.
The second best average finish in the last five races currently belongs to Keselowski’s teammate Joey Logano, who shot up to the third position in the formulated set of rankings and the fourth position in the non-formulated set of rankings. Logano has an average finish of 6.60 in the last five races with just two finishes outside of the top four and one finish outside of the top 10.
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The second of three races in the round of 16 and the second of 10 races in the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs is the Federated Auto Parts 400, which is scheduled to take place this Saturday, September 22. Be sure to tune in to NBC Sports Network for the live broadcast of this race from Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.