NASCAR Cup Series Driver Power Rankings after 2018 Federated Auto Parts 400

RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER 22: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M and M’s Toyota (Photo by Josh Hedges/Getty Images)

Conclusion

The most notable movement in the formulated NASCAR Cup Series Driver Power Rankings was undoubtedly Kyle Larson shooting from the sixth position to the second position, especially since he finished behind one of the drivers who he passed in the rankings in the Federated Auto Parts 400.

Larson finished in seventh place in this race, but it was the effect that this finish had on his average finish in the last five races that allowed him to shoot up to the second position in these rankings behind only Kyle Busch despite the fact that he hasn’t won a race in more than one year.

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Larson entered this race with an average finish of 7.6 in the last five races, which was the third lowest among all drivers. Because of the fact that his seventh place finish replaced his 17th place finish in the race at Michigan International Raceway, his average finish in the last five races dropped by 2.0 to 5.6, which is tied for the lowest among all drivers.

The driver who Larson passed in the rankings despite the fact that he finished behind him in the race is Kevin Harvick. Harvick finished five positions ahead of Larson in second place, yet he now trails him by three positions in the rankings despite the fact that he was ahead of him by two positions coming into the race.

Harvick’s second place finish replaced his win at Michigan International Speedway in the calculation for his average finish in the last five races, so his average finish in the last five races actually increased from 11.6 to 11.8.

Harvick’s disastrous 39th place finish in the opening playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the main reason why his average finish in the last five races is so high, and it is what is preventing him from being ranked higher, which is where he has been ranked for much of the season.

NASCAR Cup Series playoff action is scheduled to resume with the third and final race of the round of 16 on Sunday, September 30. NBC is set to broadcast this race, the Bank of America Roval 400, live from the Charlotte Motor Speedway roval beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET.