NASCAR Cup Series: Power rankings entering the 2021 season
By Asher Fair
Before the Daytona 500 opens up the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season this weekend, let’s take a look at the preseason driver power rankings.
February has arrived, and the start of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season is under one week away. Super Bowl LV between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium has dominated the headlines up until now, but with the big game in the books, many eyes have turned to stock car racing.
The Busch Clash took place on the Daytona International Speedway road course on Tuesday evening, and single-car Daytona 500 qualifying for the front row is scheduled to take place this evening. The Bluegreen Vacations Duels are scheduled to take place tomorrow evening to solidify the starting lineup for the 63rd annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 14.
Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott is set to enter the 2021 season as the reigning champion after winning the final two races of the 2020 season at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway to secure his first title in five seasons of full-time competition.
Where do he and the rest of the full-time drivers set to compete in the upcoming season rank heading into the season opener? Here are the preseason 2021 NASCAR Cup Series power rankings for all 34 drivers set to run the full schedule.
2021 NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings: #34 and #33
Petty Ware Racing, Chevrolet. CODY WARE. #34. . No. 51
Cody Ware is set to compete full-time for Petty Ware Racing in the 2021 season, marking his first full-time Cup Series ride. He has made 23 starts over four seasons of part-time Cup Series competition, all with Rick Ware Racing. He finished in a career-high 19th place at Talladega Superspeedway last October in his lone start of the 2020 season.
JOSH BILICKI. #33. . No. 52. Rick Ware Racing, Chevrolet
Josh Bilicki is set to compete full-time for Rick Ware Racing in the 2021 season, marking his first full-time Cup Series ride. He has made 35 starts over four seasons of part-time Cup Series competition, including 21 with Rick Ware Racing. He competed in a career-high 22 races last year, including eight with Rick Ware Racing, and finished in a career-high 25th place at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway.