Race Weekend Central

The 10: Bristol Bump and Won

Beatin’ and bangin’, hootin’ and hollerin’, bump and runnin’ and celebrating with the fans? Why, the past few weeks of short track NASCAR action have been classic.

Dare I say it? One might even call it quintessential.

The driver to fare better than anyone after it all was Carl Edwards. Cousin Carl took advantage of some strong cars – and the ole chrome horn – to score back-to-back victories and take over the points lead.

With the strong showing, Edwards is the obvious top dog for the power rankings. However, behind him things get a little more interesting.

That said, here’s who our staff and esteemed guests picked as the best drivers after another great race in Richmond.

POWER RANKINGS: Toyota Owners 400

1. CARL EDWARDS (158 POINTS, No Change)

(Photo: NASCAR)
(Photo: NASCAR)

“Team orders? WHAT team orders?? Edwards said “screw the Tuesday team meeting, I’m COMING THROUGH”. Say what you will, but putting the bumper to Kyle Busch – KYLE BUSCH! – took a brass pair and was exactly the type of finish we need to see more of in NASCAR.” – Pete McCole, AutoRacing1.com

“XAMINED AN XCELLENT XECUTION BY THE XFINITY TOYOTA MADE FOR AN XCITING XPERIENCE.” – @AnnoyingRaceFan

2.  KYLE BUSCH (139 POINTS, +2)

(Photo: NASCAR)
(Photo: NASCAR)
“I’m not sure whether to make a joke about Rowdy getting beat by XFINITY or to relate Edwards’ bump and run to XFINITY’s customer service. Pick your poison.” – Aaron Bearden, Frontstretch

“Probably should have had a third victory on Sunday, but nothing to be ashamed of so far this season.” – Dustin Albino, Frontstretch

3.  KEVIN HARVICK (125 POINTS, -1)

(Photo: NASCAR)
(Photo: NASCAR)
“While Edwards has all the media attention right now, don’t forget that Harvick too has eight top 10 finishes.” – Sean Fesko, Frontstretch
 “BUSCH LIGHT REMINDS ME OF SOME TERRIBLE THINGS I DID AT COLLEGE.” – @AnnoyingRaceFan

4.   JIMMIE JOHNSON (116 POINTS, +1)

(Photo: NASCAR)
(Photo: NASCAR)
“Did all of his leading within the first 100 laps on Sunday.” – Ryan Gable, Frontstretch
“Yet to have the dominant car in any race this season, yet he sits tied for the most wins with Busch and Edwards. Not bad, JJ.” – Bearden

5.   JOEY LOGANO (79 POINTS, +1)

(Photo: NASCAR)
(Photo: NASCAR)
“So far, he’s the best at making something out of races where it looks like he has nothing.” – Jim Utter, Motorsport
“Logano continues to gather respectable finishes, but the speed is not there to compete for wins consistently like last year.” – Joseph Wolkin, Frontstretch

6.   KURT BUSCH (75 POINTS, +1)

(Photo: NASCAR)
(Photo: NASCAR)

“The elder Busch brother has a bad track record with late-race cautions over the last couple seasons.” – Bearden

“Doomed by a late-race caution. Enough said.” – Fesko

7.   DALE EARNHARDT, JR. (74 POINTS, -4)

(Photo by NASCAR)
(Photo by NASCAR)
“Talladega. Amelia.” – Albino
“HE MADE A POOR DEWCISION BY NOT ADJUSTING ON THE CAR LATE IN THE RACE. I’M SURE HE’S LOOKING FORWARD TO TALLADEWGA.” – @AnnoyingRaceFan

8.   DENNY HAMLIN (47 POINTS, +2)

(Photo: NASCAR)
(Photo: NASCAR)
“Hamlin has the second-best average starting position of 2016: 6.8” – Fesko
“Needs to avoid a pit penalty one of these weeks.” – Albino

9.   CHASE ELLIOTT (31 POINTS, -1)

(Photo: NASCAR)
(Photo: NASCAR)
“According to Tony Stewart, Chase is bringing sexy back to NASCAR.” – Tony Lumbis, Frontstretch
“He’s climbed 17 points positions in the past six races.” –Gable

10. BRAD KESELOWSKI (24 POINTS, Prev. Unranked)

(Photo: NASCAR)
(Photo: NASCAR)

“SEE KEVIN HARVICK, BUT REPLACE BUSCH LIGHT WITH MILLER LIGHT.” – @AnnoyingRaceFan

“That early win’s looking better and better as this team struggles through the spring.” – Bearden

CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR

These two drivers have each made gains since the start of the season, but it’s going to take a little more for them to prove they belong back in the top 10.

Martin Truex, Jr. (22 Points, Finished 18th) – “The team needs to put a full race together. They have the speed to do so, but haven’t been able to capitalize. Aka: Atlanta and Texas. ” – Albino

Kasey Kahne (18 Points, Finished 6th) – “First top 5 of the season, but considering where this team was weeks ago, they deserve something for the effort” – Utter

Others receiving votes: Tony Stewart (8), Matt Kenseth (6), Austin Dillon (2), Ryan Blaney (1)

NameTwitter
Dustin Albino@DustinAlbino
Phil Allaway@Critic84
Aaron Bearden@AaronBearden93
Summer Bedgood@SummerBedgood
Tom Bowles@NASCARBowles
Greg Davis@GregMDavis
Sean Fesko@TheWriterSean
Michael Finley@FinleyFactor
Bryan GableN/A
Tony Lumbis@TonyLumbis
Toni Montgomery@ToniLMontgomery
Kevin Rutherford@surfwax83
Jason Schultz@NASCARJason
Joseph Wolkin@JosephNASCAR
NameTwitterPosition/Description
AnnoyingRaceFan @AnnoyingRaceFan I’M @annoyingracefan ON TWITTER (AND INSTAGRAM). PEOPLE CALL ME ARF. I’M A RELATIVE NOBODY.
MatthewDillner@MatthewDillnerNASCAR
Brian Eberly@beberly18Writer, Rubbings Racing, Motor Racing Digest
Mike Hembree@MikeHembreeWriter, USA Today
Ben Hinc@lemonlovrOwner, The Apex
Jerry Jordan@kicknthetiresOwner, Kicknthetires.Net
Pete McCole@PeteMcColeNASCAR Writer, AutoRacing1.com
The Orange Cone@TheOrangeConeI am an orange traffic cone.
Kyle Pokrefky@KPokrefkyWriter, The Fourth Turn
Reid Spencer@Reid_SpencerLead Writer, NASCAR Wire Service
Doug Turnbull@DougTurnbullAnnouncer, PRN Live, Atlanta Motor Speedway
Jim Utter@jim_utterNASCAR Editor, Motorsport.com

How they’re made: Following the conclusion of each NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, members of a voting panel including Frontstretch writers, other members of accredited media including Motorsport, NASCAR and USA Today, as well as writers from other sites and social media favorites, submit their top 10 drivers for the Power Rankings. The drivers are then given points based off their position, with first place getting 10 points, and each subsequent driver getting one fewer point until the 10th-place driver, who gets a lone point. Points are then tallied, and the rankings are created.

Do you agree with our rankings? Think someone got snubbed, or that one of the top drivers is overrated? Let us know in the comments, and tell us who raced their way into your top 10.

About the author

A graduate of Ball State, Aaron rejoins Frontstretch for his second season in 2016 following a successful year that included covering seven races and starting the popular "Two-Headed Monster" column in 2015. Now in his third year of covering motorsports, Aaron serves as an Assistant Editor for Frontstretch while also contributing to other popular sites including Speed51 and The Apex. He encourages you to come say hi when you see him at the track.

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Brenda

I think you need to look at the results of the race! Kasey Kahne finished 4th. Not 6_th.

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