How the Rankings are Calculated: Frontstretch does their power rankings somewhat similar to how the Associated Press does them for basketball or football – writers on our staff will vote for the top 20 on a 20-19-18-17-16-15… 3-2-1 basis, giving 20 points to their first-place driver, 19 for their second, and so on. In the end, Mike Neff calculates the points, adds some funny one liners, and… voila! You have the power rankings from our dedicated staff.
So, without further ado… here’s our latest Power Rankings following Las Vegas.
| Rank | Driver (First Place Votes) | Pts | Last Week |
| 1 | Carl Edwards (7) | 174 | 6 |
| Was seen canvassing the Orleans Casino after the race looking for Brendan Gaughan at the craps table. Mentioned something about an “oil cover…” | |||
| 2 | Kyle Busch (2) | 168 | 1 |
| M&M’s melted just a little bit in the hot Vegas sun. | |||
| 3 | Ryan Newman | 138 | 3 |
| Father’s silly comments about Purdue have not inhibited his strong early-season run. | |||
| 4 | Kasey Kahne | 136 | 9 |
| Things learned from Kahne’s Allstate commercials: the colors pink and purple should never be used to paint a car. Or a driver’s suit. | |||
| 5 | Greg Biffle | 118 | 12 |
| After traversing the country, it appears The Sucking Out Loud Tour has finally coming to an end with headliner Biffle after a little over two years. | |||
| 6 | Matt Kenseth | 117 | 8 |
| Jeff Gordon should take note that Matt didn’t come over and shove HIM after the race. Although after the hit Gordon took, that would’ve just been mean. | |||
| 7 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 116 | 11 |
| Said he felt like a tool out there after a second-place run. If that’s the case, he must have felt like the whole toolbox over the last couple of years… | |||
| 8 | Tony Stewart | 114 | 2 |
| Fuse getting shorter… the requisite explosion should be just around the corner. | |||
| 9 | Kevin Harvick | 109 | 15 |
| He’s the leading Chevy driver in the points standings and no, he doesn’t drive for Hendrick. | |||
| 10 | Jeff Burton | 108 | 10 |
| The RCR teams look better than ever when it comes to the Car of Tomorrow; now, the real test comes in convincing Burton that’s the case. | |||
| 11 | Jeff Gordon | 104 | 7 |
| When you look down and you can’t find your radiator because it’s been catapulted 100 feet from your car, you know you’re not having a good day. | |||
| 12 | Jimmie Johnson | 96 | 4 |
| What a way to protest the Vegas odds… defying them completely by running like junk! | |||
| 13 | Martin Truex Jr. | 78 | 13 |
| Toting the DEI banner with the big green fish. | |||
| 14 | Kurt Busch | 67 | 5 |
| When Busch wanted to “knock ’em dead” at his hometown track, little did he know that meant the outside wall. | |||
| 15 | Brian Vickers | 48 | 14 |
| Did a masterful job of keeping it off the wall after a spin… all while saying the “F” word on national television. | |||
Also receiving votes: Elliott Sadler (37), Denny Hamlin (31), Bobby Labonte (29), David Ragan (27), Mark Martin (17), Reed Sorenson (17), Travis Kvapil (13), Casey Mears (7), Robby Gordon (6), Clint Bowyer (5), Scott Riggs (5), David Reutimann (3), David Gilliland (2)
About the author
What is it that Mike Neff doesn’t do? The writer, radio contributor and racetrack announcer coordinates the site’s local short track coverage, hitting up Saturday Night Specials across the country while tracking the sport’s future racing stars. The writer for our signature Cup post-race column, Thinkin’ Out Loud (Mondays) also sits down with Cup crew chiefs to talk shop every Friday with Tech Talk. Mike announces several shows each year for the Good Guys Rod and Custom Association. He also pops up everywhere from PRN Pit Reporters and the Press Box with Alan Smothers to SIRIUS XM Radio. He has announced at tracks all over the Southeast, starting at Millbridge Speedway. He's also announced at East Lincoln Speedway, Concord Speedway, Tri-County Speedway, Caraway Speedway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway.
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