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 Atlanta.
|
Rank |
Driver (First Place Votes) |
Points |
Last Week |
|
1 |
Kyle Busch (4) |
176 |
2 |
|
 |
The president’s term may be ending, but this Busch is just getting started. |
||
|
2 |
Carl Edwards (5) |
162 |
1 |
|
 |
See, that’s what happens when you don’t take the oil lid off! |
||
|
3 |
140 |
5 |
|
|
 |
Sucking Out Loud tour t-shirts on clearance for 75% off. |
||
|
4 |
127 |
8 |
|
|
 |
Often times, valid points are clouded by the delivery. |
||
|
5 |
127 |
9 |
|
|
 |
When Harvick finishes seventh at a track he hasn’t sniffed the top 10 at in seven years, it’s time to move him up the list. |
||
|
6 |
126 |
7 |
|
|
 |
How long before the talk of Junior getting the best stuff from the Hendrick stable starts? |
||
|
7 |
122 |
3 |
|
|
 |
Water finds its level… Newman has notched consecutive 14th-place runs. |
||
|
8 |
120 |
10 |
|
|
 |
Just another top-10 finish… just another top-five points position… just another Jeff Burton-type season. |
||
|
8 |
117 |
6 |
|
|
 |
Pulling a top-10 finish out of thin air? Now THAT’s the championship Kenseth we know and love. |
||
|
10 |
110 |
11 |
|
|
 |
Whenever Gordon finishes, he’s had a top-five car. But right now, the key word is finish. |
||
|
11 |
106 |
4 |
|
|
 |
GEM had a flashback weekend – flashback to their 2007 disaster of a season, that is. |
||
|
12 |
88 |
14 |
|
|
 |
Waiting until the very end to make a move towards the front once again, it’s clear Kurt works much better under pressure. |
||
|
13 |
76 |
12 |
|
|
 |
When you’re the two-time defending champ and looking to go to your new teammate for setups after only four races, all is not well in paradise. |
||
|
14 |
63 |
13 |
|
|
 |
Not sure DEI is any better this season, but Truex is certainly maturing as a driver. |
||
|
15 |
51 |
15 |
|
|
 |
Joins Kyle Busch in the “Hendrick Outcast Whose Career was Rescued by Toyota” Club. |
||
Dropped Out: None
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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