And then there were two. Two non-point positions remain as Kasey Kahne made two tremendous restarts en route to his first win of the 2014 season, locking himself into the Chase. This season marks the first time all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers go into Richmond guaranteed a Chase berth. Â A winless Matt Kenseth also clinched a Chase berth on points.
If Atlanta was any indication of the urgency for good finishes and momentum, the Bristol Power Rankings top 10 didn’t get the memo as only four finished in the top 10 (Johnson, Kenseth,  Edwards and Biffle). Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle made solid cases as to why they deserve to be in the Chase, finishing seventh and tenth respectively, while Clint Bowyer spent a number of laps behind the wall with a broken shifter, finishing 38th.
It all comes down to next weekend. One race left in Richmond to make the Chase. It’s sure to be a race you don’t want to miss. But before mayham ensues, see if your favorite driver made the grade after Atlanta.
How The Rankings Are Calculated: Frontstretch does our power rankings similar to how the Associated Press does them for basketball or football. Our expert stable of NASCAR writers, both on staff and from other major publications will vote for the Top 20 on a 20-19-18-17… 3-2-1 basis, giving 20 points to their first-place driver, 19 for second, and so on. In the end, Mike Mehedin calculates the points, adds some funny one-liners, and… here you go!
Rank |
Change |
Name |
Total Votes |
1 |
|
138 |
|
2 |
+2 |
|
134 |
3 |
-1 |
|
123 |
4 |
+1 |
Kevin HarvickThird time is not a charm. Kevin Harvick still hasn’t been able to nail down that first win since grabbing number two at Darlington in May. Kelly Crandall, Frontstretch.com |
111 |
5 |
+1 |
Jimmie JohnsonDon’t look now but Jimmie Johnson appears to be going on one of this patented runs when it matters the most. Johnson’s fourth-place effort at Atlanta gave him back-to-back top five finishes for the first time since winning at Charlotte and Dover. Justin Tucker, Frontstretch.com |
109 |
6 |
-3 |
|
107 |
7 |
|
124 |
|
8 |
+2 |
|
90 |
9 |
-2 |
|
82 |
10 |
N/A |
Kasey KahneJust making the Chase will not get him another contract at Hendrick Motorsports. Dennis Michelsen, RaceTalkRadio.com |
68 |
11 |
+1 |
|
65 |
12 |
-3 |
Kurt BuschFinally putting together some decent runs as we get closer to the Chase. He needs every scrap of momentum he can get. Phil Allaway, Frontstretch.com |
61 |
12 |
-4 |
|
52 |
14 |
+1 |
|
46 |
15 |
N/A |
Kyle BuschThe way Kyle Busch’s August has gone may indicate yet another year of walls and foes winning over Kyle during the Chase. Dwight Drum, RaceTake.com |
39 |
Others Receiving Votes: AJ Allmendinger (31), Jamie McMurray (28), Aric Almirola (26), Clint Bowyer (26), Danica Patrick (13), Austin Dillon (12), Paul Menard (9), Brian Vickers (5), Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. (2), Tony Stewart (2)
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Who is Dennis Michelson? Whoever he is he seems to think that one win and 11th in points is grounds for dismissal. What was Dennis saying about Gordon last year who made the chase by royal edict? Did Dennis have contract opinions when Dale Jr. was a perennial chase no-show? Utter lack of original though is tiring.