The list is short of drivers that can win at Bristol and successfully defend that victory the following year, but you can add Joey Logano to that list. After winning the night race last season, Logano led 176 laps Saturday night and held off Kevin Harvick to pick up his third win of the season. If the Chase were to begin now, Logano would be seeded third behind four-time winners Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch.
Bristol can be considered a wild card when it comes to predictability, however, with only two races left until the Chase begins, the strong drivers are beginning to show their hand. Seven of the top 10 Michigan Power Rankings drivers finished in the top 10 at Bristol. That does not leave a lot of room for drivers on the “bubble” to make their mark and solidify their place in the Chase.
Two tough tracks close out the regular season, and first up is the track “Too Tough to Tame,” Darlington Raceway. Time is running out and tempers are sure to flare. See how your favorite driver ranks after Bristol in this week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Power Rankings.
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 |
Kevin Harvick
|
100 |
|
2 |
+1 |
Joey LoganoLogano has gone from sliced bread to stacks of hot loaves. It could be that Logano is in the process of fitting for a championship ring. Dwight Drum, RaceTake.com |
95 |
3 |
+1 |
Kyle Busch
|
82 |
4 |
+3 |
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
|
79 |
5 |
+6 |
Jimmie Johnson
|
76 |
6 |
+3 |
Denny Hamlin
|
75 |
7 |
-1 |
Brad Keselowski
|
71 |
8 |
-3 |
Martin Truex Jr.
|
59 |
9 |
-7 |
Matt Kenseth
|
58 |
10 |
Kurt Busch
|
57 |
|
11 |
-3 |
Carl Edwards
|
55 |
12 |
Ryan Newman
|
45 |
|
13 |
N/A |
Clint Bowyer
|
43 |
14 |
+1 |
Jamie McMurray
|
37 |
15 |
-2 |
Paul Menard
|
30 |
Others Receiving Votes: Jeff Gordon (25), Austin Dillon (18), Justin Allgaier (12), Aric Almirola (11), Kasey Kahne (11), Kyle Larson (3), Tony Stewart (3), Trevor Bayne (2), Greg Biffle (1)