Oh how quickly things can change.
2. BRAD KESELOWSKI (87 POINTS, No Change)
3. JOEY LOGANO (66 POINTS, +4)
“Winner of the last two Bristol night races and snuck off a runner-up at The Glen.” – Turnbull
4. DENNY HAMLIN (58 POINTS, Prev. Unranked)
“UNLIKE FED EX, DENNY DELIVERED ON SUNDAY. ALSO, SICK BURNOUT, DENNY.” – @AnnoyingRaceFan
5. KURT BUSCH (50 POINTS, -1)
“He isn’t rattling off wins, but completing every lap has value, too. That sort of consistency could come into play come the Chase.” – Aaron Bearden, Frontstretch
6. KEVIN HARVICK (42 POINTS, -5)
“That beer can car got CRUSHED, and it cost him the points lead – like that matters.” – Pete McCole
“Fuel was not a concern this time, but being stuck back in the pack when things got crazy took him out of contention.” – Gable
7. MARTIN TRUEX, JR. (36 POINTS, Prev. Unranked)
8. CARL EDWARDS (28 POINTS, -2)
9. TONY STEWART (24 POINTS, -4)
10. MATT KENSETH (22 POINTS, -1)
“Say what you will, but for a short time Kenseth looked like a contender on a road course, and if son Ross Kenseth’s tweet joking that a road course ringer was in the No. 20 doesn’t say enough about that, I don’t know what will.” – Bearden
CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR
These two Chase hopefuls saw their days swing in different directions after the final turn, as Elliott moved further ahead of the bubble and Larson saw his hopes come crashing down a bit. Perhaps the two will find better luck in Bristol after an off-weekend.
Kyle Larson (16 Points) – “Got wrecked like he had a target on his back. Thankfully, that Target will be gone after 2017…” – Bearden
Chase Elliott (12 Points) – “Hopefully, the rook has stopped the bleeding. He’s struggled recently.” – Allaway
Others receiving votes: Jamie McMurray (7), Jimmie Johnson (5), AJ Allmendinger (3), Danica Patrick (1)
Contributors
| Name | |
|---|---|
| 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 Gable | N/A |
| Tony Lumbis | @TonyLumbis |
| Toni Montgomery | @ToniLMontgomery |
| Kevin Rutherford | @surfwax83 |
| Jason Schultz | @NASCARJason |
| Joseph Wolkin | @JosephNASCAR |
| Name | Position/Description | |
|---|---|---|
| AnnoyingRaceFan | @AnnoyingRaceFan | I’M @annoyingracefan ON TWITTER (AND INSTAGRAM). PEOPLE CALL ME ARF. I’M A RELATIVE NOBODY. |
| MatthewDillner | @MatthewDillner | NASCAR |
| Brian Eberly | @beberly18 | Writer, Rubbings Racing, Motor Racing Digest |
| Mike Hembree | @MikeHembree | Writer, USA Today |
| Ben Hinc | @lemonlovr | Owner, The Apex |
| Jerry Jordan | @kicknthetires | Owner, Kicknthetires.Net |
| Pete McCole | @PeteMcCole | NASCAR Writer, AutoRacing1.com |
| The Orange Cone | @TheOrangeCone | I am an orange traffic cone. |
| Kyle Pokrefky | @KPokrefky | Writer, The Fourth Turn |
| Reid Spencer | @Reid_Spencer | Lead Writer, NASCAR Wire Service |
| Doug Turnbull | @DougTurnbull | Announcer, PRN Live, Atlanta Motor Speedway |
| Jim Utter | @jim_utter | NASCAR 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, 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 others what your top 10 would be.
Aaron Bearden is a Frontstretch alumnus who’s come back home as the site’s Short Track Editor. When he isn’t working with our grassroots writers, he can be found talking about racing on his Morning Warmup newsletter, pestering his wife/dog or convincing himself the Indiana Pacers can win an NBA title.