Power Rankings: Joey Logano takes the top spot
Our Power Rankings are far from a scientific formula. In fact, it’s the perfect blend of analytics and bias against your favorite driver. And you think we dislike your favorite driver, so it makes sense, right? Direct all your complaints to us at [email protected] and we’ll try to have some fun.
1. Joey Logano (LW: 2): NASCAR Chairman Brian France said Monday on SiriusXM that what Logano did was “very smart.” France explained Logano’s move from a strategy aspect and also called it “quintessential NASCAR.” Let’s be blunt for a moment; this is the NASCAR that France wants. Whether that’s good or bad is up to your own opinion, but Logano using the bumper on Matt Kenseth gave NASCAR more attention than the sport would have gotten otherwise on an NFL Sunday. NASCAR has put a lot of stake in “moments” like this vs. the product as a whole, and while it wasn’t necessarily a snoozer, Kansas was eminently forgettable if it wasn’t for what happened with Logano and Kenseth.
2. Denny Hamlin (LW: 4): Hamlin became Logano’s main challenger after Kenseth went sliding in turns one and two. Logano got out to a lead on the restart and Hamlin couldn’t make up the gap. The No. 11’s success at 1.5-mile tracks so far in the Chase is going to continue to be an asset. Assuming he survives Talladega, Hamlin could be in the best position of anyone in the third round of the Chase.
3. Kyle Busch (LW: 5): Busch thought his car had an engine issue late in the race. According to Monday’s NASCAR America on NBCSN, the team believed it was a cracked exhaust pipe. He came back to finish fifth on Sunday and with a DNF, he’s in real trouble at Talladega. Now he’s just six points outside of eighth spot. If you’re Kyle Busch, do you run in the back throughout the day at Talladega or do you keep your car up front?
4. Kevin Harvick (LW: 1): Harvick was heading for a top-five finish on Sunday until his gas can exited his pit stall with him in the race’s final round of green flag pit stops. The fun conspiracy/connect-the-dots theory from the final laps of Sunday’s race comes on the ensuing caution. When Jimmie Johnson stayed out to inherit the lead as the rest of the leaders pitted, Harvick was unable to get the wavearound because Johnson kept him a lap down. Did Johnson do that to keep Harvick purposely a lap down? We don’t think so; the No. 48 only cares about race wins at this point.
5. Carl Edwards (LW: 3): Edwards had one of the race’s best cars at the beginning of the race. He then lost track position and really couldn’t get it back. Edwards finished eighth after starting second. He’s fourth in the points standings in the second round, but he’s only 12 points ahead of Kyle Busch, who is in ninth. Here’s yet another example of the ridiculousness of the round format. Outside of winning a race, it’s not about excelling. It’s about avoiding a bad finish.
6. Kurt Busch (LW: 7): This Busch finished a spot behind his brother in sixth. He’s got an announcement scheduled for Wednesday, which is likely to include the news of a contract extension. Busch’s current contract at Stewart-Haas was up at the end of the season, but he wasn’t going anywhere. Partially because there was really nowhere else for him to go in the first place. Busch is a point ahead of Edwards in the standings.
7. Matt Kenseth (LW: 9): Look, we don’t blame Matt Kenseth at all for blocking like hell. He was doing what he had to do to keep Logano behind him. And the Chase format made him drive that way. Because of his bad finish, the second-place points weren’t going to do him any good. And we also don’t blame Logano for not backing off in turn one. Kenseth was flirting with getting his car turned with the multiple blocks. Now it’s time for Talladega.
8. Brad Keselowski (LW: 10): Keselowski has said he doesn’t want to advance through the Chase by being conservative. Here’s our chance to see Keselowski put those words into action. He’s tied for fifth in the standings; seven points ahead of Kyle Busch in ninth. While there’s a bit of a cushion, it’s paper-thin. Does he drive up front all day and go for the win, or sit back and let attrition happen in front of him and move on to the next round. We’re not sure we can remember Keselowski saying something he didn’t attempt to back up, so we expect the former.
9. Martin Truex Jr. (LW: 6): Here’s another drive who suffered at the end of the race Sunday because of a pit road miscue. A loose tire violation meant Truex finished 15th, right between Kenseth and Harvick. He’s currently eighth out of eight in the points standings. The Richard Childress Racing cars will likely be good again at Talladega, so Truex should have a good piece. The rest may be up to Talladega.
10. Jeff Gordon (LW: 11): Gordon’s Chase chances ending at a restrictor plate race – the type of racing he despises – would be quite cruel. Though we can all agree that this season hasn’t exactly been storybook so far. Who would have thought his final Brickyard 400 would get ended after a restart for a balloon caution? We’ve got a hunch Gordon’s going to get through to the next round. But we have no idea how it’s going to play out.
11. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (LW: 8): Before we get caught up in the fairytale of Junior winning at Talladega to advance in the Chase, it’s important to remember that he was in the same spot last year. And he crashed. This discussion is admittedly fueled by the knowledge that Junior won at Talladega in the spring; but he won the 2014 Daytona 500 too. Junior’s optimistic about Sunday and he has every right to be. Just don’t be surprised if he doesn’t win.
12. Ryan Newman (LW: 12): Newman finished 11th at Kansas and is still in the hunt. Since he’s avoided the finishes that have plagued Kenseth and Junior, Newman is 10th in the standings heading into Talladega. Last year he was fourth going into the race and finished fifth. Newman’s recent history at Talladega is a bit like a roller coaster. He has four top 10 finishes in his past six Talladega races. but that ninth-place finish in the 2012 Chase race was his first one since he finished third in the spring 2009 race, the infamous one where Carl Edwards launched off his hood.
Lucky Dog: We’ll go ahead and give it to Kasey Kahne, who finished fourth.
The DNF: Man, Clint Bowyer crashed viciously.
Dropped Out: No one.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
