Driver Ratings | Standings | Stage Points
MRN’s Pete Pistone unveils this week’s Power Rankings following the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
1. Brad Keselowski – If there’s a time to get hot it is when the playoffs begin and there’s nobody hotter than Keelowski now on the series. He scored a third consecutive win and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Keselowski’s recent performance has officially made him a member of the now “Big 4.”
Driver Rating: 96.2
Point Standings: 3rd
Previous Ranking: 3rd
2. Martin Truex Jr. – The Furniture Row Racing team returned to form in Las Vegas and Truex Jr. had one of if not the fastest car of the day. He wasn’t able to get win number five of the season, however a strong third-place finish no doubt quieted some of the doubters.
Driver Rating: 102.3
Point Standings: 1st
Previous Ranking: 4th
3. Kyle Busch – It appeared his day would be over before the checkered flag flew after Busch found himself spinning through the infield grass. But he was able to rebound in an impressive way to somehow put a top-10 finish on the board.
Driver Rating: 110.6
Point Standings: 2nd
Previous Ranking: 2nd
4. Kevin Harvick – The March Las Vegas winner did not have much of chance to sweep the season. A tire problem put him into the wall on lap 147 and when Erik Jones made heavy contact from behind the day was over for Harvick with a 39th-place finish.
Driver Rating: 114.8
Point Standings: 4th
Previous Ranking: 1st
5. Ryan Blaney – He battled at the fronton the pack most of the afternoon and demonstrated the kind of speed that had gone somewhat missing in recent weeks. Blaney is off to a great playoff start thanks to a fifth place Las Vegas outing.
Driver Rating: 94.4
Point Standings: 7th
Previous Ranking: 10th
6. Joey Logano – He has shown steady improvement in recent weeks and Las Vegas was another example. Logano and the rest of his Team Penske stable were very strong all day and the driver of the Shell/Pennzoil Ford notched a fourth-place finish on Sunday.
Driver Rating: 93.9
Point Standings: 5th
Previous Ranking: NR
7. Kyle Larson – The Chip Ganassi Racing driver avoided potential disaster early when he experienced a tire issue. But after making the change, Larson remained in contention and battled to the finish for a runner-up Las Vegas effort.
Driver Rating: 95.9
Point Standings: 8th
Previous Ranking: NR
8. Kurt Busch – Like so many of his fellow playoff drivers Busch suffered through a frustrating opening race in Las Vegas. After qualifying inside the top 10, Busch comes to Richmond and playoff race number two with a 21st-place Vegas performance.
Driver Rating: 97.4
Point Standings: 6th
Previous Ranking: 7th
9. Clint Bowyer – After showing great promise in Indianapolis the week before, Bowyer’s playoff race started on a bad note as he was one of the day’s many victims of disappointment. He finished 23rd.
Driver Rating: 95.4
Point Standings: 11th
Previous Ranking: 5th
10. Erik Jones – The weekend started out great for Jones who showed tremendous speed in winning the pole. But the sophomore driver’s stay near the front of the field was short lived and he eventually was eliminated in an accident when he slammed into the rear end of Kevin Harvick’s ailing car to finish last.
Driver Rating: 85.8
Point Standings: 15th
Previous Ranking: 6th
Dropped Out: Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott
