Driver Ratings | Playoff Standings | Stage Points
MRN’s Pete Pistone unveils this week’s Power Rankings following the Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
1. Kyle Busch – Surprisingly Busch did not lead an official lap in Charlotte despite having a not surprisingly fast car and running near the front. However, he like many others was a victim of the huge accident and Busch ended up with a 32nd-place finish.
Driver Rating: 110.2
Point Standings: 1st
Previous Ranking: 1st
2. Martin Truex Jr. – He had apparent victory snatched away in the closing moments thanks to an aggressive move by Jimmie Johnson for the lead that resulted in the duo both spinning out. Truex Jr. was not too pleased afterward and showed his displeasure to Johnson but that won’t erase what might have been for the defending champion.
Driver Rating: 103.1
Point Standings: 3rd
Previous Ranking: 3rd
3. Kevin Harvick – It looked like Harvick’s plan was to play it safe on Sunday and it worked to a top-10 finish. With really nothing on the line Harvick turned a 19th starting spot to a ninth-place finish on a very quiet afternoon in Charlotte for the Stewart-Haas Racing driver.
Driver Rating: 114.5
Point Standings: 2nd
Previous Ranking: 2nd
4. Brad Keselowski – He had to come from the rear of the field in a backup car and raced his way to lead 29 laps. Until disaster struck when Keselowski went right into the first turn tire barrier on a restart an incident that triggered a multi-car crash and red flag for clean-up.
Driver Rating: 96.6
Point Standings: 4th
Previous Ranking: 4th
5. Ryan Blaney – Opportunity knocked and Blaney answered Sunday in Charlotte. When Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson tangled heading to the checkered flag, Blaney sped by and grabbed the win for his second career victory and a nice boost of momentum into the second round.
Driver Rating: 93.9
Point Standings: 8th
Previous Ranking: 8th
6. Kyle Larson – The way Larson’s car looked at the end of the race in Charlotte you would have thought he had actually run Talladega. But despite the beaten and banged up exterior, everything fell right for Larson who did lead 42 laps but needed to survive just to stay alive in the playoff picture.
Driver Rating: 96.8
Point Standings: 10th
Previous Ranking: 5th
7. Kurt Busch – Started from the pole and led seven laps but Busch couldn’t maintain putting pressure on the lead especially in the second half of the race. But nothing to sneeze at with a top-five finish and his start to the playoffs was strong in the opening round.
Driver Rating: 97.3
Point Standings: 7th
Previous Ranking: 7th
8. Joey Logano – Another mediocre qualifying effort for Logano put him in the 15th starting spot. He was able to avoid the late mayhem to pick up spots and ended his first Charlotte run with a 10th-place finish but is looking to pick up the pace in Round 2 of the playoffs.
Driver Rating: 93.5
Point Standings: 6th
Previous Ranking: 6th
9. Chase Elliott – Not a bad day for Elliott who again demonstrated his road racing skills at Charlotte. After qualifying fourth Elliott hung around near the front of the field most of the afternoon and finished inside the top 10 to cap off a solid first round of the playoffs.
Driver Rating: 93.0
Point Standings: 9th
Previous Ranking: 9th
10. Clint Bowyer – He was the only driver below the cutline coming into Charlotte to advance to Round 2. Bowyer gutted out a third-place finish that was by no means pretty but it got the job done and he’ll continue his quest for a title this weekend in Dover.
Driver Rating: 95.0
Point Standings: 5th
Previous Ranking: NR
Dropped Out: Aric Almirola
