The NASCAR Cup Series season opened with two drafting tracks and a road course. It finally goes to a more traditional track this weekend at Phoenix.
In fact, the next six races are at more traditional tracks: Phoenix, Las Vegas, Homestead, Martinsville, Darlington and Bristol. That will tell fans where drivers truly are as far as playoff and championship threats are concerned.
Here are this week’s power rankings after the first road course of the season at Circuit of the Americas (COTA):
Dropped out: Joey Logano (Last Week: 7); Austin Cindric (LW: 8); Bubba Wallace (LW: 10)
ADVERTISEMENT
On the verge: Austin Cindric, Carson Hocevar, Joey Logano, Michael McDowell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Bubba Wallace
10. Alex Bowman (Last Week: Not Ranked)
Bowman had a slew of issues and still finished ninth at COTA. The Hendrick driver now sits seventh in the standings.
9. Chris Buescher (LW: NR)
Buescher finished seventh at COTA after starting 24th. That’s what playoff drivers do — they don’t let a starting spot dictate their day.
8. Kyle Busch (LW: NR)
Busch led a race-high 42 laps and finished fifth at COTA after an awesome display of holding off challengers as long as he could. This team looks like it can win any week.
7. Denny Hamlin (LW: 5)
Hamlin suffered damage on the first lap and had a bad day at COTA. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver sits 17th in the standings. But he won’t drop off this list until he has a poor result at a more traditional track.
6. Kyle Larson (LW: 4)
A wheel came off Larson’s car during the COTA race, which cost him a few laps. He eventually got back on the lead lap but still finished 32nd. Like Hamlin, the Hendrick driver can’t wait to get to Phoenix.
5. Ryan Blaney (LW: 3)
Blaney finished 19th at COTA but is still second in the Cup standings. So the Penske driver won’t sweat that finish too much.
4. Tyler Reddick (LW: 9)
Reddick finished third after winning the pole at COTA. Another solid day for the 23XI Racing driver. He sits third in the Cup standings.
3. Chase Elliott (LW: 6)
After getting punted by Ross Chastain on the opening lap, Elliott came back to finish fourth. If that doesn’t say where Elliott and this Hendrick team are currently positioned, who knows what would. He’s fifth in the Cup standings.
2. William Byron (LW: 2)
Byron leads the Cup standings and finished second at COTA. So how come the Hendrick driver is not No. 1 on this list? Well, he has "only" one victory this year after three races.
1. Christopher Bell (LW: 1)
Bell made it back-to-back victories with the win at COTA. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver can certainly forget about the drought that lasted from last June until February.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
recommended
