I know it’s been two whole races since I did my last NASCAR Power Rankings list. However, I’m back so let’s talk about some racing at Bristol on the dirt and this past weekend’s snooze fest I mean race at Martinsville. Who do you think after two weeks is at the top of the power rankings?
NASCAR Power Rankings 15th-11th
- 15. Chase Briscoe
- 14. Brad Keselowski
- 13. Chris Buescher
- 12. Ryan Blaney
- 11. Martin Truex Jr.
Thanks y’all. pic.twitter.com/3ZxRNEbUFk
— Chase Briscoe (@ChaseBriscoe_14) April 17, 2023
This man has wheeled his car to two top-five finishes over the last two weeks all with a broken freaking finger. On which he didn’t recieve surgery for until today! That’s pretty impressive if you ask me. It was time to get another SHR car into the top fifteen and Briscoe is the perfect one.
Brad has not been finishing well these last couple of races. However, he’s been running up front during the race consistently and leading laps each week or almost every it seems like. I need better finishes, or “Bad Brad” may fall out of the top fifteen.
This team is up and down still a lot during the race. Whether it be because of strategy calls or poor-performing cars who knows? Chris has finished progressively better over the last two races so maybe they are about to get hot again?
The third-highest Ford in the NASCAR Power Rankings has sneakily been running better and better. He finished in the top ten yesterday at Martinsville. Honestly, should’ve finished in the top ten at Bristol too but some late contact caused a spin and a bad finish. With Dega coming up this weekend, you better keep an eye on the twelve car.
Ole MTJ did it again at Martinsville. I knew he would finish well, but third did kind of shock me. However Martin has been consistently in the top ten over the last couple of races. This man is slowly but surely seeming to climb the list.
Driver’s 10th-6th
- 10. Denny Hamlin
- 9. Tyler Reddick
- 8. Kyle Busch
- 7. Joey Logano
- 6. Kevin Harvick
“It was impossible to pass, this is the new NASCAR,” @dennyhamlin said after finishing 4th. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/PprbxPzD6k
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) April 16, 2023
Denny didn’t do to well on the dirt at Bristol however he rebounced this week at Martinsville. Honestly I think he didn’t win this week due to the under performance of this aerodynamics package. He was stuck in the back for a lot of the race just unable to pass anyone it seemed like. Which he touched on.
The driver of Denny’s car Tyler Reddick almost won two in three weeks time with his performance at Bristol on the dirt. However he fell short, I was expecting a bit better of a performance yesterday at Martinsville. The paper clip though isn’t kind to Tyler with him only having one top ten finish in seven starts at the historic track.
Rowdy Nation might not like it but comeon your boy hasn’t been putting up the finishes the last three weeks. I know he was running well on the dirt, but then he spun out late ruining his day. Then a pit road penalty this week got him stuck in the back for the rest of the race. If he can stay clean this weekend at Dega, then he can contend but it’s the matter of IF he can stay out of trouble.
A nice re bound week for the driver of the twenty two. Perserverance, maybe a bit of strategy, and teeny tiny bit of luck helped Joey finish second. Especially after starting the race from the back due to a water leak repair.
A twentieth place finish isn’t great but I can let it slide after “Happy Harvick” finished in the top ten on the dirt in his last season!
Familiar Faces in Different Places
- 5. Ross Chastain
- 4. Alex Bowman
- 3. Christopher Bell
- 2. William Byron
- 1. Kyle Larson
Ross didn’t perform well on the dirt but has a decent enough day yesterday that leaving him in the top five didn’t bother me too much. I mean he is the second driver in points currently. Yes, he lacks a win I know but Ross doesn’t go away.
Bowman stunk up the dirt race. However he bounced back this weekend to get another top fifteen finish. To make that eight top fifteen finishes in nine races.
The best Toyota camp driver right now. Bell was able to drive into victory lane at Bristol becoming the first driver with a dirt racing background to do so. Then he consistently was in the top twenty yesterday. Christopher Bell is showing he can carry a team with his consistent finishes. In nine races he only has three races where he did not finish in the top ten.
Willy B has had a rough couple weeks. Finishing outside of the top twenty two out of the last three weeks. While his teammate threw one race win away on the dirt, and walked away with a clock yesterday. William should re bound, but only time will show.
Can’t believe we just won Martinsville!!! ?️ pic.twitter.com/p6Zdp9zYsL
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) April 17, 2023
I mean come on this man should’ve won the dirt race, but spun and put himself behind the eight ball. Which allowed for some payback/not payback from Ryan Priest to end his day. Then he comes out and just grinded all day yesterday. He didn’t even run in the top five until the later part of the race. Kyle Larson is number one this week after two solid weeks of performance.
Let’s Wrap This Up
No Belly Up driver of the week this week. My last two drivers have fallen out of the top fifteen NASCAR Power Rankings shortly after grabbing the honors. So, I will not be dooming another driver and team. However we are now headed back to Talladega, and its bound to be a good show.
The uncertainty of these drafting tracks, only plays into the anticipationg and excitment. Plus after so lack lust short track racing, it’ll be nice to see these cars running in a pact, at least until he carnage insues Until after Talladega race fans!
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