I will say I didn’t expect to see the struggles by teams I did see this past weekend at Michigan. Heck, many of those teams are in the top five or ten on these NASCAR Power Rankings. So, heading into the Indianapolis Road Course this weekend is going to make things even more enjoyable, especially considering how this race went last year. They’re already making some adjustments before the green flag to hopefully ease up on the chaos we saw last year. I guess we might as well get this updated NASCAR Power Rankings finished though right? Let’s go!
NASCAR Power Rankings: Bottom Five
- 15. Chase Elliott
Chase Elliott crashes in Stage 1! #NASCAR
?: @usanetwork pic.twitter.com/k4a4BRWpYv
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 6, 2023
It hasn’t been a season to remember for the fan favorite. Chase showed speed early last weekend racing in the top ten. Well, that was until lap thirty-six when his right rear tire went down and shot up into the wall ending his day. A stretch of road course races though may be just what Chase needs to lock his spot in the playoffs.
- 14. Bubba Wallace
Results didn’t match the day Bubba had in my opinion. Bubba ran up front and showed he had speed. Seems like when he pitted at the end of the stage, he just got stuck in the dirty air and there wasn’t anything he could do to get back up front. Sucks because his peers were on a different strategy and benefitted.
- 13. Ross Chastain
Ah yes, some of that @TeamTrackhouse balance and speed made the trip to @MISpeedway this weekend.
7th for the No. 1 @Jockey @TeamChevy! pic.twitter.com/yFUWFgp8ow
— Ross Chastain (@RossChastain) August 7, 2023
Quiet day but a solidly quiet day. Ross did his best to hold off Martin Truex early but fell victim eventually much like everyone else early in this race. A top-ten finish is very much needed for this team, especially if you read last week’s NASCAR Power Rankings.
- 12. Joey Logano
It was a “meh” day for Joey. He grabbed a top fifteen finish, which is odd because they either are in the top ten or outside the top twenty. Either way, I like the result here. That’s what Joey does though, he gets the absolute best out of the car, as long as pit strategy falls right, and danger doesn’t strike.
- 11. Tyler Reddick
One, two, three, four!
FOUR censor beeps for Tyler Reddick. ?
Watch on @USANetwork. pic.twitter.com/ZNUGPmzqGC
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 7, 2023
Kim Coon one of NBC’s pit reporters stated during the broadcast at Michigan that even Tyler said they’ve got to quit pushing when it’s not needed because mistakes are being made. Then low and behold what happens? Yep, a mistake cost them the chance at another win. Tyler won at Indy last year, so maybe this can be the week he and his team can have a mistake-free good race.
Middle of the Pack
- 10. Brad Keselowski
Pit strategy sometimes works your way, and in others, it bites you. This week it bit Brad in the sense of putting him behind the eight ball so to say. He had to pit for fuel with twenty-three laps to go from the lead and just didn’t have the time to recover. Either way, though this team is getting better and better.
- 9. Ryan Blaney
Bringing home a top-10 finish. ? pic.twitter.com/6sWOlcQp4l
— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) August 7, 2023
Climbing back up progressively, Ryan grabbed a top-ten finish at Michigan. He’s not known to be a road racer but Penske cars always perform well at the track owned by their owner. So I won’t count him out just yet this weekend.
- 8. Christopher Bell
Christopher Bell wrecks while fighting for the lead in Michigan. ?
?: @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/VjCB5flrxq
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 6, 2023
Horrible luck early for the guy who sat on the pole. He backed the car into the wall, and I thought he would be done for the day honestly. He and his team persevered enough to grab a top-fifteen finish. Power move in my opinion.
- 7. Chris Buescher
BACK 2 BACK Winner Chris Buescher I should say. Wow, like I expected a good run but I didn’t expect a mid-2000s Roush butt-whipping at Michigan. Once he got out front he didn’t give it up even with arguably the best driver in the series (Martin Truex Jr.) currently pressuring him for forty or so laps. Chris isn’t a bad road racer either.
- 6. Kevin Harvick
The No. 4 exits the Irish Hills with a top-10 as we head to Indianapolis. pic.twitter.com/GGFGXtmxF6
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) August 7, 2023
Called it last week, I said Kevin would grab another good finish. He didn’t disappoint as he still continues to carry the Stewart Haas flag. I’ll be interested to see how Kevin does on this road course stretch starting this weekend.
The Top Five
- 5. Kyle Busch
.@KyleBusch is headed to the garage.
?: @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/hhMPxTWoC4
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 6, 2023
Drove the shit out of the car into the corner, and it didn’t stick. You have to hate seeing that as a race fan, especially a part of “Rowdy Nation.” The result sucked but you can’t say the man wasn’t giving it all he could.
- 4. William Byron
Stage one: ✅@WilliamByron hits the wall coming yo the stage end. P13#LibertyU24
— No. 24 Team (@Hendrick24Team) August 6, 2023
The car didn’t stick to the line William tried to hit with it and added an early exit to the Hendrick camp. It sucked but a lot like Kyle Busch at least you can see he was still fighting even with his playoff spot locked in.
- 3. Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson finished fifth at Michigan, the one bright spot for Hendrick Motorsports as the other three cars crashed out. Larson said he didn’t have a good day in practice and qualifying but was good in the race. His thoughts: pic.twitter.com/coRBep6JJk
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 7, 2023
The best of the Hendrick drivers. Kyle grabbed a top-five finish, and I’m sure no one was completely disappointed especially considering they have finished outside the top fifteen in the last two races.
- 2. Denny Hamlin
It’s not an uncommon site to see a set of teammates hold the top two spots on the NASCAR Power Rankings. Denny had a fast car at Michigan but he didn’t have the fastest car. He’s almost there again though grabbed his third straight top-three finish so this team is on a hot streak right now
- 1. Martin Truex Jr.
MARTIN TRUEX JR. DID IT!
He drives through the field and gets by Daniel Suarez to win Stage 2. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/un9lVoXppx
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 7, 2023
So, my way to early season predictions piece, I guess I’ve got to eat a little crow. Martin and this team looked destined to make it Martin’s Monday at Michigan. This team is good right now, and Watkins Glenn is coming up where Martin is pretty good.
That’s It For This Week
The Verizon 200 last year, was what some could argue was a “wreckfest”. I mentioned earlier that NASCAR has already made a slight change to the race format this season. They are moving the starting zone back, to hopefully help the cars thin out before the treacherous turn one. Will it help? Honestly, I don’t know maybe early one in the race, but once it gets to the final stage all bets are off.
#91 looks ? pic.twitter.com/ETcqkAPOwf
— Shane van Gisbergen (@shanevg97) August 9, 2023
Either way, as always I am going into the weekend optimistic. Plus, SVG is back this weekend again in the 91 car. The last time we saw him he dominated the street course. So, it will be fun to watch him on a more stereotypical NASCAR road course. Now as for any picks I may or may not have. It’s a road race, so honestly I have no idea. I could easily see the likes of Suarez, Chastain, Reddick, Elliott, Truex, or even Hamlin up front and in contention.
The 2023 Verizon 200 will be on NBC and the green flag is set to drop around 2:30 PM. I’ll be watching the question, will you?
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