Texas was well, interesting I guess. Especially compared to the last two weeks. We had a ton of cautions, and restarts and we all know what restarts bring in NASCAR. Anyway since we have another race winner that means one thing and one thing only. It’s time for another update to the 2024 NASCAR Power Rankings.
The Toughest Five? 15-11
- 15. Kyle Busch
It’s been a season so far for this driver and his team. Very Up and Down results, but a top-ten finish is always welcomed for Rowdy Busch. Now he heads to Talladega where he won last Spring. Let’s see if he can avoid the madness.
- 14. Ty Gibbs
He started off the weekend by qualifying on the front row next to Kyle Larson. However, minus a few stage points in stage two, the rest of the race was average. He finished thirteenth. How is he going to do at Talladega? Especially knowing he didn’t even crack the top thirty in both races last season finish-wise.
- 13. Chase Briscoe
— Chase Briscoe (@ChaseBriscoe_14) April 15, 2024
Thank goodness for Chase Briscoe if you are an SHR fan. He continues to carry the banner for them. Heading into Dega, Chase finished fourth in the Spring and thirteenth in the Fall. So, if Lady Luck likes Briscoe once again we should see another solid finish.
- 12. Martin Truex Jr.
If you haven’t checked out this week’s edition of Three Up and Three Down, do so now! Kaleb summed up Texas for Martin. Heading into Talladega, if you are a Martin fan then stay optimistic is all I can say.
- 11. Bubba Wallace
Riding off into the sunset with 2 Top-10 finishes. ✌️🐎
There’s no quit in this team. 💪#TeamToyota pic.twitter.com/RBl0eiDZUW
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) April 15, 2024
Bubba grabbed another top-ten finish and now gets to head to Talladega as one of the series best on the superspeedways. Is a win on the horizon?
2024 NASCAR Power Rankings Mid-Pack
- 10. Ross Chastain
Ross seemingly had a top-five finish at the very least locked up before the above incident occurred ending the race and his chances for that finish. He did win stage two, so that helps in the grand scheme of things. Also, if I remember correctly he knows how to drive to victory lane in Alabama.
- 9. Joey Logano
11th-place finish today at @TXMotorSpeedway
Next up – @TALLADEGA @Team_Penske @FordPerformance pic.twitter.com/wsTX42GcxT
— Joey Logano (@joeylogano) April 15, 2024
Joey started his ascension at the beginning of stage two it seemed. While he didn’t grab any stage points, an eleventh-place finish is nothing to complain about. Joey and his team have been quiet recently but consistent. He is another good restrictor plate track guy to watch this weekend at Talladega.
- 8. Alex Bowman
I bestowed a bit of grace on Alex this week as far as positions on the 2024 NASCAR Power Rankings go. I mean he checked up to avoid the 20-car hitting the wall and got spun out. Talladega wasn’t nice to Alex last season but we all know anything can happen at ‘Dega!
- 7. Christopher Bell
Big problems for Christopher Bell, Alex Bowman, & John Hunter Nemechek. pic.twitter.com/Kh8UnOaF40
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) April 14, 2024
As the Intimidator said, “You win some, you lose some, you wreck some.” It’s been a rough two-week stretch for Bell. However, he did grab an eight-place finish in the Spring race last season at ‘Dega. Like I said above though anything can happen at Talladega, but if he can avoid whatever “anything” turns out to be then he’s set possibly.
- 6. Tyler Reddick
In our weekly picks piece, I decided to roll with Tyler. All he did was start the race in fourth and survive 276 total laps to finish in fourth. He led some laps, but I did expect more out of this car.
The Top Five
- 5. Chase Elliott
Elliott Nation, partied hard last night I’m sure. Why wouldn’t they though? Chase showed a fire, and drive that’s been missing since his injury last season. Now he heads to Talladega where he went to victory lane in the Fall of 2022. Can Elliott go back-to-back?
- 4. Denny Hamlin
AROUND GOES HAMLIN! 😳 pic.twitter.com/3ZMHp8T5Rm
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 14, 2024
Nothing more frustrating than wrecking while racing for the lead. It was a solid day for this bunch until it wasn’t. Denny is going to hope to avoid all the calamity this weekend and rebound with at the very least a top-ten finish I’m sure. Denny is too good of a Super-Speedway driver to not finish top ten if he doesn’t wreck.
- 3. Ryan Blaney
Problems for the champ.@Blaney tags the wall for the 10th caution at @TXMotorSpeedway today. pic.twitter.com/ObuApqQT1b
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) April 14, 2024
They grabbed stage points, in both of the first two stages before hitting the wall with 87 to go. Ryan heads to Talladega, recently winning in the fall and having not finished outside the top fifteen since October 2020.
- 2. Kyle Larson
The driver was dominant, and the car was fast, but pit road mistakes will cost you in the end. Especially one as big as a loose wheel. Talladega and Kyle Larson though don’t have the best of history either. In eighteen career starts, he has only three top-ten finishes at Talladega. Only one of those three was since he joined HMS and it came back in 2022.
- 1. William Byron
The hot streak continues for @WilliamByron.
His last four finishes: P1, P7, P1, P3. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UHOaTlkVte
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) April 15, 2024
In a span of four races, the lowest this guy has finished is seventh. Oh yeah, and he won two of those four races as well. It’s not a win this weekend, but sometimes a quiet day is the second-best thing to have if you can’t win. Especially before heading to Talladega.
Final Lap On Texas
Early in the race on Sunday, it seemed like clean air was going to once again be king. I mean eleven laps into the race Larson had a one-second lead over second place. Yes, and Kyle Larson was strong early. He won stage one after the field started a game of follow the leader. Then two things became more prevalent.
Pit strategy calls gave us new drivers in the top ten and then caution flags saved us from what could’ve been another boring race at Texas. The track looked slick, and the cars ill-handling. So, ill give this one to NASCAR and Texas Motorspeedway it was a solid race.
Now as for Talladega. Well, I can guarantee you one thing: Chaos. It always happens at some point in these races. Now as for the picks. Those will be up tomorrow, and you can find them always here.
Featured Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Follow the main page for all your sports, entertainment, and gaming needs. If you love NASCAR racing, Georgia Bulldogs Football, or the Atlanta Falcons find me on Twitter, and let’s talk!
