Well, I will say I ate my own words regarding expectations about this Pocono race. We saw helmets thrown, walls hit, and even a few punches distributed on pit road post-race. It was another awesome weekend of racing in my opinion. With that said though, we had another winner on Sunday. So, that means it’s time to see where your favorite “hothead” wound up in this week’s NASCAR Power Rankings.
NASCAR Power Rankings: 15th to 11th
- 15. Chase Elliott
Fought hard all day. pic.twitter.com/eBeZp9Fbka
— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) July 23, 2023
Another top-ten finish, but top-tens don’t guarantee a playoff birth. A win does, so they need to find the speed in this nine-car so they can start competing for wins not just top tens.
- 14. Joey Logano
Trouble in Turn 1! ?@joeylogano and @Daniel_SuarezG are involved! pic.twitter.com/cJr4MMDtx3
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 23, 2023
The stage one winner, fell victim to someone else’s mistakes and killed what could’ve been a good day. Unfortunately for him, the competitors around him had good enough days to improve their ranking position. While he only made it through one stage.
- 13. Bubba Wallace
A solidly quiet day for Bubba once again. After the numerous errors this team has either committed or has been a part of, they need more of these solid quiet days. Especially if there hoping to point their way into the playoffs.
- 12. Brad Keselowski
P16 at the triangle. pic.twitter.com/afIR0fxIeJ
— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) July 23, 2023
A sixteenth-place finish was a bit disappointing in my opinion after how this team was running as of late. I expected to see more speed but it definitely showed this team is still working on improvements.
- 11. Chris Buescher
Didn’t get the finish he deserved. ?
Chaotic one from behind the wheel, tough one to call from atop the box. pic.twitter.com/ZbGbTHmnTk
— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) July 23, 2023
Not a horrible finish, but not really what I’ve come to expect from this team also as of late. Like mentioned above though, this organization is still actively working on improvements to get better.
Mid-Pack: 10th to 6th
- 10. Tyler Reddick
Involved in some conflict with his old teammate, but a solid finish for this team. They’ve got to avoid the conflict if possible and keep a limit on the mistakes like they did on Sunday at Pocono and they’ll be back near the top of these NASCAR Power Rankings in no time.
- 9. Ryan Blaney
Thank you to our Partners and fans, we were close. On to Richmond. pic.twitter.com/eM93yKVW47
— Ryan Blaney (@Blaney) July 24, 2023
Seemed promising early on, even leading some laps but ultimately the engine dropped a cylinder. I think you better expect to see this team in or around the top five this weekend at Richmond.
- 8. Ross Chastain
It wasn’t me. ?
In all seriousness, so proud of the fight of our @TeamTrackhouse @TeamChevy group. We’ll take a p13 and move onto @RichmondRaceway. Thank you for all the amazing support, @WWEXRacing! pic.twitter.com/ATqQGuAesP
— Ross Chastain (@RossChastain) July 23, 2023
A top-fifteen finish for this team I’m sure is gladly taken after finishing outside the twenty for the past three weeks. They need these and better finishes to get back to the final four at the end of the season.
- 7. Kevin Harvick
I feel like if Harvick is going to drive this car into victory lane before the playoffs it has to be within the next two races. Another 4th place finish and he adds to the cushion he has on the bubble but you know a win is what Harvick wants to guarantee his playoff spot.
- 6. Kyle Busch
His pit crew kind of screwed him this week because he was behind the eight-ball once he had the loose lug issue. But NASCAR is a team sport and they don’t need to start having mistakes on pit road show up now.
The Top 5
- 5. Christopher Bell
Just as @KyleLarsonRacin was thinking about pitting from the lead, @CBellRacing loses control!
?: @USANetwork | ?: https://t.co/r61CT6jvrS pic.twitter.com/pVGti4o6VN
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 23, 2023
From spinning out early to rebounding and finishing 6th it was another up-and-down day for the driver of the twenty car. Once again though they are around at the end and competing.
- 4. Denny Hamlin
A controversial 50th career victory for Denny and seventh at Pocono in his career. Denny has had plenty of hot streaks late in the season before and has yet to grab that elusive championship. So, I’m not putting too much stock into this win just yet. He is making his case though right now competitiveness-wise.
- 3. William Byron
He won the pole and even led sixty laps on Sunday. While the finish doesn’t reflect the full product, I still think this team is going to be around week in and week out competing to some extent right now. Especially before the playoffs start because they can experiment a bit right now.
- 2. Kyle Larson
Denny Hamlin ran Ross Chastain up toward the wall last year…
He’s done it now with Kyle Larson, so Larson got him back! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/LPrSv24OhN
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 23, 2023
Cliff Daniels and his decision to take two tires put Kyle in a position to win the race. Yeah, he finished twentieth but he also did hit the wall before the end of the race while battling for the WIN.
- 1. Martin Truex Jr.
Was leading the race, looking like he was going to go back-to-back with wins. Until someone took a gamble on pit road. Martin still showed speed Sunday and grabbed a third-place finish. This top spot is highly contested though right now, and I love it as a fan.
NASCAR Power Rankings Wrap Up, and Onto Richmond
The next-gen car has been successful at least in my opinion in the evening of the field. Especially since I have started writing these power rankings week in and week out. It’s really difficult some weeks to decide where someone should stand but it also is so much fun. Enough about Pocono though, what about Richmond? We are headed back to a short track, what are you expecting to see this weekend?
Next Sunday….It’s our turn? pic.twitter.com/VX7VqyzagQ
— Richmond Raceway (@RichmondRaceway) July 23, 2023
If it can be anything close to the product I saw in New Hampshire, with maybe a bit more competition up front for the lead. I’d be fine with that, myself. Either way, let’s talk drivers to watch heading into Richmond. I gave you Harvick last week, as a sleeper, and just said above I think if he’s going to win it’ll be this week or next. So, Kevin Harvick is obviously on my list. Another Ford driver you could look at is Joey Logano who in the last six races at Richmond has averaged around sixth place finishing spot. Plus he led over two hundred laps in this race last year.
Don’t be surprised if you do see Alex Bowman, or Chase Elliott up front in this race either because both of them run well here and Bowman even has a win. I’m looking forward to watching the best of the best in the Cup series battle it out either way.
The Cook Out 400 at Richmond is going to be on USA Network and the green flag should drop somewhere around 3 PM Eastern barring any weather changes between now and then.
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