Well, once again Mother Nature had to make sure we felt her appearance again. The racing on the track was really good and I’ve heard nothing but compliments on the atmosphere for the fans in the area. However, Alex Bowman grabbed the checkered flag, so we have some updates to make to these 2024 NASCAR Power Rankings. How’d your favorite driver fair on the streets of “The Windy City”?
The Beginning
- 15. Joey Logano
What in the world happened to Joey last weekend? He was non-existent finishing outside the top thirty in both stages. Joey hasn’t had the best of luck recently on “The Tricky Triangle” finishing 35th last year and 20th the year before.
- 14. Bubba Wallace
He got taken out by eventual winner Alex Bowman when Alex locked the wheels up in a turn. His retaliation after the race cost him $50K but he can head to Pocono knowing he’s not finished worse than 14th in his time with 23XI and he needs to get on the right path if he wants to get into the playoffs.
- 13. Todd Gilliland
I saw this car up to as high as third in the running order. I know a lot of different strategy calls were made. However, Todd in my eyes is cementing his place as THE driver at FRM at least until next year. Every race is a wildcard for this team but if he keeps doing what he has been. I expect to see them around the top fifteen again.
- 12. Chris Buescher
A penalty bit them late at the end of stage two. Due to the cut-off time established by NASCAR he just never had enough time to rebound. RFK racing has improved everywhere this season it seems so even though the recent trips haven’t been kind to Chris, I think he can rebound this week.
- 11. Ross Chastain
Another guy I half expected to perform better on the streets of Chicago. However, he ended up with a 22nd place finish and no stage points so it was a crappy day. He grabbed a 13th-place finish last year at Pocono. I think he needs that or better though starting now if he wants to stay on the right side of the cutline.
2024 NASCAR Power Rankings Top Ten
- 10. Martin Truex Jr.
Martin probably would’ve grabbed a top-fifteen finish but got turned into his teammate C Bell late and never recovered. Pocono should be more kind to Martin considering his last two trips have ended with top-ten finishes.
- 9. Brad Keselowski
Had he not gotten “punted” on the last lap he would have grabbed a better finish than the 18th he did get granted. He grabbed stage points at the end of Stage Two but other than that it wasn’t a great day for the six-team in Chicago. He finished 16th last year at Pocono so if they can improve on that and gain stage points it’ll be another okay weekend.
- 8. Ryan Blaney
Ryan grabbed another top-ten finish in Chicago and dropped some more spots in these 2024 NASCAR Power Rankings. That should tell you alone how tough the competition level has gotten in the Cup Series. The problem is he doesn’t have a good recent history at Pocono either, so hope for the best for Blaney fans but prepare for the worst.
- 7. William Byron
He did grab a top-ten at the end of everything. This is good in my book considering I didn’t hear much about this car during the race since they started in the back due to mechanical issues. He’ll most likely grab another top ten this weekend at Pocono considering that his average finish in the last four trips is around tenth anyway.
- 6. Alex Bowman
He finally snapped the 80-race-long winless streak. Atta boy Alex. He had a fast car all weekend, and when it came down to it the crew chief made the right call. Alex is on the up heading to Pocono where he has won before but back in 2021. Will the confidence boost propel him back to those consistent finishes once again?
The Top Five
- 5. Chase Elliott
He got spun late and that killed the top-twenty finish streak. However, he was in an around the top fifteen all race. I think it was a hiccup for Chase and he’ll go to Pocono where he won in ‘22 and looks to have a strong showing once again.
- 4. Tyler Reddick
Another late race charge for a win, but comes up short. Tyler had a fast car but made a crucial mistake late. Can he grab that elusive second win this weekend at Pocono? I mean in his last four trips he’s averaged around a sixth-place finish. So, I would say anything can happen.
- 3. Denny Hamlin
He said it best, Chicago was awesome but he is not in the rain. Denny had a long day on the street course but he can head to Pocono knowing he’ll compete for a win or should at the very least consider his record on the “Tricky Triangle.”
- 2. Christopher Bell
Bell was strong all day and probably would’ve made the race for the win a lot more competitive had he not gotten caught up in someone else’s mess. He’s finished top ten in both of the last two trips to Pocono. Expect nothing less again this time
- 1. Kyle Larson
Yes, he crashed after overdriving late on the wet course. However, he grabbed the pole and competed all day, unlike last week’s number-one driver. Pocono should be another good day for Kyle too if he keeps the car clean and his driving mistake-free.
On Ward to Pocono, We Go
The triangular track, with three completely different turns, is next on the rotation. I am not a super huge fan of Pocono. The field gets strung out, and eventually, it just becomes a fuel mileage race. However, I will of course be watching don’t worry about that as long as I’m still breathing. I think if anything the way this next-gen car has improved racing on the mile-and-a-half tracks anything is possible for Pocono.
Now as for predictions, well I think one thing is almost certain at this point. When it comes to the Cup Series and races at Pocono, Denny Hamlin is most likely going to be a contender for the win. Now with that said, you know a pick piece is going to drop soon. So, keep an eye out for that and hopefully our picks will make you a little bit of money this weekend. See you all next time when we once again update the 2024 NASCAR Power Rankings.
Featured Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
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