The Pit Pass Power Rankings return after a week off due to NASCAR’s Father’s Day hiatus. It would be a bit difficult to do power rankings without a new race. This will be the last time the Pit Pass Power Rankings take a hiatus until the end of the season.
As for the on-track action, Nashville Superspeedway provided a solid race. Outside the necessary safety scare from the NextGen car (and lack of safe barrier), the Ally 400 was a clean race. Only a messy restart after Tyler Reddick’s tire took a sabbatical saw damaged cars. This allowed the race to play out based on drivers’ speed. Track position did factor in a bit, however, the faster cars remained out front. As for the Week 14 Power Rankings, the race helped make decisions more straight forward. Cannot wait for next week after the Chicago Street Race.
How do the Week 14 Power Rankings compare to Week 13 from two weeks ago?
#10 – Kevin Harvick
Previous Ranking: 9
While being the lone bright spot for Stewart-Haas Racing, Kevin Harvick has experienced his fair share of poor luck. Sunday was no different. During the final stage, Harvick seemed lined up for a Top-5. However, a flat tire on Lap 239 ruined his chances for that. While the power rankings do not solely value finishing position as a deciding factor, Harvick’s run on Sunday was a slow build up to a good end. Even factoring out the final 61 laps, Harvick only spent about 36% of his race running in the Top-15.
#9 – Chris Buescher
Previous Ranking: 10
A bit opposite of Kevin Harvick, Chris Buescher’s day started out looking like a solid finish was in sight. After the yellow flag during green flag pit stops that put Buescher a lap down (and had to take the wave around), the RFK driver never regained his Top-10 speed. While his ceiling seemed to be about eighth, Buescher finished in a disappointing eighteenth. This was his first finish outside the Top-15 since Kansas.
#8 – Ryan Blaney
Previous Ranking: 7
At the time of this writing, Ryan Blaney is thankfully okay after his scary accident on Sunday. Getting caught up in the stack up on the restart on Lap 148, Blaney’s car drove head on into an wall without a safer-barrier. Blaney was visibly shaken up after getting out of the car. Blaney’s bad luck spoiled a potential good run for the Penske driver. While on track, he was consistently in the Top-15.
#7 – Denny Hamlin
Previous Ranking: 8
Luckily for Denny Hamlin, Sonoma’s Turn 11 remained in California this weekend. Hamlin had the third best car on Sunday. He managed to fight off Martin Truex Jr for the Stage 2 win and led the second most laps (81). A great run for the Toyota driver was the best way to kick off the second half of the season.
#6 – Christopher Bell
Previous Ranking: 5
A solid but quiet race for Christopher Bell on Sunday. Although he dropped a spot in the power rankings, it is completely down to the driver behind him simply being better on Sunday. Bell averaged a run in the Top-10, scored stage points in both stages, and managed to led 3 laps.
#5 – Ross Chastain
Previous Ranking: 6
Despite dominating the bulk of the Ally 400, Ross Chastain only bumps up one spot. His recent runs have been lacking the usual speed fans expect out of the Melon Man. That Father’s Day break must have been beneficial for Chastain. His weekend went from strength to strength. He won his (and Trackhouse’s) first career pole, led the most laps, and picked up his first win of the season. If this Chastain remains for the rest of the season, he could be collecting a championship as well.
#4 – Kyle Busch
Previous Ranking: 4
Kyle Busch almost slid down to fourth in the power rankings this week. Despite his car showing obvious speed, the 8 team could not stop stepping on rakes. Within the first 20 laps, Busch had to pit for a tire going down. Busch also got caught up in the stack up on the restart. Then, Busch capped off his day by speeding on pit road. He did persevere for a Top-10 finish. However, one has to wonder if Busch could have battled for the win if he did not have all of those issues.
#3 – Kyle Larson
Previous Ranking: 3
Kyle Larson pulled off what Kevin Harvick was attempting to do before his tire gave out. Larson was a mid-pack car for the bulk of the day. Cliff Daniels and the 5 team continued to work on the car and made the necessary adjustments to get Larson his seventh Top-5 of the year. Turning average into Top-5 has been a staple of the 5 team this year.
#2 – William Byron
Previous Ranking: 2
Much like Christopher Bell, William Byron had a quiet but good day at the track. Byron consistently ran in the Top-5 all race long. The Hendrick driver finished Top-5 in both stages, but was passed by his teammate for a Top-5 late in the run. Byron holds steady in the second spot.
#1 – Martin Truex Jr
Previous Ranking: 1
No movement in the Top-4 of the power rankings this week. Martin Truex Jr remains on top by having the second best car Sunday night. Truex led the third most laps and looked to be Chastain’s only threat of not winning the race. If Chastain does not make the three wide pass between lapped traffic, Truex might have been able to pass Chastain for the lead. Based on Chastain’s long run speed, it is questionable if Truex would have held onto that lead.
Honorable Mentions
Brad Keselowski – When the race started, it seemed that Brad Keselowski was going to struggle to run inside the Top-20. Instead, some track position luck and adjustments saw Keselowski finish eleventh, his best since Darlington.
Chase Elliott – It is difficult to put Chase Elliott in the power rankings proper when he has missed so many races. On the flip side, Elliott is averaging a 6.75 in races he finishes.
Tyler Reddick – Finding a third honorable mention was tough this week. Tyler Reddick gets it by default since he has been a featured driver in the power rankings before. If his tire does not fall off, Reddick likely would have finished Top-10.
