Another Monday saw NASCAR Cup Series action spice race fans’ work days up a bit. After rain again put a damper on a Sunday race, the Cup Series continued the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monday afternoon. On Sunday, the first part of the race was filled with blown tires and spinning out. The playoff grid was shaken up with bubble drivers both struggling and thriving. As for Monday, the racing was intense and action packed. Drivers (with good cars) were able to move through the field. Meanwhile, the last thirty laps saw two drivers battle for the lead. Throughout the two days, pit strategy played a factor. While tires were not the most important factor, gas strategy reigned supreme. As for the Pit Pass Network Power Rankings for Week 20, the jumbled strategies mixed with some early exits could lead to a shake up. How did the FireKeepers Casino 400 change the power rankings?
#10 – Ross Chastain
Previous Ranking: Honorable Mention
After dropping out of the power rankings for a week, Ross Chastain returns this week after a solid run at Michigan. Despite his front row qualifying position, Chastain never demonstrating race winning speed after losing the initial lead sixteen laps into the race. Still, Top-10 speed for this team was a good start to building momentum for the playoffs. Chastain (and Trackhouse) needed this run after an abysmal summer.
#9 – Kevin Harvick
Previous Ranking: 9
During Sunday’s portion of the race, it look like Michigan was going to be a rough day for Kevin Harvick. Luckily for him, Monday turned out to be better for the 4 team. Much like Chastain, Harvick never threatened for the race win. However, he ran in the Top-10 for most of Monday afternoon. This is Harvick’s fourth straight Top-10 since his three straight outside the Top-20 finishes.
#8 – Christopher Bell
Previous Ranking: 8
Perseverance is the name of the game at times. Christopher Bell and his team demonstrated that on Monday. After wrecking while battling for the lead on Sunday, it seemed that Bell’s race would be effectively over. The car had the diffuser almost dragging on the track and a tapped up spoiler. Despite that, the pole setter managed to finish inside the Top-15. While it is another finish outside the Top-10 for Bell, this one has a bit more pride to it.
#7 – William Byron
Call it recency bias, but William Byron has been freefalling in these power rankings over the past few weeks. Over the past eight races, Byron only has two Top-10s. Granted, one was a rain shortened win at Atlanta. However, Byron’s strong start to the season is fading away during summer. Much like how his races have mostly gone, the strong early momentum fades as Byron is drifting further down the power rankings. From Top-4 driver to seventh is a far plunge, but recently, Byron has not been running well (especially at the end of races).
#6 – Brad Keselowski
Previous Ranking: 7
As one driver is falling, two drivers are hitting their stride right before the playoffs. Brad Keselowski is one of those drivers. He is coming off back-to-back strong runs. Over the past five races, Keselowski’s average finish is 7.4. At Michigan, Keselowski raced for stage points, receiving the second most on the day. It threw off his race winning strategy. During the last tire run, Keselowski was able to rocket up to fourth place. With that speed, Keselowski might have been the best RFK car coming to the finish.
#5 – Chris Buescher
Previous Ranking: 6
Once again, recency bias might be taking hold here. However, Chris Buescher is coming off back-to-back wins. Not only wins, but dominate race ending speed that saw him lead the bulk of laps. The key call was staying out after Stage 2. Buescher (along with Tyler Reddick) was able to pull away from Martin Truex Jr before the last set of pit stops. That lead allowed Buescher to hold his lead over Truex. With two road courses next on the schedule, Buescher could continue his hot streak through to the playoffs.
#4 – Kyle Busch
Previous Ranking: 2
Kyle Busch’s FireKeepers Casino 400 was a short lived race. Busch did not have to attend Monday’s portion of the race after wrecking out on Lap 15. While battling Ryan Blaney, Busch got loose underneath the 12 car and spun out. The damage to his car was bad enough to push Busch’s DNF count to five for the 2023 season.
#3 – Denny Hamlin
Previous Ranking: 4
Slowly but surely, Denny Hamlin is rising in these power rankings. While a lot of the attention went to Martin Truex Jr, Denny Hamlin’s car was almost as good. After stalling on pit road, Hamlin was almost able to drive to a Top-10 after starting at the rear of the field when Truex won Stage 2. Michigan was a strong run that sees Hamlin hitting his stride close to the playoffs.
#2 – Kyle Larson
Previous Ranking: 2
This might have been the quietest Top-5 of the season. Kyle Larson was the lone Hendrick entry that did not DNF. Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Alex Bowman all wrecked out of the race. Larson ran inside the Top-10 for a bulk of the race. However, he never had the speed that the drivers ahead of him had by the finish. Albeit quiet, Larson will gladly take his tenth Top-5 of the season.
#1 – Martin Truex Jr
Previous Ranking: 1
Fresh off his 2024 return announcement, Martin Truex Jr dominated the first two stags of this race. He won Stage 1 after passing Ross Chastain for the lead. However, his Stage 2 win was impressive. Deciding to pit on Lap 107, Truex drove through the field and made a last lap pass on Daniel Suarez to sweep the stages. Pitting during the stage break is the only reason why Truex did not win the race. Coming through the field again saw him six seconds behind the leaders prior to the green flag pit stops.
Honorable Mention
Tyler Reddick – In one pit cycle, Tyler Reddick went from potential race winner to multiple laps down due to his rear tire changer not being vocal enough about a tire he knew was not secured.
Ryan Blaney – Ryan Blaney built off a decent Richmond run with a Top-10 at Michigan.
Bubba Wallace – Once again, Bubba Wallace led a good chunk of laps this weekend yet managed to finish worse than what his car’s potential.
