The NASCAR Cup Series season is officially over. Ryan Blaney secured the championship as Ross Chastain won the race at Phoenix. While expectations were low, Phoenix Raceway delivered a solid race that kept things interesting throughout. Unlike past Cup Series Championship races, the Championship Four drivers did not dominate. In fact, only 97 laps were led by those four drivers. All but two of those laps were led by the same driver as well. This was the best championship race at Phoenix. Since the Championship Four did not simply dominate, this week’s power rankings should be interesting. What movement will there from last week to Week 33 of the Pit Pass Network Power Rankings?
#10 – Kevin Harvick
Previous Ranking: Honorable Mention
During Stages 1 and 2, it felt that Kevin Harvick was going to have the best possible sendoff. Harvick led 23 laps in his final Cup Series race. In Stage 1, he managed to get to the back bumper of William Byron. Early in Stage 2, Harvick managed to take the lead from Byron. However, his lead would not last for too long as Ross Chastain passed him on lap 117. Still, Harvick’s great run sees him finish the season in the power rankings.
#9 – Ross Chastain
Previous Ranking: Honorable Mention
Much like Kevin Harvick, Ross Chastain rides a strong season finale to return to the power rankings. Chastain was the dominate driver on Sunday, even if his car was not the best. Chastain led a race high 157 laps and made history as the first nonplayoff driver to win the championship race in this playoff format. While Chastain might have done some mirror driving, he clearly did not care about ensuring a Championship Four driver would win the race. Chastain ends the year by smashing a watermelon.
#8 – Martin Truex Jr
Previous Ranking: 8
Martin Truex Jr certainly picked an interesting time to have his best playoff race. Truex ran inside the Top-10 all race long and briefly challenged for the lead with Ross Chastain and Ryan Blaney. Ultimately, Truex had to settle for a Top-10 finish. A solid ending to Truex’s massively disappointing playoff run. After winning the regular season championship, Truex finishes eleventh in points.
#7 – Brad Keselowski
Previous Ranking: 6
Congratulations on Brad Keselowski on the birth of his son. Also, Keselowski ran a great race on Sunday. After missing qualifying due to said birth, Keselowski started in the rear. He managed to drive his car into the Top-10. Once again, bad luck struck Keselowski when he hit the wall and lost his Top-10 position late in the race. Still, a very respectable fifteenth place finish after facing adversity.
#6 – Chris Buescher
Previous Ranking: 7
This past Sunday must have been bittersweet for Chris Buescher. While a Top-5 is great, his run leads to question what could have been if he made the Championship Four. Buescher arguably had the best car at certain points. He won Stage 2 and seemed ready to set sail on the field once the final stage began. Unfortunately, Buescher’s pit crew had trouble with the right front tire during the stage break pit stop. Buescher dropped seven spots and never managed to fully recover.
#5 – Christopher Bell
Previous Ranking: 4
Back to back years of disappointing Championship Four appearances for Christopher Bell. After Friday’s practice, Bell seemed prime to be a serious contender for the championship. Then he qualified poorly on Saturday. While he was able to drive forward during the race, a brake rotor failure ended Bell’s race (and championship hopes) after 108 laps. Bell would be the only Championship Four driver to DNF on Sunday.
#4 – Denny Hamlin
Previous Ranking: 3
After missing the Championship Four, Denny Hamlin was quiet on Sunday. He ran inside the Top-10 for the entire race, but was never a top contender. Hamlin and his team attempted to play the pit strategy game, especially when they took two tires on the final stop. While his time in the Top-5 was brief, he managed to maintain track position and finish with a Top-10.
#3 – Ryan Blaney
Previous Ranking: 5
Ryan Blaney ended the 2023 season as the hottest driver in the Cup Series. In the final six races, Blaney’s average finishing position was fourth. This hot streak led Blaney to hoisting the Cup Series Championship trophy on Sunday. However, it was too little, too late to have him sit atop of the power rankings for this week.
#2 – Kyle Larson
Previous Ranking: 1
Another week, another flip flop at the top of the power rankings. While Kyle Larson finished second in the championship, he was the third best car (of the four). Larson did not lead a single lap. Throughout the race, Larson struggled to maintain the speed that Ryan Blaney and William Byron had. Larson’s pit crew got him ahead of Blaney for the final restart. However, Blaney’s car was simply better as he drove by Larson to secure the championship.
#1 – William Byron
Previous Ranking: 2
For the eighth time this season, William Byron sits atop the power rankings. Although he finished third in the championship, Byron’s run was good enough to boost him back ahead of Kyle Larson. Sunday was the perfect snapshot of Byron’s weird “dominate” season. The Hendrick driver lead the first 92 laps before losing it to Kevin Harvick. As it has done numerous times this season, Byron’s speed faded as the race dragged on. He never managed to have race winning speed again. Despite that, he still finds himself at the top of the power rankings.
Honorable Mention
Joey Logano – After squeaking his way back into the power rankings, Joey Logano falls out after hitting the wall midway through the race and never fully recovering.
Tyler Reddick – While Tyler Reddick’s paint scheme was awesome, his season comes to an end with back to back disappointing runs.
Bubba Wallace – Unlike his teammate, Bubba Wallace ran a great race on Sunday. He stayed inside the Top-10 all day and finished a solid tenth.
*Note: There will be an end of year power rankings next week, which will be the last one for the 2023 season.
