Viva Las Vegas! After back-to-back superspeedways, NASCAR fans got a pallet cleanser with solid intermediate action this weekend. As usual, the NextGen car put on a great show out west in Vegas. Throughout the race, there was passing to be had and tire wear saw cars come and go. Despite a dominating performance from Kyle Larson, there was plenty of action throughout the pack. Compared to the past two races, Sunday was tame and easier to spot the strong teams compared to the weaker teams. Who stood out this weekend at the Pennzoil 400? After two weeks of superspeedway rankings, how did Las Vegas settle down the FitStop Performance Week 3 Power Rankings?
#10 – Chris Buescher
Previous Ranking: 7
It has been an unlucky start to the 2024 season for Chris Buescher. Sunday continued that bad luck. After taking two tires on the first pit stop of the day, the lug was not properly secured for the right front. A few laps into the run, the tire came off and Buescher slammed hard into the wall. While the wall needed repair, Buescher’s car was done for the day and the Texan became the only DNF of the race. Thanks to a strong Saturday for the 17 team, Buescher heads into Phoenix still in the Top-10.
#9 – Daniel Suarez
Previous Ranking: Honorable Mention
Following his dramatic win at Atlanta, Daniel Suarez ran a solid (yet unremarkable) race in Las Vegas. Suarez led some laps after staying out during the second caution of the day. The bold strategy seemed to set the team firmly in the mid-pack for the remainder of the day. However, Suarez finished 11th. It was enough to boost him to ninth in the power rankings.
#8 – Ross Chastain
Previous Ranking: 9
Ross Chastain had to navigate his way through the field twice on Sunday. After rewrapping the hood after qualifying, Chastain had to start the Pennzoil 400 in the back of the pack. Chastain managed to navigate forward to score some Stage 1 points. During Stage 2, Chastain seemed steady inside the Top-10. However, a speeding penalty during green flag stops sent him back to the bottom of the order. On the final pit stop, the Trackhouse team decided to do a two tire stop. Chastain was able to hold on for a Top-5 despite the worse tires.
#7 – Ryan Blaney
Previous Ranking: 8
After barely losing the race last weekend, Ryan Blaney ran strongly inside the Top-5 for the majority of the Pennzoil 400. With the race’s sponsor adorned on the hood of his car, Blaney was easily the best Ford in the field. While never contending with Kyle Larson for the win, Blaney was able to drive into the Top-5 and remained there. So far, Blaney is putting up a good effort in his championship defense.
#6 – Christopher Bell
Previous Ranking: 4
Dropping a couple of spots this week is Christopher Bell. Bell has an adventure in Las Vegas on Sunday. He brought out the first caution after his right rear tire went flat. Smartly, Bell managed the car well before the issue struck, avoiding any significant damage. Despite the early incident, Bell was able to score a point in Stage 1. Prior to the end of Stage 2, Bell spun again. This time, the team was unable to rebound as Bell wound up finishing 2 laps down.
#5 – Denny Hamlin
Previous Ranking: 6
Surprisingly, Denny Hamlin put together a poor qualifying effort on Saturday. However, there was little to worry about once the race start Sunday. Hamlin easily knifed his way through the field to remain in the Top-10 for most of the afternoon. Hamlin did not have race winning speed, but he was able to contend for a spot in the Top-5. Ultimately, Hamlin nabbed his first Top-10 of the season.
#4 – Martin Truex Jr
Previous Ranking: 5
Other than the poor starting position, the same thing said about Denny Hamlin could be said about Martin Truex Jr. Finishing where he started (7th), Truex ran a consistent race where he had Top-10 speed but not race winning speed. Truex scored stage points in both stages and led 4 laps during a pit cycle. A solid day for the 19 team.
#3 – Kyle Busch
Previous Ranking: 1
Early in the race, it looked as if Kyle Busch could compete with Kyle Larson for the top spot. However, Busch never flashed that same speed after Larson got around him in Stage 1. Despite the poor finish, Busch’s Las Vegas race was strong until a slow pit stop put him deep in the field. However, that slow pit stop was actually a great save from Busch’s front tire changer. If the tire changer did not slow the stop to secure the lug, then Busch could have faced the same fate as Buescher did earlier in the race.
#2 – William Byron
Previous Ranking: 2
William Byron’s Pennzoil 400 was undone by a 55-gallon trash bag. During Stage 1, somehow the large trash bag found its way to the nose of Byron’s car. Despite stopping quickly to remove it from his nose, Byron’s car never resembled the speed he was flashing prior to the incident. Turns out, a beer car was wedged in the car (according to Rudy Fugle). Still, Byron managed to bring his car (and beer can) home with a Top-10.
#1 – Kyle Larson
Previous Ranking: 2
Simply put, Kyle Larson dominated the Pennzoil 400. He swept the stages and won the race with little pressure throughout. While Tyler Reddick managed to put the heat on at the end of each stage, Larson managed to keep the Toyota driver at bay. For the third straight week, there is new driver at the number one spot. Will the FitStop Performance Power Rankings see another new driver at number one next week? Or will Kyle Larson hold the spot post-Phoenix?
Honorable Mentions
Bubba Wallace –Â After a strong qualifying effort, Bubba Wallace never made too much noise on Sunday. A faulty lug nut ruined their race, where Wallace finished 13 laps down.
Ty Gibbs – Back-to-back Top-10s for Ty Gibbs sees him flirt with power ranking contention.
Noah Gragson – After being hit with a 35-point penalty, Noah Gragson responded with a strong Top-10 run. So far with SHR, Gragson is looking like what many expected from him last season.
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