After the snoozer in Bristol, the NASCAR Cup Series headed to Kansas Speedway to kick off the Round of 12. Kansas Speedway has become one of the best tracks on the schedule, especially after the spring race. While the Hollywood Casino 400 did not match that quality, it was a good race that entertained the fanbase. There were lead changes, comers and goers, and enough cautions to keep things interesting without devolving into anarchy. Also, the finish played out naturally without a late race caution to trigger overtime. In the end, Kansas again delivered a compelling race. As for the power rankings, Week 29 saw a new number 1 after Kyle Larson’s domination. Will the FitStop Performance Week 30 Power Rankings also see a new number 1?
#10 – Alex Bowman
Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Since the start of the playoffs, Alex Bowman has been putting together strong runs. Over the past 4 races, Bowman has averaged a 9.5 finish and 40.75 points per race. Bowman was one of 3 drivers to lock themselves in on points during the Bristol race (prior to the finish). This past weekend at Kansas, Bowman won Stage 2 and ran inside the Top-10 throughout. If he can maintain this performance, he could be a dark horse contender for the Championship Four.
#9 – Ross Chastain
Previous Ranking: 10
For the second time this playoffs, a non-playoff driver plays spoiler and wins the race. Ross Chastain utilized strategy after the caution prior to Stage 2’s ending. Via pitting before the stage break, the 1 team managed to get his car to the lead, where it stayed for the majority of the final run. Despite pressure from Kyle Busch and William Byron, Chastain maintained his lead and picked up his first win since the Championship Race at Phoenix.
#8 – Chris Buescher
Previous Ranking: 6
It was a bit of struggle on Sunday for Chris Buescher. Off the truck, the 17 car was not setup well for the race. However, the team continued to work on it through practice and the race. After flipping Stage 2, Buescher ran around the Top-10 for the remainder of the race. While it was not a poor race, the success of other drivers is why Buescher falls down two spots in the rankings.
#7 – William Byron
Previous Ranking: 8
For the first time since Michigan, William Bryon put together a race where he resembled his championship form. Byron won Stage 1 and looked to be the faster car in the final laps. However, there was not enough time for Byron to catch and then pass Ross Chastain. Still, Byron had a car that was capable of weaving through the field. If this performance sparks momentum, then Byron might be able to return to the Championship Four conversations.
#6 – Ryan Blaney
Previous Ranking: 7
Pit road was almost a disaster for Ryan Blaney on Sunday. During the first trip to pit road, a slow stop put Blaney deep into the field. However, he managed to drive up the leaderboard to finish third in Stage 1. During the final stage, Blaney felt a loose wheel, which brought him to pit road. Despite that, he managed to pick up a Top-5, with some help from the Kyle Busch caution.
#5 – Denny Hamlin
Previous Ranking: 5
Unlike Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin struggled to overcome his pit road issues. On numerous stops, his pit crew faltered and sent Hamlin to the mid-pack. While the car’s speed seemed Top-5 worthy, Hamlin could not overcome the constant backtracking his pit crew did to him. However, this race was a better start to a playoff round than Atlanta was for the 11 team.
#4 – Tyler Reddick
Previous Ranking: 3
Down to number 4 this week, Tyler Reddick has hit a skid in recent weeks. After a 6th place finish at Atlanta, Reddick now has 3 straight results of 20th or worse. It has been a far cry from the consistency that led Reddick to win the regular season championship. Both 23XI Racing entries were sluggish at Kansas, a track where previously they had dominated. Now sitting on the wrong side of the cutline, Reddick hopes to replicate his luck from the Talladega race in the spring.
#3 – Chase Elliott
Previous Ranking: 4
What a grind it was for Chase Elliott on Sunday. After starting last due to engine issues, Elliott slowly climbed his way through the field. By the end of Stage 2, Elliott cracked into the Top-10. With his 9th place finish, Elliott continues to boast the best average finish in the Cup Series. However, will that be enough to keep him in the playoffs to the Championship Race?
#2 – Kyle Larson
Previous Ranking: 1
Another brief stint at number 1 for Kyle Larson. This time, he was undone by a flat right rear tire early in the race. While the damage did not appear significant, the diffuser was impacted enough to withhold speed from the 5 car. Larson managed to finish on the lead lap, but it was another finish outside the Top-20. With Talladega on deck, Larson will hope to reverse his poor luck on superspeedways to ease the pressure going into the ROVAL.
#1 – Christopher Bell
Previous Ranking: 2
A new number 1 hits the FitStop Performance Week 30 Power Rankings. Christopher Bell nabbed the pole for the Hollywood Casino 400. For the majority of the race, he was the car to beat. Overall, he led the most laps with 122. A couple of on-track mistakes prevented Bell from grabbing a stage or race win though. Still, his 7th place finish marks his 7th Top-10 over the past 9 races. Bell has found top performance during the late portion of the last two seasons. Under his current streak, that could spell a third straight Championship Four appearance.
Honorable Mention
Brad Keselowski – Brad Keselowski slides out of the power rankings, similar to how he quickly slid down the leaderboard after staying out on old tires.
Zane Smith – Despite losing his ride for 2025, Zane Smith has been putting together a solid second half of 2024. A Top-10 at Kansas continues this stretch.
Carson Hocevar – For the majority of the race, Carson Hocevar looked to be a Top-10 car. However, a bad pit stop followed by bad luck saw his day end with a poor finish.
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