What happens in Las Vegas has massive championship implications. This year’s South Point 400 saw 5 of the remaining playoff drivers run into some major issues. To capitalize on those shortcomings, the man who only advanced due to a disqualification managed to pull out the win. Las Vegas Motor Speedway offered a playoff race full of serious ramifications. However, the non-playoff drivers continued to be competitive inside the Top-10. In a season where consistency is difficult to find, the power rankings seemingly always shuffle each week. The ROVAL jumbled the Week 32 rankings up a bit. How will the South Point 400 shake out the FitStop Performance Week 33Â Power Rankings?
#10 – Joey Logano
Previous Ranking: Not Ranked
Was there any doubt? Joey Logano is a living legend during years that end in even numbers. Since the inception of the elimination format, Logano has made the Championship Four every even numbered year. After pulling fuel strategy at the end of the South Point 400, Logano picked up his third win on the season and punched his ticket to Phoenix. Also, he made his way back into the power rankings.
#9 – Alex Bowman
Previous Ranking: Honorable Mention
After the heartbreak last week, Alex Bowman put together a strong race to continue his recent surge. Arguably the best Hendrick Motorsports car on the day, Bowman’s Top-5 must be bittersweet. On one hand, this Top-5 could have been huge for Bowman if he was in the playoffs. At the same time, any solid run should be celebrated no matter the playoff status.
#8 – Ryan Blaney
Previous Ranking: 7
This will be a weekend that Ryan Blaney will surely want to forget. On Saturday, a blown tire ended Blaney’s practice session after one lap. Sunday saw Blaney climb through the field to get inside the Top-15 by the start of Stage 2. Unfortunately, a wreck in front of him caught him in the tri-oval wall. The damage essentially ended his day, where the only notably thing the 12 car did from there was help push Joey Logano to the win.
#7 – Tyler Reddick
Previous Ranking: 5
Another playoff race, another underwhelming performance for Tyler Reddick. At first, the day looked to be off to a good start. Reddick started second and managed to pick up the Stage 1 win. However, an aggressive move to the outside of Chase Elliott ended with the 45 car doing a roll in the grass. Through the playoffs, Reddick is averaging a 20.6 finish, hence the heavy drop in the power rankings.
#6 – Chris Buescher
Previous Ranking: 8
While a Top-10 finish is not something to gripe about, Chris Buescher had a Top-5 car. Despite a mediocre qualifying effort, Buescher managed to move through the field. Scott Graves employed some strategy to pick up track position. From there, the 17 car remained inside the Top-5 for the bulk of the race. A handful of drivers playing the fuel strategy prevented Buescher from securing a Top-5.
#5 – Denny Hamlin
Previous Ranking: 6
Despite everything going wrong throughout the South Point 400, Denny Hamlin managed to pick up a Top-10. Outside of the result, the overall experience in Las Vegas for Hamlin was a miserable one. The 11 was the slowest of the Joe Gibbs Racing entries. His pit crew mangled multiple pit stops. Throw in a blown strategy call for Stage 2, it is a testament to this team’s resiliency that Hamlin managed an 8th place finish.
#4 – Chase Elliott
Previous Ranking: 3
Not an ideal start to the Round of 8 for Chase Elliott. Knowing that the pressure would be there to win this round, Elliott’s race started out well. Outside of Ryan Blaney (who started last), no one passed more cars than Elliott did in Stage 1. However, Elliott’s day essentially ended with the incident coming out of Turn 4. Now, the 9 team faces a must-win situation over the last 2 races of this round.
#3 – Kyle Larson
Previous Ranking: 2
Usually, an 11th place result for the 5 team would not be considered a “win”. However, a huge gaffe on pit road during Stage 2 saw Kyle Larson bounce back from being two laps down. An unsecured right rear tire froze the 5 pit crew. In that confusion, the left rear tire was not changed before Larson pulled out of pit road. However, Larson managed pass the leader to get one lap back before earning the lucky dog later in the race.
#2 – William Byron
Previous Ranking: 4
Four straight Top-5s sees William Byron hit the second spot in the power rankings. Las Vegas was another race where the 24 demonstrated their championship ability. Byron did not unload fast, seemingly the worst of the Hendrick bunch. However, a 2-tire call got Byron the track position. As the team continued to work on the car, Byron began flashing winning speed. Other than Martin Truex Jr, Byron was the only competitor to maintain pace with Christopher Bell on equal tires.
#1 – Christopher Bell
Previous Ranking: 1
Leading 155 laps and picking up a stage win is a great way to maintain the top spot in the FitStop Performance Power Rankings. Christopher Bell had the dominate car on Sunday. No one could touch him all race long. However, fuel strategy by Joey Logano prevented Bell from winning the South Point 400. For the second straight year, the playoff Las Vegas race ends in bitter disappointment for the 20 team. Perhaps some solace can be found in their position at the top of these power rankings.
Honorable Mention
Bubba Wallace – Bubba Wallace slips out of the power rankings after a fine day at Las Vegas.
Ross Chastain – After a couple of bad-luck races, Ross Chastain bounces back with a Top-10 this weekend.
Carson Hocevar – A rarity lately, Carson Hocevar finished last of the Spire Motorsports trio and outside the Top-20.
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