FitStop Performance 2026 Week 4 Power Rankings

Usually, Phoenix Raceway is not a preferred destination for the NASCAR Cup Series. The racing has not been the best, especially considering that the track has hosted the Championship Race since 2020. However, recent races have started to turn the tide on Phoenix. This past Sunday produced an entertaining race where tires factored into who ran well or not. 2-tire strategies would work for short runs and there were enough long-ish runs to allow good cars to drive through the field. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience with a small appearance of chaos. That chaos allowed some drivers to thrive and recover while others finished behind the wall. Would this chaos alter the rankings from Week 3 to this week? Check out the FitStop Performance 2026 Week 4 Power Rankings.

#10 – Shane van Gisbergen

Previous Ranking: 10

If Shane van Gisbergen can replicate his performance from Sunday, the field might be in trouble. Despite spinning out twice for flat tires, Shane van Gisbergen almost nabbed his first non-superspeedway Top-10 on an oval. Prior to his first spin, SVG managed to hang around inside the Top-15 on pace. Las Vegas will be the first big test of the 2026 season, but SVG certainly is demonstrating his improvements off the road courses thus far.

#9 – Chris Buescher

Previous Ranking: 7

What could have been a potential Top-5 turned into a struggle to get back into the Top-15. Chris Buescher’s pit crew were on fire all race long. Consistently gaining him spots during cautions, the 17 team had Buescher running inside the Top-5 in the final stage. Another great stop should have had Buescher set up to restart 4th, but he was nabbed for speeding on pit road. Credit to the driver and team for clawing their way back to 14th.

#8 – Denny Hamlin

Previous Ranking: 8

After dominating the Championship Race in Phoenix last fall, it was surprising to see Denny Hamlin not mix it up with the top cars on Sunday. He did end up with a Top-5, but more was expected from the team that led 208 laps here last time. Maybe the increase in horse power threw off the setup for the 11 team this week. Still, it was Hamlin’s first Top-5 of the season.

#7 – Chase Elliott

Previous Ranking: 3

While Chase Elliott did get caught up in an accident, his day was not going much better prior to the incident. Elliott struggled to find speed throughout the race. Usually, the 9 car could be found barely competing for a Top-20. This lack of speed is certainly concerning despite Elliott’s fourth place spot in points.

#6 – Christopher Bell

Previous Ranking: 9

It was the Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney show. Clearly, those two had the best cars on Sunday. Most would likely point to the 20 as the best in the field, especially considering he was only a lap or two away from overtaking Ryan Blaney on that final run. Bell led the most laps and picked up the Stage 2 win. The only reason why Bell missed on the race win was a 4-tire call on the final pit stop and a quick yellow after to cut into his lap count.

#5 – Bubba Wallace

Previous Ranking: 6

With his left side marked up, Bubba Wallace drove a strong race on Sunday. After Stage 1, Wallace managed to get himself into the Top-10 and remained for the rest of the race. Maybe his 23 car was not a contending ride, but he certainly maximized its potential.

#4 – William Byron

Previous Ranking: 4

Even before picking up a flat tire due to debris, William Byron was not much of a factor in Sunday’s race. Sure, he ran decently but it was a far cry from how fans expect him to run. To be fair, you could apply that to Hendrick Motorsports as a whole (look at Chase Elliott’s drop). A Top-10 is nothing to sneeze at, but Byron was the biggest threat to Denny Hamlin last year at Phoenix. To be a nonfactor this past weekend is a bit bizarre.

#3 – Kyle Larson

Previous Ranking: 5

If you watched Kyle Larson early in the race, he did not have a third place car. Despite the two championships under the old format, Phoenix has not been Larson’s best track. It looked to be a rough day initially, but the 5 team managed to work on the car to bolster its performance. The late race cautions helped Larson get a podium finish that likely would not have occurred under long green flag runs though. Still, Larson bumps up to third this week.

#2 – Ryan Blaney

Previous Ranking: 2

Closing the gap between himself and Tyler Reddick this week, Ryan Blaney took to victory lane in Phoenix. Arguably his strongest track, Blaney wins back-to-back races out in the desert. However, it was not a dominant performance form the 12 team. While their car might have been the best, two pit road blunders with loose wheels sent Blaney to the back. Blaney was able to drive through the field both times though.

#1 – Tyler Reddick

Previous Ranking: 1

Although he did not make it 4-for-4 to start the season, Tyler Reddick still remains at the top of the FitStop Performance Power Rankings. Retaining his number 1 spot, Reddick was on the fringe of contending throughout the entire race. Definitely not one of the best cars, the 45 hung around the Top-5 but would fade during longer runs. Still, it an impressive start to the 2026 season for Reddick and his team. Las Vegas should continue this momentum as it is one of Reddick’s better tracks.

Honorable Mention

Ty Gibbs – Who knew all it took for Ty Gibbs to drive better was being trashed in NASCOURT? Since the Chris Gabehart deposition, Ty Gibbs has two strong runs at COTA and Phoenix.

Michael McDowell – Spire Motorsports is looking strong to start 2026 and Michael McDowell is the headliner from that organization. Picking up back-to-back Top-10s at Phoenix has McDowell lurking for a spot.

Joey Logano – Joey Logano looked well on his way to returning to the rankings this week after leading early. However, Logano sparked a multi-car wreck then got caught up in one to end the day behind the wall.

The brainchild of Hunter Smith, FitStop Performance is dedicated to training the toughest around – from motorsports athletes to multi-tasking soccer moms. He desires to help everyone who walks through the doors of his gym to perform optimally throughout life. FitStop Performance is in its second season sponsoring the weekly FitStop Performance Power Rankings which tracks the highest-performing NASCAR Cup Series drivers throughout the season. Give them a follow (Facebook, Instagram, X) and thank them for their sponsorship!