By Adam Carabine
With the playoffs in full swing now, the StatChat Power Rankings are focusing in on the 16 Cup Series Playoff Drivers. Rankings are determined using a large number of statistical inputs, with most emphasis on the last 5 races
Harrison Burton – This week: 16th – Last week: 16th
After being eliminated, Burton sits in the 16th spot overall in both our Power Rankings and the official standings. Without a playoff spot to push for anymore, will we see Burton be able to get out of the playoff basement?
Tyler Reddick – This week: 15th – Last week: 15th
It’s kind of wild that our Regular Season Champion is sitting in 15th right now, but he’s had a rough few weeks. His playoff point advantage helped him through a shaky first round, and he followed it up with an uncharacteristic P25 at Kansas.
Chase Briscoe – This week: 14th – Last week: 9th
Briscoe put a solid effort into the first three races of the playoffs, earning his way into the second round. He’s started this next round a little slower, but I wouldn’t count him out yet. The next two tracks might be in his wheelhouse.
Brad Keselowski – This week: 13th – Last week: 8th
Brad K’s average finish through the first four races of the playoffs has been 9 spots worse than his average through the rest of the season. Not exactly a recipe for success.
Daniel Suarez – This week: 12th – Last week: 13th
Another driver who had a surprisingly solid first round, and earned his way into Round 2. It wasn’t looking good for him most of the day at Kansas, but he somehow turned it into a P13, which certainly keeps him within shouting distance of the next round.
Martin Truex Jr. – This week: 11th – Last week: 14th
Albeit a week too late, Martin Truex Jr. had a good looking car at Kansas. His P3 finish won’t do anything for his playoff hopes, which were dashed the previous week in Bristol, but he’s getting closer to that final win of his career, which he hopes can come in the next 6 races.
Austin Cindric – This week: 10th – Last week: 4th
A tough start to the Round of 12 for Cindric, as he finished 34th. He’s now dug himself a hole to climb out of if he wants to continue his playoff push. However, he has shown strength at both drafting tracks and road courses, and the next two races happen to be just that.
Ty Gibbs – This week: 9th – Last week: 10th
Ty Gibbs certainly was disappointed not to make it to the next round at the end of the Bristol Night Race, but he hasn’t let that affect his performance. He finished P5 at Kansas, and is just sniffing at that first career win.
Ryan Blaney – This week: 8th – Last week: 11th
After a P4 at Kansas, Blaney is sitting in the second-best position of any driver, +28 to the cutline. His performance in the Power Rankings is a little lower just as he recovers from lap 1 DNF at Watkins Glen, but he should be safe into the next round barring a catastrophe.
Joey Logano – This week: 7th – Last week: 7th
He was the first one to lock himself into this Round of 12 after winning the opening race of the playoffs, and he’s done a decent job of holding serve since then. He came into the playoffs with a point disadvantage, so he’ll still need to work to get into the next round, but this time of year always seems like Logano’s favourite.
William Byron – This week: 6th – Last week: 12th
A late charge by William Byron wasn’t enough to chase down eventual winner Ross Chastain at Kansas, but Byron has shown he’s not messing around in this second round. P2 (with no playoff winner) puts Byron at the top of the standings for the moment.
Alex Bowman – This week: 5th – Last week: 5th
Probably the most consistent driver of the playoffs so far, and also the driver who has scored the most points. A few weeks ago, people were questioning whether Bowman was being shipped out of Hendrick Motorsports. These playoffs have silenced those critics.
Denny Hamlin – This week: 4th – Last week: 6th
It wasn’t flashy, but it was a solid Top 10 for Denny at Kansas this week. He’s got his work cut out for him in these next two races, especially if he repeats his Atlanta strategy at Talladega next weekend, but if he can keep it consistent, he should be okay into the next round.
Chase Elliott – This week: 3rd – Last week: 3rd
The Cup Series’ best average finisher, Chase Elliott, is on the podium again this week in our Power Rankings. Not only did Elliott finish in the Top 10, he had the best passing differential (+52) of anyone at Kansas. He’s still only +4 on the playoff cut line, but consistency has been the hallmark of his season this year.
Christopher Bell – This week: 2nd – Last week: 2nd
Bell’s worst finish in the last 6 races came at Watkins Glen, where he finished P14. Four of those races were Top 5s. Whatever JGR has found in this 20 team, Christopher Bell has been using it to his advantage. He’s making a case for himself, and it’s hard to argue.
Kyle Larson – This week: 1st – Last week: 1st
Still riding high from the points he collected in our formula with all of those laps led at Bristol, Larson retains the top position in our Power Rankings. It wasn’t exactly a smooth Kansas for the driver, though, as he finished P26. His playoff point buffer has given him the chance to stay above the cutline, but he’ll need to find that Bristol magic again.
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