NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings: Goodyear makes a beautiful mistake

Only five drivers finished the race on the lead lap and Kyle Larson was among them. P5 in an absolutely chaotic race, Larson got the job done with tire conservation and a little bit of luck.

I still think that Larson is the best driver in the Cup Series from a talent standpoint and the best driver this season so far. It is not shocking he was among the drivers who managed to complete all 500 laps in this strange and entertaining race. Larson remains at the top of the NASCAR Power Rankings for another week.

2. Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing (+5)

Big jump here for Denny Hamlin in the rankings. The reason is, winning solves everything and that’s what Hamlin went out and did on Sunday.

This was perhaps the most difficult win earned this season. Between the tires and how the cars were handling as a result, Hamlin really had to manhandle that Toyota Camry XSE. This might be the start of something big for the 11 team.

3. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske (-)

P16 is nothing to write home about. However, given his speed at times in this race and the nature of the whole thing, I can’t fault Blaney too much. He does drop in the points standings, but he will hold his spot in the NASCAR Power Rankings here at 5 GOATs.

The defending champion has earned some goodwill with his performances this year. At least for one week.

4. Ross Chastain – Trackhouse Racing (-)

Hey, these two are always side by side it seems, huh? Ross Chastain got the best of Blaney this week, finishing P15- one spot ahead of the 12 car.

This is the third week in a row the two have finished within a single position of each other. Blaney got the better of the first two meetings, Chastain got the latest one. Let’s keep them together for now.

5. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports (-3)

So, William Byron won the Daytona 500, but what has he done for me lately? Finishes of P17, P10, P18, and P35 have me a little bit worried. At this point in the season last year, Byron had two wins.

COTA is a solid course for Byron, he was P5 last year and let’s not forget his win at Watkins Glen. Some rights and lefts could put Byron back in that top-3 position in the NASCAR Power Rankings with a strong performance.

6. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing (-1)

Christopher Bell scored a top-10 finish but he fell off the pace after failing to manage his tires. Bell has speed, all of JGR did. At one point Gibbs had the top-four spots in this race.

I’m going to dock Bell just one position, mostly because of Hamlin’s big win. This is where the rankings get tough to sort through, a lot of deserving drivers.

7. Ty Gibbs – Joe Gibbs Racing (NR)

It really felt like this could be the race for Ty Gibbs to get his first career win. It felt right. However, that didn’t happen.

Gibbs makes his first appearance on the NASCAR Power Rankings here because of his whole body of work. He led laps and his lack of tire management experience probably cost him in the end. The fact he’s third in the points is what is most eye-opening to me.

8. Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing (-2)

Tyler Reddick was the only car to gamble on tires when he didn’t pit during the first caution of the race. It did not pay off.

Reddick probably had a frustrating day turning laps. He was multiple laps down the entire race and more or less rode around after taking early damage in this race, which costs him two spots here.

9. Martin Truex Jr. – Joe Gibbs Racing (-)

Martin Truex Jr. is steady this season and is tied for the points lead with Kyle Larson. However, I need to see a win here soon.

If you see Truex shoot up these rankings in the coming weeks, it is likely going to be due to a win. After winning the regular season championship in 2023, Truex is already back on top of the points board.

10. Daniel Suárez – Trackhouse Racing (-2)

A tough P18 day for Daniel Suárez. It wasn’t a bad day, not a good day, but it sure was a day managing those tires in the middle of the pack.

Suárez has that Atlanta win and I still have him in the top 10 of the NASCAR Power Rankings. Could we see Suárez contend for the win at COTA?

NASCAR Power Rankings going into COTA

These are your top-10 drivers heading into COTA. This week, we introduced Ty Gibbs to the group and kicked Kyle Busch out. Busch has just not gotten anything right this season so far. His pit crew roulette is beginning to get old as well and it’s only Week 6.

We have a good sample of races right now and I think this season is going to be as competitive as any we have seen in the last few years. There are drivers who are getting the job done most weeks, but there are also drivers who have shown flashes here and there and laid back for a few weeks after. What surprises will we have at COTA?