Things are getting intense on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit. With only five races remaining in the 2023 regular season, drivers are doing everything in their power to get into the playoff picture. We had another exciting race from Pocono on Sunday, resulting in a win for Denny Hamlin.
Hamlin’s win on Sunday, his second of the season, shook some things up in the power rankings this week. FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass listed out his top-10 as we prepare for the final five events of the regular season.
Martin Truex Jr. still sits atop the current standings, but Hamlin climbed several spots following the weekend victory. Here’s a complete look at the top-10 from FOX:
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Kyle Larson
- Denny Hamlin
- William Byron
- Christopher Bell
- Kyle Busch
- Ross Chastain
- Kevin Harvick
- Tyler Reddick
- Brad Keselowski
How does Pockrass’ top-10 compare to the current points standings? Here’s how that race looks with five races to go:
- Martin Truex Jr. — 711 points
- William Byron — 681 points
- Denny Hamlin — 656 points
- Christopher Bell — 636 points
- Ross Chastain — 613 points
- Kyle Busch — 609 points
- Kyle Larson — 601 points
- Kevin Harvick — 601 points
- Ryan Blaney — 591 points
- Joey Logano — 575 points
It makes for some interesting racing down the final stretch of the regular season.
Denny Hamlin booed after 50th NASCAR win
Usually, a 50th victory is celebrated among fans in the world of NASCAR. Instead, Hamlin was showered with boos following Sunday’s victory in the HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono Raceway.
Hamlin took home the checkered flag under caution Sunday, marking his 50th career victory on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit. But not many were celebrating the remarkable accomplishment.
Instead, Hamlin was greeted with jeers from the crowd, many frustrated with Hamlin’s antics on the track. Late in the race, the No. 11 car pushed Kyle Larson up the track in a corner, forcing him into a wall.
When Hamlin crossed the finish line first, the boos were audible on the broadcast:
So, it wasn’t exactly the best reception to getting win No. 50. Then again, it didn’t sound like Hamlin really minded all that much.
“Well, both guys wrecked themselves,” Hamlin said. “There was a lane — he missed the corner, first. And, evidently, he didn’t have his right-side tires clean and when he gassed up, he just kept going again.
“You have an option in those positions to either hold it wide open and hit the fence or lift and race it out.”
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