NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings: Toyota flexes in Phoenix

Despite a lackluster race at Phoenix, the top spot still belongs to Kyle Larson. He has shown too many times just how talented he is and with one win already this season he will be looking for more soon.

Larson is just one point off the points standings leader , Ryan Blaney. Expect him to be quick again this week at Bristol.

2. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports (-)

Another Hendrick Motorsports driver that faltered a bit at Phoenix. Byron struggled in dirty air and his car was not as fast as it was at this race a year ago.

A one-race drop-off for the Daytona 500 champion doesn’t warrant anyone else passing him. Yet. There is one driver who threatens to take a stab at one of these top two spots in the NASCAR Power Rankings soon.

3. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske (+3)

Ryan Blaney is not just the points leader in the Cup Series, he is the only driver with three top-5 finishes on the year. When you look at his consistency, it’s been impressive, and that’s why he’s our biggest mover this week, up three spots.

Ever since his rough Daytona weekend, Blaney has been nothing but steady and I think he’s done it relatively quietly. This 12 team could take the top spot in the NASCAR Power Rankings with a win or solid performance against the two Hendrick drivers above.

4. Ross Chastain – Trackhouse Racing (-)

Ross Chastain has been right there with Ryan Blaney in each of these last three races. At Atlanta, he was right behind the three-wide finish for P7, Las Vegas he was P4 behind Blaney, and at Phoenix he finished a nose behind the 12 for P6.

Chastain has been hot to start the season. Keep an eye on that No. 1 car.

5. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing (NR)

Welcome to the NASCAR Power Rankings, Christopher Bell. It was a slow go at first, but the 20 team is finally here where they belong.

I’ve jumped Bell up so far from being unranked because Phoenix means so much. It is the championship track, and really, I’ve been waiting for Bell to catch a good day and win like he did Sunday.

6. Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing (+1)

This week, Tyler Reddick moves up one spot in the NASCAR Power Rankings. Reddick might have been the second best driver and car at Phoenix, but barely held on to a top-10 finish.

Dirty air and traffic ruined Reddick’s day. I’m not sure he had enough to keep pace with Bell, but he made the most of what he was dealt in that last green flag run to the finish.

7. Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing (-1)

Reddick jumps Denny Hamlin this week in the rankings because the two battled quite a bit on Sunday. The 45 got the better of the 11 with Hamlin spinning out from second place early in the final stage.

Hamlin has not had a complete race yet this season, not a single top-5 and only one top-10. So to be 8th in the points right now is impressive, he just needs a complete day.

8. Daniel Suárez – Trackhouse Racing (+1)

The winner of the historic finish at Atlanta, Daniel Suárez has backed up that performance the last two weeks now. P11 and P13 finishes aren’t flashy, but they have been solid and kept him afloat.

Right now, Suárez is earning points and finishing races. With the win in his pocket, that is all he really needs to do until the playoffs.

9. Martin Truex Jr. – Joe Gibbs Racing (+1)

Then you have steady Martin Truex Jr. Despite pitting for fuel late in this race, giving Christopher Bell the lead and the win, Truex finished P7.

Had the fuel situation been different, perhaps Truex wins this race. However, he at least earns an extra spot up in the NASCAR Power Rankings.

10. Kyle Busch – Richard Childress Racing (-7)

This is Kyle Busch’s last chance to stay on the top-10 list here. Rowdy falls so far down because again he had a bad day at the track.

I’ve liked certain things I’ve seen from Busch but he has not put together a complete race whatsoever. Can he get it right at Bristol?

NASCAR Power Rankings going into Bristol

So, we have our top-10 for this week. Bubba Wallace drops out of the rankings for now. He’s right there on the edge waiting to take that spot from Busch. However, he will have to have a solid race at Bristol in the Food City 500.

Bubba Wallace was really the only Toyota besides John Hunter Nemechek that didn’t have a winning car. I’m not sure why that is, but I didn’t like seeing his teammate and all of the JGR cars lead laps while he struggled to finish P16. After a hot start in the first two weeks, Wallace needs to rebound.