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NASCAR rankings: Crazy weekend in Chicago shakes up the top

NASCAR Cup Series driver Shane van Gisbergen does a burnout after winning the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

NASCAR power rankings: Crazy weekend in Chicago shakes up the top

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Jul 7, 2025 12:44 PM ET

Shane van Gisbergen nabbed his second win of 2025 after a stellar performance at the Chicago Street Course on Sunday. With 19 races of the Cup Series season complete, here’s where the field stacks up.

1. Chase Elliott

(Last week: 1)

NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott during qualifying for the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Elliott only finished 16th at Chicago, but there’s no reason to move him down. He’s only 13 points out of the lead as the circuit heads to Sonoma, where he’ll likely be in contention for the win.

2. Denny Hamlin

(Last week: 4)

Denny Hamlin drives during the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

After his engine expired early in practice, Hamlin was forced to start last in Chicago. That didn’t deter the future Hall of Famer, however, as Hamlin mounted a charge and finished fourth - a great day considering that Hamlin isn’t the best road racer.

3. Kyle Larson

(Last week: 3)

NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson during qualifying for the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Larson finished 13th in Chicago - not a bad day by any means, but another ho-hum effort by a No. 5 group that is capable of much more. Larson has won two of the last four races at Sonoma, and his home track is an excellent opportunity for him to get back on track.

4. William Byron

(Last week: 1)

NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron during qualifying for the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

There’s no reason to panic given that Byron still holds the points lead, but the No. 24 team is in the midst of a slump. Byron has four finishes of 27th or worse over the last five races, and his HMS teammates in Elliott and Larson could soon take over the top spot in points if more poor results follow.

5. Tyler Reddick

(Last Week: 7)

NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick (45) during qualifying for the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Reddick might’ve been able to snag second from Ty Gibbs had the caution not flown on the final lap of Sunday’s race, but a third-place effort is still a good day for the No. 45 team. Reddick is still searching for his first win of 2025, and another road course race at Sonoma is a solid candidate.

6. Alex Bowman

(Last week: 8)

NASCAR Cup Series driver Alex Bowman during qualifying for the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Bowman has four top-11 finishes over the last four races and has moved back into the top 10 in the regular season standings. He’s still fighting for his playoff life near the bubble, but the No. 48 team is back on track.

7. Ryan Preece

(Last week: 9)

NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Preece during qualifying for the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Preece is only two points out of the 16th and final provisional playoff spot after his seventh-place finish in Chicago. With another road course on tap next week, Preece could move into the playoff picture without a new winner from below the cut line.

8. Christopher Bell

(Last week: 6)

NASCAR Cup Series driver Christopher Bell during qualifying for the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

The shimmer and shine of Bell’s three early wins have worn off through the summer. A 24th-place finish in Chicago gives Bell four finishes outside the top 10 over the last five races - not a stretch indicative of a championship contender.

9. Chris Buescher

(Last week: 5)

NASCAR Cup Series driver Chris Buescher drives during the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Buescher is still above the playoff cut line after an 18th-place run at Chicago, but needs better days to get back to the postseason. He’s been excellent at Sonoma of late, finishing top-five in all three Next-Gen races at the track.

10. Ryan Blaney

(Last week: 11)

NASCAR Cup Series driver Todd Gilliland (34) and driver Ryan Blaney (12) drive during the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Blaney had a forgettable weekend in Chicago, earning a 12th-place finish and staying put at seventh in the standings. Road courses aren’t his strong suit, which could make for another ho-hum weekend for the No. 12 team at Sonoma.

11. Chase Briscoe

(Last week: 10)

Chase Briscoe (19) drives during the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Briscoe’s attempted strategy of making his fuel last to the end of the race didn’t work out in Chicago, as the No. 19 was relegated to a 23rd-place finish. The good news? With his Pocono win serving as his ticket to the playoffs, those are the kinds of risks Briscoe and crew chief James Small can afford to take over the last seven races of the regular season.

12. Ross Chastain

(Last week: 13)

NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain during qualifying for the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Chastain ruffled some feathers - most notably, those of Joey Logano and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. - en route to a 10th-place finish in Chicago. The No. 1 team has been rock-solid for most of the summer, but is still looking to take the next step and become a weekly contender.

13. AJ Allmendinger

(Last week: 14)

NASCAR Cup Series driver AJ Allmendinger drives during the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

A slow pit stop late in the race prevented Allmendinger from keeping van Gisbergen in sight in the closing laps. Still, a sixth-place finish is always a solid day, and another road course at Sonoma next weekend gives Allmendinger another shot to win and punch his ticket to the postseason.

14. Shane van Gisbergen

(Last week: Not ranked)

NASCAR Cup Series driver Shane van Gisbergen after winning the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

There’s not much else to say about van Gisbergen’s acuity on road courses. With Sonoma on the horizon, the No. 88 team could tie Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson with three victories should van Gisbergen win at the California road course.

15. Joey Logano

(Last week: Not ranked)

NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano during qualifying for the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Logano was none too happy with Chastain after he was spun by Chastain on Lap 63 of Sunday’s race, but still came home with an 11th-place finish. The No. 22 team still looks far from a title threat - they’re treading water as the circuit heads to Sonoma.

16. Kyle Busch

(Last week: Not ranked)

NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch (8) during qualifying for the Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Race. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Don’t look now, but Busch is only 36 points out of a playoff spot after a fifth-place finish in Chicago. He’s also moved up to 16th in the regular season standings and has a legitimate shot at pointing his way into the postseason.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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