NASCAR power rankings: Joe Gibbs Racing takes over the top spot

Christopher Bell (20) during the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race at Kansas Speedway. Kylie Graham-Imagn Images

1. Christopher Bell (Last week: 2)

Bell finished third on Sunday at Kansas, his fourth top-10 finish in a row after a disastrous showing in the Southern 500. The No. 20 team is turning up the wick at the right time. Bell is 44 points above the cut line going into the Round of 12 elimination race at the Charlotte Roval. 

2. Chase Briscoe (Last week: 3)

Briscoe continued his stellar playoff run with a fourth-place run on Sunday. He’s working with a 21-point advantage to the cut line going into the Roval, where he has the chance to advance to the Round of 8 for the second time in his career. 

3. Denny Hamlin (Last week: 6)

Hamlin came up one spot shy of victory on Sunday, but his performance was still one for the ages. The future Hall of Famer led 159 laps and swept the stages on Sunday, and he leaves Kansas 48 points above the playoff cut line. 

4. Chase Elliott (Last week: 8)

Elliott came out of nowhere on the final restart, driving from 10th to the win in just two laps. That’s the type of performance that makes Elliott look like the juggernaut he was from 2020-22, when he made three consecutive trips to the Championship 4. 

Ryan Blaney (12) signs autographs before the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race at Kansas Speedway. Kylie Graham-Imagn Images

5. Ryan Blaney (Last week: 1)

Blaney had a miserable weekend at Kansas. The New Hampshire winner was forced to start at the rear in a backup car on Sunday after his No. 12 Team Penske Ford sustained damage during practice on Saturday. The 2023 champ made some headway in the race, but ultimately finished 24th. 

6. Kyle Larson (Last week: 4)

Larson had a solid day at Kansas, finishing sixth and scoring 17 stage points. He’s all but locked up a Round of 8 berth, as he sits 54 points above the cut line going into the Roval. 

7. Bubba Wallace (Last week: 9)

Wallace is still 26 points below the cut line despite a strong performance at Kansas on Sunday. Wallace finished fifth after contact with Hamlin in the final corner killed his momentum, but despite the heartbreaking loss, there are plenty of positives for the No. 23 team. 

8. Tyler Reddick (Last week: 11)

Reddick struggled early in Sunday’s race, but rebounded to finish seventh. Like his 23XI Racing teammate in Wallace, he’s facing an uphill battle to advance at the Roval - Reddick is 29 points below the cut line. 

Daniel Suárez (99), Josh Berry (21) and William Byron (24) during the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race at Kansas Speedway. Kylie Graham-Imagn Images

9. William Byron (Last week: 7)

Byron scratched and clawed his way to a ninth-place finish on Sunday. He’s 40 points above the cut line going into the Roval, and barring a disaster, he’ll advance to the Round of 8 for the fourth consecutive year. 

10. Joey Logano (Last week: 5)

Logano’s advantage to the cut line was nearly cut in half (+24 to +13) after a ‘tough weekend’ and a 21st-place finish. The defending Cup Series champion will need a gutsy effort at the Roval to keep his hopes of a fourth championship alive. 

11. Ross Chastain (Last week: 10)

Chastain couldn’t replicate his Kansas win from a year ago, instead settling for 11th. He’s the first man on the outside looking in at the Round of 8 field, as he enters the Roval ninth on the playoff grid, 13 points below the cut line. 

12. Chris Buescher (Last week: 15)

Buescher earned three stage points and finished 15th on Sunday in another quiet, steady effort. Buescher remains the driver highest in the Cup Series standings among those who missed the postseason. 

13. Michael McDowell (Last week: 16)

McDowell put together an impressive comeback effort after he was forced to start at the rear and serve a penalty on Lap 1. The 2021 Daytona 500 champion finished 14th on Sunday, his fourth consecutive top-20 result. 

14. Brad Keselowski (Last week: Not ranked)

Keselowski didn’t earn any stage points on Sunday, but he was near the front when it counted. The 2012 champion finished eighth, continuing his strong second half of 2025. 

15. Ryan Preece (Last week: 13)

Preece spun on Lap 89 of Sunday’s race and was never able to recover. He finished 26th on Sunday and will be looking for a bounce-back race at the Roval. 

16. Shane van Gisbergen (Last week: Not ranked)

Speaking of the Roval, van Gisbergen will undoubtedly be one of the favorites to win next week. But the road course ace made plenty of noise on Sunday, as he finished 10th at Kansas - his first career Cup Series top-10 finish on an oval.