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Power Rankings: Chicago to New Hampshire
By Pat DeCola | Published: September 18, 2017 17
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NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola ranks the NASCAR Playoffs drivers after the opener at Chicago and before the second race at New Hampshire.
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Driver: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Rank: 16
Change: -1
Comment: Stenhouse isn't in great shape to open the NASCAR Playoffs, and his nine career starts without a lap led at New Hampshire are the most among playoff drivers.
Rank: 16
Change: -1
Comment: Stenhouse isn't in great shape to open the NASCAR Playoffs, and his nine career starts without a lap led at New Hampshire are the most among playoff drivers.
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Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Driver: Ryan Newman
Rank: 15
Change: -5
Comment: Newman is tied for most wins among active drivers at New Hampshire with three, but it feels like a long shot with how the team has run most of the season. That said, his one win this season was at a similar layout in 1-mile Phoenix.
Rank: 15
Change: -5
Comment: Newman is tied for most wins among active drivers at New Hampshire with three, but it feels like a long shot with how the team has run most of the season. That said, his one win this season was at a similar layout in 1-mile Phoenix.
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Driver: Kasey Kahne
Rank: 14
Change: --
Comment: Since winning at Loudon in 2012, Kahne has just 32 laps led at the track, all of which came before 2014. He was 28th in July and not likely to win his way into the next round at the 'Magic Mile.'
Rank: 14
Change: --
Comment: Since winning at Loudon in 2012, Kahne has just 32 laps led at the track, all of which came before 2014. He was 28th in July and not likely to win his way into the next round at the 'Magic Mile.'
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Driver: Austin Dillon
Rank: 13
Change: 3
Comment: New Hampshire is an interesting track for Dillon, who seems to run just slightly above average at the track no matter the circumstances. Since his debut in 2014, five of his seven starts have resulted in finishes from 11th to 16th.
Rank: 13
Change: 3
Comment: New Hampshire is an interesting track for Dillon, who seems to run just slightly above average at the track no matter the circumstances. Since his debut in 2014, five of his seven starts have resulted in finishes from 11th to 16th.
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Driver: Ryan Blaney
Rank: 12
Change: 1
Comment: Since the July Loudon race where he placed 19th, Blaney has managed just a pair of top 10s. That drought may not end at New Hampshire, where his four starts without a finish of 10th or better are the most among playoff drivers.
Rank: 12
Change: 1
Comment: Since the July Loudon race where he placed 19th, Blaney has managed just a pair of top 10s. That drought may not end at New Hampshire, where his four starts without a finish of 10th or better are the most among playoff drivers.
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Driver: Jamie McMurray
Rank: 11
Change: 1
Comment: McMurray is the not-so-proud owner of the most starts at New Hampshire (29) without a win. He hasn't come close too often, either, with a middle-of-the-road 19.8 average finish.
Rank: 11
Change: 1
Comment: McMurray is the not-so-proud owner of the most starts at New Hampshire (29) without a win. He hasn't come close too often, either, with a middle-of-the-road 19.8 average finish.
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Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Driver: Kurt Busch
Rank: 10
Change: -3
Comment: At New Hampshire this summer, Busch started ninth, finished eighth, and his average running position was ninth. That sort of consistency pays off in the playoffs, so he'll look to maintain that this weekend.
Rank: 10
Change: -3
Comment: At New Hampshire this summer, Busch started ninth, finished eighth, and his average running position was ninth. That sort of consistency pays off in the playoffs, so he'll look to maintain that this weekend.
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Rank: 9
Change: 2
Comment: The Joe Gibbs Racing driver won back-to-back Loudon races from 2015-16, has two more starts there than any current driver and owns the most top fives with 11. He's a good bet to put in a solid day's work on Sunday.
Rank: 9
Change: 2
Comment: The Joe Gibbs Racing driver won back-to-back Loudon races from 2015-16, has two more starts there than any current driver and owns the most top fives with 11. He's a good bet to put in a solid day's work on Sunday.
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Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Rank: 8
Change: --
Comment: While Johnson has excelled at Loudon historically, he has zero wins since 2010 -- an eternity for the No. 48 team. Overall, though, he has three wins and a stellar 21 top 10s in 31 starts.
Rank: 8
Change: --
Comment: While Johnson has excelled at Loudon historically, he has zero wins since 2010 -- an eternity for the No. 48 team. Overall, though, he has three wins and a stellar 21 top 10s in 31 starts.
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Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images
Driver: Chase Elliott
Rank: 7
Change: 2
Comment: It's early still, but Elliott has yet to land in the top 10 in any of his three Loudon starts. He's knocked on the door in the past two, however, with finishes of 13th and 11th, respectively.
Rank: 7
Change: 2
Comment: It's early still, but Elliott has yet to land in the top 10 in any of his three Loudon starts. He's knocked on the door in the past two, however, with finishes of 13th and 11th, respectively.
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Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Driver: Kyle Busch
Rank: 6
Change: -2
Comment: If the pit crew issues can be remediated over the course of the week, Busch and Co. ranks as one of the strongest contenders on Sunday. 'Rowdy' owns the most laps led at the track among active drivers.
Rank: 6
Change: -2
Comment: If the pit crew issues can be remediated over the course of the week, Busch and Co. ranks as one of the strongest contenders on Sunday. 'Rowdy' owns the most laps led at the track among active drivers.
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Driver: Brad Keselowski
Rank: 5
Change: --
Comment: While it's starting to feel like a bit of a fleeting memory, Keselowski and teammate Joey Logano -- likely the non-playoffs driver with the best shot at winning on Sunday -- teamed up with for a Loudon sweep in 2014. Will the 'Magic Mile' magic return?
Rank: 5
Change: --
Comment: While it's starting to feel like a bit of a fleeting memory, Keselowski and teammate Joey Logano -- likely the non-playoffs driver with the best shot at winning on Sunday -- teamed up with for a Loudon sweep in 2014. Will the 'Magic Mile' magic return?
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Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Rank: 4
Change: 2
Comment: Harvick, the race's defending winner, has finished fifth or better in five of the past six races at New Hampshire. The No. 4 team is building, and it could all come together Sunday
Rank: 4
Change: 2
Comment: Harvick, the race's defending winner, has finished fifth or better in five of the past six races at New Hampshire. The No. 4 team is building, and it could all come together Sunday
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Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Rank: 3
Change: --
Comment: Hamlin (briefly) picked up a Loudon lobster in Victory Lane two months ago, and his 10.0 average finish at the track is best among drivers with more than one start.
Rank: 3
Change: --
Comment: Hamlin (briefly) picked up a Loudon lobster in Victory Lane two months ago, and his 10.0 average finish at the track is best among drivers with more than one start.
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Driver: Kyle Larson
Rank: 2
Change: --
Comment: Larson hasn't won at New Hampshire yet, but he's getting darn close. He has three top-three finishes since his 2014 debut and was runner-up in July.
Rank: 2
Change: --
Comment: Larson hasn't won at New Hampshire yet, but he's getting darn close. He has three top-three finishes since his 2014 debut and was runner-up in July.
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Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Rank: 1
Change: --
Comment: Truex has yet to win at Loudon, too, but that team is proving it's a threat to win every week regardless. The No. 78 team is still the team to beat, especially after leading 137 laps in July.
Rank: 1
Change: --
Comment: Truex has yet to win at Loudon, too, but that team is proving it's a threat to win every week regardless. The No. 78 team is still the team to beat, especially after leading 137 laps in July.