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Power Rankings: Richmond to Chicagoland
By Pat DeCola | Published: September 11, 2017 16
Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images
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Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images
Driver: Austin Dillon
Rank: 16
Change: 1
Comment: Dillon is among the underdog crowd of the playoffs field, and his Chicagoland stats don’t appear like they’ll help him shed that title. The Richard Childress Racing driver is one of two championship-eligible drivers with no laps led at the Illinois track, and has an average finish of 24.3.
Rank: 16
Change: 1
Comment: Dillon is among the underdog crowd of the playoffs field, and his Chicagoland stats don’t appear like they’ll help him shed that title. The Richard Childress Racing driver is one of two championship-eligible drivers with no laps led at the Illinois track, and has an average finish of 24.3.
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Driver: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Rank: 15
Change: 5
Comment: Stenhouse Jr. had a great first race at Chicagoland in 2013 -- he started fifth and finished eighth. In three races since, his finishing position has progressively gotten worse, from 17th in ‘14 to 25th last year.
Rank: 15
Change: 5
Comment: Stenhouse Jr. had a great first race at Chicagoland in 2013 -- he started fifth and finished eighth. In three races since, his finishing position has progressively gotten worse, from 17th in ‘14 to 25th last year.
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Driver: Kasey Kahne
Rank: 14
Change: 4
Comment: Kahne was seventh in this race at Chicagoland last year -- as a non-playoff driver. With more on the line, he could rise to the occasion at a time when Hendrick Motorsports is known to turn on the jets, albeit normally with a particular seven-time champ.
Rank: 14
Change: 4
Comment: Kahne was seventh in this race at Chicagoland last year -- as a non-playoff driver. With more on the line, he could rise to the occasion at a time when Hendrick Motorsports is known to turn on the jets, albeit normally with a particular seven-time champ.
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Driver: Ryan Blaney
Rank: 13
Change: 1
Comment: Blaney earned his best finish of the season at Chiagoland last season, placing fourth after leading eight laps. After a hot start to the season, the Wood Brothers Racing driver has cooled considerably, but perhaps the No. 21 team will be charged with the dawn of the playoffs arriving.
Rank: 13
Change: 1
Comment: Blaney earned his best finish of the season at Chiagoland last season, placing fourth after leading eight laps. After a hot start to the season, the Wood Brothers Racing driver has cooled considerably, but perhaps the No. 21 team will be charged with the dawn of the playoffs arriving.
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Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images
Driver: Jamie McMurray
Rank: 12
Change: -2
Comment: In the near decade and a half since finishing eighth in his debut at Chicago in 2003, McMurray has earned just a pair of top-10 finishes at the 1.5-.mile track.
Rank: 12
Change: -2
Comment: In the near decade and a half since finishing eighth in his debut at Chicago in 2003, McMurray has earned just a pair of top-10 finishes at the 1.5-.mile track.
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(Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Rank: 11
Change: -5
Comment: Kenseth won this race in 2013 and has plenty of extra motivation to start the playoffs after finishing 38th at Richmond despite a start from the pole.
Rank: 11
Change: -5
Comment: Kenseth won this race in 2013 and has plenty of extra motivation to start the playoffs after finishing 38th at Richmond despite a start from the pole.
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(Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
Driver: Ryan Newman
Rank: 10
Change: 3
Comment: Newman won his second race at Chicago (the track's third race ever) after notching the pole in his first race there in 2002. He has not added either to his resume since.
Rank: 10
Change: 3
Comment: Newman won his second race at Chicago (the track's third race ever) after notching the pole in his first race there in 2002. He has not added either to his resume since.
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(Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
Driver: Chase Elliott
Rank: 9
Change: -1
Comment: Elliott placed third at Chicago last season, ranking among his best finishes of his rookie campaign. He was strong in the opening round of the Playoffs in 2016 and could very well match that success.
Rank: 9
Change: -1
Comment: Elliott placed third at Chicago last season, ranking among his best finishes of his rookie campaign. He was strong in the opening round of the Playoffs in 2016 and could very well match that success.
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(Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Rank: 8
Change: 4
Comment: Johnson’s history at Chicagoland is about as strong as they come, with the most poles (two), top-10 finishes (10) and laps led (695). The only glaring omission? A win, a rarity for the seven-time champ.
Rank: 8
Change: 4
Comment: Johnson’s history at Chicagoland is about as strong as they come, with the most poles (two), top-10 finishes (10) and laps led (695). The only glaring omission? A win, a rarity for the seven-time champ.
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Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Driver: Kurt Busch
Rank: 7
Change: 4
Comment: Busch has been stellar lately and is poised for a deep playoff run, but he could get off to a rocky start at Chicagoland, where he’s the owner of the most starts without a win at 16.
Rank: 7
Change: 4
Comment: Busch has been stellar lately and is poised for a deep playoff run, but he could get off to a rocky start at Chicagoland, where he’s the owner of the most starts without a win at 16.
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Rank: 6
Change: -1
Comment: Harvick is tied with Brad Keselowski for the most wins at Chicago with two -- the first two races there, in fact, in 2001 and '02 -- and has the most top fives with eight.
Rank: 6
Change: -1
Comment: Harvick is tied with Brad Keselowski for the most wins at Chicago with two -- the first two races there, in fact, in 2001 and '02 -- and has the most top fives with eight.
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Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Rank: 5
Change: 2
Comment: Keselowski may be tied with Harvick with two Chicago wins, but the Team Penske driver has a leg up in the average finish department with a 9.6.
Rank: 5
Change: 2
Comment: Keselowski may be tied with Harvick with two Chicago wins, but the Team Penske driver has a leg up in the average finish department with a 9.6.
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Driver: Kyle Busch
Rank: 4
Change: -3
Comment: Since starting ninth and finishing 22nd at Chicagoland in 2011, Busch has averaged a finish of 6.0 in five races. He’s a strong contender for his second Monster Energy Series title in three years.
Rank: 4
Change: -3
Comment: Since starting ninth and finishing 22nd at Chicagoland in 2011, Busch has averaged a finish of 6.0 in five races. He’s a strong contender for his second Monster Energy Series title in three years.
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Rank: 3
Change: 0
Comment: Arguably the hottest driver in the series this summer, Hamlin has averaged a finish of 6.11 with a pair of wins since placing 24th at Daytona.
Rank: 3
Change: 0
Comment: Arguably the hottest driver in the series this summer, Hamlin has averaged a finish of 6.11 with a pair of wins since placing 24th at Daytona.
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Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Driver: Kyle Larson
Rank: 2
Change: 2
Comment: Larson placed 18th at Chicago last year, but was excellent in his first two races there, averaging a finish of 5.0 and leading laps in each. Saturday’s Richmond winner has a great chance at back-to-back victories.
Rank: 2
Change: 2
Comment: Larson placed 18th at Chicago last year, but was excellent in his first two races there, averaging a finish of 5.0 and leading laps in each. Saturday’s Richmond winner has a great chance at back-to-back victories.
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(Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Rank: 1
Change: 1
Comment: Truex has just one top five in 11 races at Chicago, with only three top 10s to his credit. But ... that one top five? A win. Last year.
Rank: 1
Change: 1
Comment: Truex has just one top five in 11 races at Chicago, with only three top 10s to his credit. But ... that one top five? A win. Last year.