BACK TO GALLERIES
NASCAR Playoffs Power Rankings: Charlotte road course to Dover
By Pat DeCola | Published: October 1, 2018 13
Cindy Gonzalez | NASCAR Digital Media
1 of 13
Cindy Gonzalez | NASCAR Digital Media
NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola ranks the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs drivers after the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway and ahead of the race at Dover International Speedway.
2 of 13
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Aric Almirola
Rank: 12
Change: -5
Comment: After nearly getting eliminated in the Round of 16, Almirola needs to turn on the jets in this next trio of races. It could start at Dover, where back-to-back top fives in his Richard Petty Motorsports days prove he can get it done at the 'Monster Mile.'
Rank: 12
Change: -5
Comment: After nearly getting eliminated in the Round of 16, Almirola needs to turn on the jets in this next trio of races. It could start at Dover, where back-to-back top fives in his Richard Petty Motorsports days prove he can get it done at the 'Monster Mile.'
3 of 13
Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Driver: Alex Bowman
Rank: 11
Change: --
Comment: Now is the time for Bowman to start to really make a name for himself with Hendrick Motorsports' de facto captain Jimmie Johnson knocked out of the playoffs. He's yet to notch a top 10 at Dover, but Sunday would be the perfect time to start.
Rank: 11
Change: --
Comment: Now is the time for Bowman to start to really make a name for himself with Hendrick Motorsports' de facto captain Jimmie Johnson knocked out of the playoffs. He's yet to notch a top 10 at Dover, but Sunday would be the perfect time to start.
4 of 13
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Chase Elliott
Rank: 10
Change: -2
Comment: Break up the youth movement? After seeing good pal Ryan Blaney win at Charlotte, perhaps last year's Dover fall race runner-up will be next to pick up career win No. 2. Elliott is stellar at the Monster Mile, with four top fives in five starts for an average finish of 5.0 -- best in the series.
Rank: 10
Change: -2
Comment: Break up the youth movement? After seeing good pal Ryan Blaney win at Charlotte, perhaps last year's Dover fall race runner-up will be next to pick up career win No. 2. Elliott is stellar at the Monster Mile, with four top fives in five starts for an average finish of 5.0 -- best in the series.
5 of 13
Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Driver: Joey Logano
Rank: 9
Change: -3
Comment: Logano would love to spark his No. 22 crew into keeping up with his Team Penske teammates with a good weekend at Dover, but it might not be likely. After a five-race stint inside the top 10 at at Dover from 2012-14, Logano has just two such finishes in seven races since.
Rank: 9
Change: -3
Comment: Logano would love to spark his No. 22 crew into keeping up with his Team Penske teammates with a good weekend at Dover, but it might not be likely. After a five-race stint inside the top 10 at at Dover from 2012-14, Logano has just two such finishes in seven races since.
6 of 13
Streeter Lecka | Getty Images
Driver: Kurt Busch
Rank: 8
Change: +1
Comment: The good news: Busch's top five in the spring Dover race was his second in the past five events there. The bad news: those two finishes are his only top 10s at the track since his only win there -- in 2011.
Rank: 8
Change: +1
Comment: The good news: Busch's top five in the spring Dover race was his second in the past five events there. The bad news: those two finishes are his only top 10s at the track since his only win there -- in 2011.
7 of 13
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Clint Bowyer
Rank: 7
Change: +7
Comment: Bowyer has a great opportunity to put himself in solid positioning after the opening Round of 12 race, with Dover being one of his best tracks. The spring race's runner-up led 40 laps in that event for his 14th top-10 finish at the Delaware track in 25 starts.
Rank: 7
Change: +7
Comment: Bowyer has a great opportunity to put himself in solid positioning after the opening Round of 12 race, with Dover being one of his best tracks. The spring race's runner-up led 40 laps in that event for his 14th top-10 finish at the Delaware track in 25 starts.
8 of 13
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Ryan Blaney
Rank: 6
Change: +6
Comment: Sunday's Roval winner will need some of that late-race luck to fall his way again at Dover if he wishes to keep the train a-rolling. The Team Penske driver has never finished in the top five and has just a pair of top 10s at the track.
Rank: 6
Change: +6
Comment: Sunday's Roval winner will need some of that late-race luck to fall his way again at Dover if he wishes to keep the train a-rolling. The Team Penske driver has never finished in the top five and has just a pair of top 10s at the track.
9 of 13
Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Driver: Kyle Larson
Rank: 5
Change: --
Comment: If Larson is looking for redemption for being knocked out of contention for the win late at Charlotte, Dover should offer a good shot. The spring race's pole winner owns the best average starting spot (8.7) among playoff drivers at Dover, a track known for track position being key.
Rank: 5
Change: --
Comment: If Larson is looking for redemption for being knocked out of contention for the win late at Charlotte, Dover should offer a good shot. The spring race's pole winner owns the best average starting spot (8.7) among playoff drivers at Dover, a track known for track position being key.
10 of 13
Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Driver: Kyle Busch
Rank: 4
Change: -3
Comment: Sure, Busch was knocked out of the spring race with a drivetrain issue, but that was a rare misfire at the track for the 2015 champ. Busch won this race last year, his three wins are most among playoff drivers and he's the only playoff driver with double-digit top fives.
Rank: 4
Change: -3
Comment: Sure, Busch was knocked out of the spring race with a drivetrain issue, but that was a rare misfire at the track for the 2015 champ. Busch won this race last year, his three wins are most among playoff drivers and he's the only playoff driver with double-digit top fives.
11 of 13
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Rank: 3
Change: --
Comment: Truex, the defending pole winner for the race, is the only playoff driver with multiple Dover poles. Coming into the weekend with a chip on his shoulder, look for Truex to be in contention for his third career Monster Mile victory.
Rank: 3
Change: --
Comment: Truex, the defending pole winner for the race, is the only playoff driver with multiple Dover poles. Coming into the weekend with a chip on his shoulder, look for Truex to be in contention for his third career Monster Mile victory.
12 of 13
Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Rank: 2
Change: +2
Comment: Harvick, tied for the most top 10s at Dover (16) among playoff drivers, dominated at the track for a victory this past spring and won this race in 2015. He'll be a force come Sunday.
Rank: 2
Change: +2
Comment: Harvick, tied for the most top 10s at Dover (16) among playoff drivers, dominated at the track for a victory this past spring and won this race in 2015. He'll be a force come Sunday.
13 of 13
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Rank: 1
Change: +1
Comment: Though he's now gone a whopping two races without winning, Keselowski has still led 19 percent of the laps in the last two races and was in position to win Sunday before wrecking on the penultimate restart. After leading 108 laps at Dover in the spring, don't expect him to suddenly fall back out of the mix. He'll be there.
Rank: 1
Change: +1
Comment: Though he's now gone a whopping two races without winning, Keselowski has still led 19 percent of the laps in the last two races and was in position to win Sunday before wrecking on the penultimate restart. After leading 108 laps at Dover in the spring, don't expect him to suddenly fall back out of the mix. He'll be there.