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Power Rankings: Richmond to Charlotte
By Pat DeCola | Published: September 24, 2018 17
Cindy Gonzalez | NASCAR Digital Media
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Cindy Gonzalez | NASCAR Digital Media
NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola ranks the 16 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs drivers after the race at Richmond Raceway and ahead of this weekend's event at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Rank: 16
Change: -2
Comment: The past three seasons, Hamlin seems to have really found something at road courses (see: Watkins Glen win, 2016), but his four DNFs at them are most among all playoff drivers. Already in a dire situation, a fifth would effectively end his playoff run.
Rank: 16
Change: -2
Comment: The past three seasons, Hamlin seems to have really found something at road courses (see: Watkins Glen win, 2016), but his four DNFs at them are most among all playoff drivers. Already in a dire situation, a fifth would effectively end his playoff run.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Driver: Erik Jones
Rank: 15
Change: +1
Comment: There's a good chance Jones' only shot at advancing comes in the form of a win, and his career laps led count at road courses (one) probably doesn't suggest it's likely. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver's 11.75 average finish at them, however? Well, that's second-best among all playoff drivers, for what it's worth.
Rank: 15
Change: +1
Comment: There's a good chance Jones' only shot at advancing comes in the form of a win, and his career laps led count at road courses (one) probably doesn't suggest it's likely. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver's 11.75 average finish at them, however? Well, that's second-best among all playoff drivers, for what it's worth.
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Robert Laberge | Getty Images
Driver: Clint Bowyer
Rank: 14
Change: -2
Comment: Right on the cut line, Bowyer is going to need a heckuva run to ensure he's still racing for a championship come Monday. Luckily for him, his 10 career top-five finishes on road courses are most among active drivers.
Rank: 14
Change: -2
Comment: Right on the cut line, Bowyer is going to need a heckuva run to ensure he's still racing for a championship come Monday. Luckily for him, his 10 career top-five finishes on road courses are most among active drivers.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Rank: 13
Change: --
Comment: Johnson used to be the driver to beat at Charlotte, but you can toss that right out the window with the emergence of the Roval. Johnson doesn't necessarily need a win (only six points from the cutoff), but regaining that CLT magic this weekend couldn't come at a better time for the No. 48 team.
Rank: 13
Change: --
Comment: Johnson used to be the driver to beat at Charlotte, but you can toss that right out the window with the emergence of the Roval. Johnson doesn't necessarily need a win (only six points from the cutoff), but regaining that CLT magic this weekend couldn't come at a better time for the No. 48 team.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Driver: Ryan Blaney
Rank: 12
Change: -5
Comment: As the last driver currently in, Blaney can't afford another poor finish. His recent history is a bit questionable, however, having finished three of the last four races outside the top 10 -- despite starting three of the four inside the top 10.
Rank: 12
Change: -5
Comment: As the last driver currently in, Blaney can't afford another poor finish. His recent history is a bit questionable, however, having finished three of the last four races outside the top 10 -- despite starting three of the four inside the top 10.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Driver: Alex Bowman
Rank: 11
Change: --
Comment: Bowman sits five points above the cutoff line, but likely has an uphill battle ahead of him on Sunday. Both his average finish at road courses of 32.167 and average start at them (24.667) rank worst among all playoff drivers.
Rank: 11
Change: --
Comment: Bowman sits five points above the cutoff line, but likely has an uphill battle ahead of him on Sunday. Both his average finish at road courses of 32.167 and average start at them (24.667) rank worst among all playoff drivers.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Driver: Austin Dillon
Rank: 10
Change: --
Comment: Dillon has surprised some by being on the good side of the bubble through two races, but the Daytona 500 champ's magic could run out this weekend. In 10 career starts on road courses, Dillon has landed in the top 10 exactly zero times.
Rank: 10
Change: --
Comment: Dillon has surprised some by being on the good side of the bubble through two races, but the Daytona 500 champ's magic could run out this weekend. In 10 career starts on road courses, Dillon has landed in the top 10 exactly zero times.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Driver: Kurt Busch
Rank: 9
Change: -1
Comment: Busch is certainly not a lock to advance, but he should feel pretty good heading into this weekend. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver should move on no problem with a solid finish, and his 19 top 10s at road courses being the most among full-time drivers suggests he has a good shot at one.
Rank: 9
Change: -1
Comment: Busch is certainly not a lock to advance, but he should feel pretty good heading into this weekend. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver should move on no problem with a solid finish, and his 19 top 10s at road courses being the most among full-time drivers suggests he has a good shot at one.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Driver: Chase Elliott
Rank: 8
Change: +7
Comment: Elliott is the most recent road-course winner (Watkins Glen last month) and his average finish of 10.0 on them ranks him first among all playoff drivers. Catastrophe would have to strike the No. 9 team for Elliott to be left out of the Round of 12.
Rank: 8
Change: +7
Comment: Elliott is the most recent road-course winner (Watkins Glen last month) and his average finish of 10.0 on them ranks him first among all playoff drivers. Catastrophe would have to strike the No. 9 team for Elliott to be left out of the Round of 12.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Driver: Aric Almirola
Rank: 7
Change: +2
Comment: Almirola has been one of the pleasant surprises thus far during the playoffs, sitting sixth and 23 points to the good. It was important for the Stewart-Haas Racing driver to get off to a good start, because he has just one top 10 in 15 career road-course starts.
Rank: 7
Change: +2
Comment: Almirola has been one of the pleasant surprises thus far during the playoffs, sitting sixth and 23 points to the good. It was important for the Stewart-Haas Racing driver to get off to a good start, because he has just one top 10 in 15 career road-course starts.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Joey Logano
Rank: 6
Change: -1
Comment: Perhaps with an added dose of motivation from his early exit in a race he had a shot to win, Logano has notched a pristine average finish of 7.83 in six races since a quick crash at Watkins Glen. Don't expect that figure to go down after Sunday.
Rank: 6
Change: -1
Comment: Perhaps with an added dose of motivation from his early exit in a race he had a shot to win, Logano has notched a pristine average finish of 7.83 in six races since a quick crash at Watkins Glen. Don't expect that figure to go down after Sunday.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Driver: Kyle Larson
Rank: 5
Change: -1
Comment: Larson has the claim to fame of the best average start at road courses (5.2) among playoff drivers, along with being tied for the most poles (two). Now, if he can finally put it all together (one top-five in 10 starts), he could be a road-course force.
Rank: 5
Change: -1
Comment: Larson has the claim to fame of the best average start at road courses (5.2) among playoff drivers, along with being tied for the most poles (two). Now, if he can finally put it all together (one top-five in 10 starts), he could be a road-course force.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Rank: 4
Change: +2
Comment: Harvick a tough task ahead of him at Charlotte -- he has to start the race in order to advance. As long as he's able to do that (we're thinking he has a good shot), he can focus on just racing for the win, which he should be in contention for.
Rank: 4
Change: +2
Comment: Harvick a tough task ahead of him at Charlotte -- he has to start the race in order to advance. As long as he's able to do that (we're thinking he has a good shot), he can focus on just racing for the win, which he should be in contention for.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Rank: 3
Change: -1
Comment: Truex feels due for a win -- as evidenced by his race-high 163 laps led and third-place result at Richmond -- and it's kind of nuts that his last trip to Victory Lane was in mid-July. With the second-most active road course wins (three) he'll be one of the favorites on Sunday.
Rank: 3
Change: -1
Comment: Truex feels due for a win -- as evidenced by his race-high 163 laps led and third-place result at Richmond -- and it's kind of nuts that his last trip to Victory Lane was in mid-July. With the second-most active road course wins (three) he'll be one of the favorites on Sunday.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Rank: 2
Change: -1
Comment: Keselowski is very likely the sport's best driver on road courses without a win to his credit. He once sprung off a trio of straight runner-ups at Watkins Glen, and was third at Sonoma last year. With all the pressure to win off him, the Team Penske driver may have the easiest route to Victory Lane on Sunday.
Rank: 2
Change: -1
Comment: Keselowski is very likely the sport's best driver on road courses without a win to his credit. He once sprung off a trio of straight runner-ups at Watkins Glen, and was third at Sonoma last year. With all the pressure to win off him, the Team Penske driver may have the easiest route to Victory Lane on Sunday.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Kyle Busch
Rank: 1
Change: +2
Comment: But this guy has to be the favorite. The most successful road course driver since he came into the sport, Busch's four wins on them are highest in the series among regulars and, well, he's Kyle Busch. He's finished outside the top 10 just twice since Dover (May 6!) and win No. 8 of the season is right around the corner, perhaps on Sunday.
Rank: 1
Change: +2
Comment: But this guy has to be the favorite. The most successful road course driver since he came into the sport, Busch's four wins on them are highest in the series among regulars and, well, he's Kyle Busch. He's finished outside the top 10 just twice since Dover (May 6!) and win No. 8 of the season is right around the corner, perhaps on Sunday.