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Power Rankings: Dover to Talladega
By Pat DeCola | Published: October 8, 2018 13
Cindy Gonlazez | NASCAR Digital Media
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Cindy Gonlazez | NASCAR Digital Media
NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola ranks the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs drivers after the race at Dover International Speedway and ahead of the race at Talladega Superspeedway.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Alex Bowman
Rank: 12
Change: -1
Comment: Bowman is in dire need of a turnaround performance this weekend and if there's any car number that could find some magic at Talladega, it's his No. 88. The Hendrick Motorsports driver led 26 laps in the spring race, so don't count him out just yet.
Rank: 12
Change: -1
Comment: Bowman is in dire need of a turnaround performance this weekend and if there's any car number that could find some magic at Talladega, it's his No. 88. The Hendrick Motorsports driver led 26 laps in the spring race, so don't count him out just yet.
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Chris Trotman | Getty Images
Driver: Clint Bowyer
Rank: 11
Change: -4
Comment: Another driver who needs a bit of a change in fortune, Bowyer actually lines up as a potential sleeper for the win Sunday. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver is one of just three playoff competitors with multiple 'Dega wins, and Ford has wound up in Victory Lane the past six races at the Alabama track.
Rank: 11
Change: -4
Comment: Another driver who needs a bit of a change in fortune, Bowyer actually lines up as a potential sleeper for the win Sunday. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver is one of just three playoff competitors with multiple 'Dega wins, and Ford has wound up in Victory Lane the past six races at the Alabama track.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Aric Almirola
Rank: 10
Change: +2
Comment: After never finishing better than 10th (and that was only one time) through the first 13 races at Talladega in his career, Almirola has finished eighth or better in his last four. He might not have to wait too long to redeem himself after letting the Dover win slip away.
Rank: 10
Change: +2
Comment: After never finishing better than 10th (and that was only one time) through the first 13 races at Talladega in his career, Almirola has finished eighth or better in his last four. He might not have to wait too long to redeem himself after letting the Dover win slip away.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Kyle Larson
Rank: 9
Change: -4
Comment: After so much frustration Sunday at Dover, Larson isn't likely to find respite in Alabama. His nine laps led at the track are least among playoff drivers and after he finished dead last in the spring, Larson has no top fives and only two top 10s in nine starts.
Rank: 9
Change: -4
Comment: After so much frustration Sunday at Dover, Larson isn't likely to find respite in Alabama. His nine laps led at the track are least among playoff drivers and after he finished dead last in the spring, Larson has no top fives and only two top 10s in nine starts.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Kurt Busch
Rank: 8
Change: --
Comment: Busch's 0-for-35 at Talladega looks bad, but it's a bit of a misnomer. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver's 15.5 average finish there is fourth among playoff drivers and his eight top fives are tied for most in the series.
Rank: 8
Change: --
Comment: Busch's 0-for-35 at Talladega looks bad, but it's a bit of a misnomer. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver's 15.5 average finish there is fourth among playoff drivers and his eight top fives are tied for most in the series.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Ryan Blaney
Rank: 7
Change: -1
Comment: Blaney's teammates have flat-out dominated at Talladega in recent years and logic would point to some of that success eventually translating to him, too. His average start of 12.2 at the track is second among playoff drivers, but his average finish of 20.5 is rough.
Rank: 7
Change: -1
Comment: Blaney's teammates have flat-out dominated at Talladega in recent years and logic would point to some of that success eventually translating to him, too. His average start of 12.2 at the track is second among playoff drivers, but his average finish of 20.5 is rough.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Chase Elliott
Rank: 6
Change: +4
Comment: Elliott has two top-10 finishes at Talladega, but was third there in the spring and has the best average finish (13.2) among playoff drivers. Oh, there's also that thing about not having to sweat the 'Big One' because he's already locked into the Round of 8.
Rank: 6
Change: +4
Comment: Elliott has two top-10 finishes at Talladega, but was third there in the spring and has the best average finish (13.2) among playoff drivers. Oh, there's also that thing about not having to sweat the 'Big One' because he's already locked into the Round of 8.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Rank: 5
Change: -4
Comment: Keselowski is the defending winner of this race, and his five Talladega wins are two more than any active driver in the series. As long as he doesn't get caught up in a wreck, Kes will be in contention for a Round of 8 spot this weekend.
Rank: 5
Change: -4
Comment: Keselowski is the defending winner of this race, and his five Talladega wins are two more than any active driver in the series. As long as he doesn't get caught up in a wreck, Kes will be in contention for a Round of 8 spot this weekend.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Rank: 4
Change: -1
Comment: Is Truex in trouble? Maybe, maybe not, but it's certainly time for the No. 78 team to furrow their brows and break a little sweat. The defending champion is 0-for-27 at Talladega and of his paltry eight top 10s at the track, none of them have come since 2015.
Rank: 4
Change: -1
Comment: Is Truex in trouble? Maybe, maybe not, but it's certainly time for the No. 78 team to furrow their brows and break a little sweat. The defending champion is 0-for-27 at Talladega and of his paltry eight top 10s at the track, none of them have come since 2015.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Joey Logano
Rank: 3
Change: +6
Comment: Logano rolls into Talladega as the likely race co-favorite. The track's spring winner also won this fall race in 2016 and '15 and his three trips to Victory Lane are second only to his elder teammate. The Round of 12 is Logano's (sliced) bread and butter.
Rank: 3
Change: +6
Comment: Logano rolls into Talladega as the likely race co-favorite. The track's spring winner also won this fall race in 2016 and '15 and his three trips to Victory Lane are second only to his elder teammate. The Round of 12 is Logano's (sliced) bread and butter.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Kyle Busch
Rank: 2
Change: +2
Comment: Busch's finishes at Talladega have a tendency to roller-coaster all over the place, as evidenced by results of 12th, 40th, 11th, 2nd, 30th, 3rd, 27th and 13th since the start of 2014. He last won at the track in 2008, but he's certainly due.
Rank: 2
Change: +2
Comment: Busch's finishes at Talladega have a tendency to roller-coaster all over the place, as evidenced by results of 12th, 40th, 11th, 2nd, 30th, 3rd, 27th and 13th since the start of 2014. He last won at the track in 2008, but he's certainly due.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Rank: 1
Change: +1
Comment: Harvick pretty much only winds up with a poor Talladega finish when he's caught up in a wreck. If he can start up front (he's strangely the only active driver with multiple Talladega poles) he should have a good shot.
Rank: 1
Change: +1
Comment: Harvick pretty much only winds up with a poor Talladega finish when he's caught up in a wreck. If he can start up front (he's strangely the only active driver with multiple Talladega poles) he should have a good shot.