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Power Rankings: 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season lookahead
By Pat DeCola | Published: November 21, 2018 26
Cindy Gonzalez | NASCAR Digital Media
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Cindy Gonzalez | NASCAR Digital Media
Pat DeCola ranks the top 25 drivers entering the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
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Jeff Zelevansky | Getty Images
Driver: Ryan Preece
Rank: 25
Comment: Complete shot in the dark, here. We've seen how talented Preece can be, so perhaps he'll get the absolute most out of the No. 47 Chevrolet in his rookie season.
Rank: 25
Comment: Complete shot in the dark, here. We've seen how talented Preece can be, so perhaps he'll get the absolute most out of the No. 47 Chevrolet in his rookie season.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Bubba Wallace
Rank: 24
Comment: Wallace showed signs of promise at times in 2018, but still struggled with consistency. A second full-time year with Richard Petty Motorsports should see the young driver take a step forward.
Rank: 24
Comment: Wallace showed signs of promise at times in 2018, but still struggled with consistency. A second full-time year with Richard Petty Motorsports should see the young driver take a step forward.
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Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
Driver: Matt DiBenedetto
Rank: 23
Comment: There are a lot of question marks for DiBenedetto in his new digs, but ones that should be answered very quickly. If Leavine Family Racing captures some of the Joe Gibbs Racing alliance magic we've seen in the past, DiBurrito could be a dark horse to make the playoffs. Kind of a big "if," though.
Rank: 23
Comment: There are a lot of question marks for DiBenedetto in his new digs, but ones that should be answered very quickly. If Leavine Family Racing captures some of the Joe Gibbs Racing alliance magic we've seen in the past, DiBurrito could be a dark horse to make the playoffs. Kind of a big "if," though.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Ryan Newman
Rank: 22
Comment: A motivated Ryan Newman in a fast car is a force to be reckoned with. Moving to Roush Fenway Racing for perhaps his last hurrah, he'll be motivated enough ... the "fast car" part remains to be seen.
Rank: 22
Comment: A motivated Ryan Newman in a fast car is a force to be reckoned with. Moving to Roush Fenway Racing for perhaps his last hurrah, he'll be motivated enough ... the "fast car" part remains to be seen.
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Josh Hedges | Getty Images
Driver: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Rank: 21
Comment: Stenhouse took a major step back in 2018 after a career year a season prior, and 2019 is a big one for him. If he doesn't put things together next season, the 31-year-old might find himself looking for new opportunities by season's end. (See: Bayne, Trevor)
Rank: 21
Comment: Stenhouse took a major step back in 2018 after a career year a season prior, and 2019 is a big one for him. If he doesn't put things together next season, the 31-year-old might find himself looking for new opportunities by season's end. (See: Bayne, Trevor)
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Daniel Hemric
Rank: 20
Comment: Call this one a hunch. While he's yet to win a national series race, few would question Hemric's talent on the race track. He could be just what the doctor ordered to spark a sputtering Richard Childress Racing stable.
Rank: 20
Comment: Call this one a hunch. While he's yet to win a national series race, few would question Hemric's talent on the race track. He could be just what the doctor ordered to spark a sputtering Richard Childress Racing stable.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Paul Menard
Rank: 19
Comment: Menard put together his best season since 2015 in his new ride at Wood Brothers Racing, and should benefit from continued manufacturer performance, as Ford appears to be on the rise.
Rank: 19
Comment: Menard put together his best season since 2015 in his new ride at Wood Brothers Racing, and should benefit from continued manufacturer performance, as Ford appears to be on the rise.
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Robert Laberge | Getty Images
Driver: Austin Dillon
Rank: 18
Comment: Dillon appeared set for a career year after winning the Daytona 500, but didn't do a whole lot else. Next season will be his sixth at the Cup level, and it's tough to say if he'll ever compete for a title.
Rank: 18
Comment: Dillon appeared set for a career year after winning the Daytona 500, but didn't do a whole lot else. Next season will be his sixth at the Cup level, and it's tough to say if he'll ever compete for a title.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Driver: Daniel Suarez
Rank: 17
Comment: So much is up in the air with Suarez at the moment, and nothing is official on where he'll drive in 2019. But if it's a premiere ride, he could wind up a lot higher than this.
Rank: 17
Comment: So much is up in the air with Suarez at the moment, and nothing is official on where he'll drive in 2019. But if it's a premiere ride, he could wind up a lot higher than this.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Kurt Busch
Rank: 16
Comment: Busch still has yet to finalize his 2019 plans, but the No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet could be an option. If so, he'll likely get more out of it than incumbent Jamie McMurray, but not much more.
Rank: 16
Comment: Busch still has yet to finalize his 2019 plans, but the No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet could be an option. If so, he'll likely get more out of it than incumbent Jamie McMurray, but not much more.
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Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Driver: Alex Bowman
Rank: 15
Comment: I do expect Bowman to take a step forward in his fourth rookie season at the Cup level. The only question is, how far? Another playoffs appearance is likely. A Championship 4 bid isn't.
Rank: 15
Comment: I do expect Bowman to take a step forward in his fourth rookie season at the Cup level. The only question is, how far? Another playoffs appearance is likely. A Championship 4 bid isn't.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Rank: 14
Comment: Fact: Denny Hamlin has never gone two straight seasons without a win. (Gotta recycle that stat, somehow.) I do see a rebound for the No. 11 driver in 2019, there's just so much extra talent near the top these days, it's tough to see him returning to superstardom.
Rank: 14
Comment: Fact: Denny Hamlin has never gone two straight seasons without a win. (Gotta recycle that stat, somehow.) I do see a rebound for the No. 11 driver in 2019, there's just so much extra talent near the top these days, it's tough to see him returning to superstardom.
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Matt Sullivan | Getty Images
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Rank: 13
Comment: Johnson could certainly make his way back up into title contention next season ... but let's wait to see if he can make it back to Victory Lane first with new crew chief Kevin Meendering.
Rank: 13
Comment: Johnson could certainly make his way back up into title contention next season ... but let's wait to see if he can make it back to Victory Lane first with new crew chief Kevin Meendering.
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Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: William Byron
Rank: 12
Comment: Hey, there's a spicy take ... Byron over Johnson. For a decade-plus, Chad Knaus was considered the best crew chief in the garage, bar none. On top of Byron's pit box in 2019, I think Knaus helps the Sunoco Rookie of the Year takes a major leap forward.
Rank: 12
Comment: Hey, there's a spicy take ... Byron over Johnson. For a decade-plus, Chad Knaus was considered the best crew chief in the garage, bar none. On top of Byron's pit box in 2019, I think Knaus helps the Sunoco Rookie of the Year takes a major leap forward.
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Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
Driver: Erik Jones
Rank: 11
Comment: Jones quietly had a pretty great sophomore year, with a win at Daytona and top 10s in half the races. Expect a few more Ws and more laps led in 2019.
Rank: 11
Comment: Jones quietly had a pretty great sophomore year, with a win at Daytona and top 10s in half the races. Expect a few more Ws and more laps led in 2019.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Kyle Larson
Rank: 10
Comment: This weirdly feels too low for arguably the best all-around racer in the field. Things don't seem quite right at CGR at the moment, however, and I'm not sure their speed will return soon enough for him to compete for a title next year.
Rank: 10
Comment: This weirdly feels too low for arguably the best all-around racer in the field. Things don't seem quite right at CGR at the moment, however, and I'm not sure their speed will return soon enough for him to compete for a title next year.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Rank: 9
Comment: Keselowski's numbers have gotten a tick worse each of the past two seasons -- not a promising sign for a driver set to turn 35 days before the 2019 Daytona 500.
Rank: 9
Comment: Keselowski's numbers have gotten a tick worse each of the past two seasons -- not a promising sign for a driver set to turn 35 days before the 2019 Daytona 500.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Ryan Blaney
Rank: 8
Comment: Blaney's points finish in 2018 with Team Penske was actually one spot worse than in 2017 with Wood Brothers. Don't count on that being a trend; he's a driver on the rise.
Rank: 8
Comment: Blaney's points finish in 2018 with Team Penske was actually one spot worse than in 2017 with Wood Brothers. Don't count on that being a trend; he's a driver on the rise.
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Josh Hedges | Getty Images
Driver: Clint Bowyer
Rank: 7
Comment: Bowyer enjoyed his best year since 2013, even tossing in his first wins since 2012. There's a good chance he takes even another step forward into title contention in Year Three at SHR, but I'm not ready to put him in the elite category yet.
Rank: 7
Comment: Bowyer enjoyed his best year since 2013, even tossing in his first wins since 2012. There's a good chance he takes even another step forward into title contention in Year Three at SHR, but I'm not ready to put him in the elite category yet.
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Sarah Crabill | Getty Images
Driver: Aric Almirola
Rank: 6
Comment: All it took for Almirola to show what he was capable of behind the wheel was a move to SHR. He was close to making the Championship 4 in 2018 and should be a contender again next season.
Rank: 6
Comment: All it took for Almirola to show what he was capable of behind the wheel was a move to SHR. He was close to making the Championship 4 in 2018 and should be a contender again next season.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Chase Elliott
Rank: 5
Comment: After how strong he looked entering and in the beginning of the NASCAR Playoffs, it was a shocker to not see Elliott make the Championship 4 -- a sign he's coming into his own as the driver everyone expects him to be. He'll be strong in '19.
Rank: 5
Comment: After how strong he looked entering and in the beginning of the NASCAR Playoffs, it was a shocker to not see Elliott make the Championship 4 -- a sign he's coming into his own as the driver everyone expects him to be. He'll be strong in '19.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Rank: 4
Comment: If Truex's performance increases with the move to Joe Gibbs Racing alongside crew chief Cole Pearn, hand him the title right now. But there could be some stumbling out of the gate as the two adjust. There's a level of familiarity there already, though, so I'm expecting big things.
Rank: 4
Comment: If Truex's performance increases with the move to Joe Gibbs Racing alongside crew chief Cole Pearn, hand him the title right now. But there could be some stumbling out of the gate as the two adjust. There's a level of familiarity there already, though, so I'm expecting big things.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Driver: Joey Logano
Rank: 3
Comment: The '18 champ Logano would be the favorite entering next season if it weren't for the two drivers ranked ahead of him. They're probably the two most headstrong, determined guys behind the wheel and are going to come out of the gates blazing next year.
Rank: 3
Comment: The '18 champ Logano would be the favorite entering next season if it weren't for the two drivers ranked ahead of him. They're probably the two most headstrong, determined guys behind the wheel and are going to come out of the gates blazing next year.
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Streeter Lecka | Getty Images
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Rank: 2
Comment: Kevin Harvick continues to raise the bar for Kevin Harvick, even as he approaches his mid 40s. Nothing about that will change in 2019, after winning literally a quarter of the races in 2018.
Rank: 2
Comment: Kevin Harvick continues to raise the bar for Kevin Harvick, even as he approaches his mid 40s. Nothing about that will change in 2019, after winning literally a quarter of the races in 2018.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Driver: Kyle Busch
Rank: 1
Comment: "Rowdy" gets the nod for No. 1, though. In an already Hall of Fame-worthy career, Busch put together his best yet and came up just short of his second title. Having MTJ and Pearn in-house will likely help, as well, and a ridiculous 30 top 10s and 10 race wins isn't out of the question. There, I said it. Bring on Daytona.
Rank: 1
Comment: "Rowdy" gets the nod for No. 1, though. In an already Hall of Fame-worthy career, Busch put together his best yet and came up just short of his second title. Having MTJ and Pearn in-house will likely help, as well, and a ridiculous 30 top 10s and 10 race wins isn't out of the question. There, I said it. Bring on Daytona.