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Power Rankings: William Byron rides virtual dominance into real-world mojo
By Pat DeCola | Published: May 12, 2020 21
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NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola ranks the top 20 NASCAR Cup Series drivers after the race at Phoenix Raceway -- with some iRacing in between -- and before the race at Darlington Raceway.
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20. Matt Kenseth (NR):
Comment: Well, he's back. That's about all we know for now, as it's too early to tell how the 48-year-old former champion and 2013 Darlington winner will perform in his new role as driver of the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. For what it's worth, a 50-year-old Mark Martin put up five wins in a return to full-time racing in 2009.
Comment: Well, he's back. That's about all we know for now, as it's too early to tell how the 48-year-old former champion and 2013 Darlington winner will perform in his new role as driver of the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet. For what it's worth, a 50-year-old Mark Martin put up five wins in a return to full-time racing in 2009.
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Meg Oliphant | Getty Images
19. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (+1):
Comment: Stenhouse has no top-10 finishes at Darlington in seven career races, for an average finish of 24.0. He'll likely have some spots to shine in 2020, but the South Carolina track doesn't line up as one of them.
Comment: Stenhouse has no top-10 finishes at Darlington in seven career races, for an average finish of 24.0. He'll likely have some spots to shine in 2020, but the South Carolina track doesn't line up as one of them.
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18. Chris Buescher (-1):
Comment: Buescher has yet to land a top 10 in four Darlington races, but it's sneakily one of his best tracks. He placed 13th and 12th the past two years and given the strong start he was off to, it's not out of the question that he rolls off well Sunday.
Comment: Buescher has yet to land a top 10 in four Darlington races, but it's sneakily one of his best tracks. He placed 13th and 12th the past two years and given the strong start he was off to, it's not out of the question that he rolls off well Sunday.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
17. Ryan Newman (NR):
Comment: Another veteran making his eagerly anticipated return -- albeit under completely different circumstances than Kenseth -- Newman has no wins in 21 Darlington starts, but it stands as one of his best tracks (12.6 average finish). There will likely be some cobwebs to shake off, but look for "Rocketman" to work his way back into relevance quickly.
Comment: Another veteran making his eagerly anticipated return -- albeit under completely different circumstances than Kenseth -- Newman has no wins in 21 Darlington starts, but it stands as one of his best tracks (12.6 average finish). There will likely be some cobwebs to shake off, but look for "Rocketman" to work his way back into relevance quickly.
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Meg Oliphant | Getty Images
16. Clint Bowyer (-3):
Comment: Bowyer's ability to laugh off his iRacing struggles entertained the racing world for weeks, but he likely won't be in as good of a mood all race long Sunday. In 14 career starts at real-world Darlington, the jovial driver has just two top 10s for an average finish of 21.6. That said, he placed sixth in last year's Southern 500.
Comment: Bowyer's ability to laugh off his iRacing struggles entertained the racing world for weeks, but he likely won't be in as good of a mood all race long Sunday. In 14 career starts at real-world Darlington, the jovial driver has just two top 10s for an average finish of 21.6. That said, he placed sixth in last year's Southern 500.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
15. Matt DiBenedetto (--):
Comment: Lost in the hubbub of his runner-up at Bristol Motor Speedway, it's easy to forget that DiBenedetto placed eighth at Darlington last year -- his fourth top 10 in a six-race late-summer stretch. He's a significant threat Sunday who should not be discounted.
Comment: Lost in the hubbub of his runner-up at Bristol Motor Speedway, it's easy to forget that DiBenedetto placed eighth at Darlington last year -- his fourth top 10 in a six-race late-summer stretch. He's a significant threat Sunday who should not be discounted.
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Christian Petersen | Getty Images
14. Aric Almirola (-2):
Comment: Almirola could stand to get things started in a hurry when NASCAR gets back to racing at Darlington, but he's yet to land a top 10 there in eight starts. His last three races there have netted three straight top 20s, however, so he's at least keeping himself out of trouble lately.
Comment: Almirola could stand to get things started in a hurry when NASCAR gets back to racing at Darlington, but he's yet to land a top 10 there in eight starts. His last three races there have netted three straight top 20s, however, so he's at least keeping himself out of trouble lately.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
13. Erik Jones (+5):
Comment: For all these drivers who have never earned a top 10 at Darlington in several races, Jones sure makes it look easy. The defending Southern 500 winner has yet to finish worse than eighth in three career starts.
Comment: For all these drivers who have never earned a top 10 at Darlington in several races, Jones sure makes it look easy. The defending Southern 500 winner has yet to finish worse than eighth in three career starts.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
12. William Byron (+4):
Comment: Byron has had some of the best throwback paint schemes at Darlington the past couple years, without much (other than a pole) to show for it. He has shown what he's capable of on iRacing, so perhaps now the Cup Series breakout will finally get underway with all of this momentum behind him.
Comment: Byron has had some of the best throwback paint schemes at Darlington the past couple years, without much (other than a pole) to show for it. He has shown what he's capable of on iRacing, so perhaps now the Cup Series breakout will finally get underway with all of this momentum behind him.
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11. Kurt Busch (+3):
Comment: Busch gets a bump because I think there's a strong chance the no practice or qualifying rule most races will have in the early going will greatly benefit the sport's veterans, and he is now teamed with a fellow champion in Kenseth to share notes with. Busch has the most starts at Darlington (23) with no wins. But hey, he gets two cracks at it this and next week.
Comment: Busch gets a bump because I think there's a strong chance the no practice or qualifying rule most races will have in the early going will greatly benefit the sport's veterans, and he is now teamed with a fellow champion in Kenseth to share notes with. Busch has the most starts at Darlington (23) with no wins. But hey, he gets two cracks at it this and next week.
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10. Martin Truex Jr. (+1):
Comment: The 2016 Southern 500 winner was off to a slow start with new crew chief James Small. The layoff likely helped the duo recalibrate and revaluate some things, and I fully expect the 2017 champ and the No. 19 group to come out strong, perhaps as early as Sunday.
Comment: The 2016 Southern 500 winner was off to a slow start with new crew chief James Small. The layoff likely helped the duo recalibrate and revaluate some things, and I fully expect the 2017 champ and the No. 19 group to come out strong, perhaps as early as Sunday.
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Christian Petersen | Getty Images
9. Jimmie Johnson (+1):
Comment: All right, here we are -- the finale, part two. Johnson's final season has been an interesting one, to say the least, but let's not forget he was off to a solid start to open the season. As one of just two full-time drivers with multiple wins at Darlington (he has three), look for Johnson to pick up right where he left off and make a mark Sunday.
Comment: All right, here we are -- the finale, part two. Johnson's final season has been an interesting one, to say the least, but let's not forget he was off to a solid start to open the season. As one of just two full-time drivers with multiple wins at Darlington (he has three), look for Johnson to pick up right where he left off and make a mark Sunday.
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8. Brad Keselowski (+1):
Comment: Keselowski has been among the strongest drivers at Darlington since 2015 when he rode a pole to a runner-up finish, and the 2018 Southern 500 winner should ride Team Penske's hot start to the season -- even if it was two months ago -- to another strong finish this weekend.
Comment: Keselowski has been among the strongest drivers at Darlington since 2015 when he rode a pole to a runner-up finish, and the 2018 Southern 500 winner should ride Team Penske's hot start to the season -- even if it was two months ago -- to another strong finish this weekend.
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Christian Petersen | Getty Images
7. Ryan Blaney (+1):
Comment: Not unlike his Darlington history (14.4 average start and 20.4 average finish), Blaney was snakebitten in the early going, despite having perhaps the most consistently fast car through four races. What's unlikely to run out is his speed, but the bad luck needs to go away. Blaney will be a force the rest of the way.
Comment: Not unlike his Darlington history (14.4 average start and 20.4 average finish), Blaney was snakebitten in the early going, despite having perhaps the most consistently fast car through four races. What's unlikely to run out is his speed, but the bad luck needs to go away. Blaney will be a force the rest of the way.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
6. Alex Bowman (+1):
Comment: In case you need a refresher, Bowman is one of three drivers to win this year, taking home the checkered at Auto Club Speedway in a rather convincing fashion. He has yet to put together a good race at Darlington in four tries, but there's little reason to bet against him at the moment.
Comment: In case you need a refresher, Bowman is one of three drivers to win this year, taking home the checkered at Auto Club Speedway in a rather convincing fashion. He has yet to put together a good race at Darlington in four tries, but there's little reason to bet against him at the moment.
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Christian Petersen | Getty Images
5. Chase Elliott (--):
Comment: A crash in his first race at Darlington -- while still a full-time Xfinity Series driver in 2015 -- sinks his overall numbers at the track, but Elliott has been decent there and rung in a top five in 2018. He should be plenty stout Sunday and competitive for the win.
Comment: A crash in his first race at Darlington -- while still a full-time Xfinity Series driver in 2015 -- sinks his overall numbers at the track, but Elliott has been decent there and rung in a top five in 2018. He should be plenty stout Sunday and competitive for the win.
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Chris Graythen | Getty Images
4. Kyle Busch (-1):
Comment: Busch won at Darlington in 2008 and has just one finish worse than 11th since. NASCAR's arguably most talented driver will certainly have a shot a the W this Sunday, and he only gets leapfrogged by his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate here because Denny Hamlin took home a pair of eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series wins. Hey, those have to count for something.
Comment: Busch won at Darlington in 2008 and has just one finish worse than 11th since. NASCAR's arguably most talented driver will certainly have a shot a the W this Sunday, and he only gets leapfrogged by his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate here because Denny Hamlin took home a pair of eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series wins. Hey, those have to count for something.
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Meg Oliphant | Getty Images
3. Denny Hamlin (+1):
Comment: Hamlin is one of two active drivers with multiple Darlington wins, and the 2017 winner also proved to be the best driver among the olds at iRacing, too. The Daytona 500 winner's got all the momentum in the world and should be viewed as a favorite for Sunday.
Comment: Hamlin is one of two active drivers with multiple Darlington wins, and the 2017 winner also proved to be the best driver among the olds at iRacing, too. The Daytona 500 winner's got all the momentum in the world and should be viewed as a favorite for Sunday.
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Meg Oliphant | Getty Images
2. Kevin Harvick (--):
Comment: Harvick's Southern 500 win, which doesn't feel like that long ago but was somehow in 2014, marked the last spring race at Darlington. Combine that with his eight top fives there -- second most behind Johnson's nine -- and you can pretty much count on Harvick being in contention late Sunday.
Comment: Harvick's Southern 500 win, which doesn't feel like that long ago but was somehow in 2014, marked the last spring race at Darlington. Combine that with his eight top fives there -- second most behind Johnson's nine -- and you can pretty much count on Harvick being in contention late Sunday.
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Christian Petersen | Getty Images
1. Joey Logano (--):
Comment: Logano hasn't won at Darlington ... yet. He was the best driver on the planet through the season's first four races and has notched three top fives at the South Carolina track in the last five races there. Until proven otherwise, he's the driver to beat as NASCAR gets back to racing.
Comment: Logano hasn't won at Darlington ... yet. He was the best driver on the planet through the season's first four races and has notched three top fives at the South Carolina track in the last five races there. Until proven otherwise, he's the driver to beat as NASCAR gets back to racing.