Racing Insights Power Index: Ranking 2020 title contenders by stats

Through 35 points-paying races, 12 driver eliminations and three competitive and combative rounds in the NASCAR Playoffs, the Championship 4 has been set. The only thing left to do: determine the champion. NASCAR.com partnered with Racing Insights to take a deep statistical look at Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano. Using data, all four drivers have been ranked in 13 categories, then given a point value for each (1 point for first place, 2 points for second, etc.). Totals were then added up to see the favorite. Scroll through to see who sits atop the Racing Insights Power Index.

Best at Phoenix: Denny Hamlin

The driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota has won here twice -- same as Joey Logano -- but gets a little bit of extra credit considering his most recent victory came just last year and sent Hamlin to the Championship 4.

2. Joey Logano, 3. Brad Keselowski, 4. Chase Elliott

Best in 2020 Playoffs: Chase Elliott

Elliott is the only driver in the Championship 4 with multiple postseason wins -- at the Charlotte Roval and Martinsville. His 564 laps led in the postseason are 252 more than next-best Denny Hamlin

2. Joey Logano, 3. Denny Hamlin, 4. Brad Keselowski

Best in 2020 season: Denny Hamlin

A no-contest. Hamlin leads this group of four in wins (seven), runner-up finishes (five), top-five finishes (17) and average finish (9.5).

2. Brad Keselowski, 3. Chase Elliott, 4. Joey Logano

Best pit crew in 2020 Playoffs: Joey Logano

Logano's pit crew ranks third among all drivers in four-tire stops in the postseason at an average of 13.939 seconds, just ahead of Chase Elliott's group for best among the Championship 4 drivers.

2. Chase Elliott, 3. Brad Keselowski, 4. Denny Hamlin

Best pit crew in 2020 season: Chase Elliott

The No. 9 team is the only Championship 4 group to average less than 14 seconds on four-tire stops for the season. Extra credit, too, to the team's jackman for his poise under pressure at Martinsville.

2. Joey Logano, 3. Denny Hamlin, 4. Brad Keselowski

Best driver/crew chief pairing: Denny Hamlin/Chris Gabehart

It's only their second season together, but Hamlin and Chris Gabehart's 13 wins as a pair are the most in this group (it helps that Team Penske underwent a crew chief shuffle in the offseason). Their winning percentage of 19.1% is also best.

2. Chase Elliott/Alan Gustafson, 3. Brad Keselowski/Jeremy Bullins, 4. Joey Logano/Paul Wolfe

Fewest pit-road mistakes: Brad Keselowski

This one is mostly on the driver, and Keselowski has been steady on pit road all season.

2. Chase Elliott, 3. Joey Logano, 4. Denny Hamlin

Most career wins: Denny Hamlin

Hamlin's 44 NASCAR Cup Series wins rank tied for 18th all time -- with Bill Elliott, Chase's dad.

2. Brad Keselowski, 3. Joey Logano, 4. Chase Elliott

Best head-to-head: Denny Hamlin

Twelve times Hamlin finished ahead of the other three drivers, which is best among this group.

2. Brad Keselowski (9), 3. Chase Elliott (8), 4. Joey Logano (6)

Championship experience: Joey Logano

Logano is in his fourth Championship 4, the most among this year's class. He is also one of two previous champions in the group (Keselowski is the other).

2. Denny Hamlin, 3. Brad Keselowski, 4. Chase Elliott

Best 2020 Organization: Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing)

Joe Gibbs Racing gets the nod here from Racing Insights by being strong across the board.

t-2. Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano (Team Penske), 3. Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)

Best average running position in 2020 Playoffs: Chase Elliott

Elliott being tops here is no surprise as he's been among the best drivers, in one of the best cars, throughout the postseason.

2. Joey Logano, 3. Brad Keselowski, 4. Denny Hamlin

Best average finish in 2020 Playoffs: Joey Logano

Logano's 8.1 mark is tops here, ahead of Elliott's 9.7.

2. Chase Elliott, 3. Denny Hamlin, 4. Brad Keselowski

4. Brad Keselowski: 36 points

Strengths: Keselowski ranks first in just one category -- fewest pit-road mistakes. His career experience in the postseason also is a strength, and not measured in this exercise but still impactful -- Keselowski is really good with the 2020 rules package used at Phoenix.

Weaknesses: Keselowski doesn't make many pit-road mistakes, but his pit team is the slowest among Championship 4 drivers. The No. 2's performance on the track during the playoffs ranks last as well.

3. Chase Elliott: 32 points

Strengths: Elliott has been the best driver among this group in the playoffs, backed up by stats. His pit crew has been the best this season. Those are two really important, impactful categories.

Weaknesses: Elliott's championship experience in the NASCAR Cup Series is non-existent -- this is his first Championship 4, and others are more familiar with being in this type of spotlight.

2. Joey Logano: 31 points

Strengths: Logano is historically strong in the playoffs, and he's the only Cup Series champion from this format among the Championship 4 (Keselowski won prior to the elimination-style era). He's good at 1-mile Phoenix, and he has a fast pit crew.

Weaknesses: Not a ton, but Logano is in his first year with crew chief Paul Wolfe, so there is not a record of history on how these two perform together when pressure is at the highest.

1. Denny Hamlin: 29 points

Strengths: Hamlin has had the best season of this group, displays exceptional chemistry with crew chief Chris Gabehart and is one year removed from a clutch win at Phoenix. By nearly any measure, he is the favorite Sunday.

Weaknesses: Performance in the playoffs. Hamlin isn't the hottest driver in the garage by any stretch. The postseason has been a struggle at times. Will the No. 11 team snap out of it?