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Power Rankings: Advance Auto Parts Clash to Daytona 500
By Pat DeCola | Published: February 12, 2018 31
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Pat DeCola breaks down the top 30 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers before Sunday's Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX Sports Go, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
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Driver: Matt DiBenedetto
Rank: 30
Change: -1
Comment: DiBenedetto is expected to turn some heads in 2018 and improve alongside his smaller team, but it hasn't come yet -- he was 35th in opening practice.
Rank: 30
Change: -1
Comment: DiBenedetto is expected to turn some heads in 2018 and improve alongside his smaller team, but it hasn't come yet -- he was 35th in opening practice.
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Driver: Chris Buescher
Rank: 29
Change: -1
Comment: Not much to note for Buescher in the early going at Daytona. The JTG Daugherty Racing driver will certainly aim to improve on the speed he showed in second practice, when he placed 35th.
Rank: 29
Change: -1
Comment: Not much to note for Buescher in the early going at Daytona. The JTG Daugherty Racing driver will certainly aim to improve on the speed he showed in second practice, when he placed 35th.
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Driver: David Ragan
Rank: 28
Change: +2
Comment: David Ragan, a pretty competitive restrictor-plate racer, was fifth in the second practice, but was 40th in qualifying. That's Daytona for you.
Rank: 28
Change: +2
Comment: David Ragan, a pretty competitive restrictor-plate racer, was fifth in the second practice, but was 40th in qualifying. That's Daytona for you.
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Driver: AJ Allmendinger
Rank: 27
Change: --
Comment: Glass half full: Allmendinger had the second-best 10-lap average speed in the first practice. Glass half empty: that was out of two cars, and he was 36th in the second practice.
Rank: 27
Change: --
Comment: Glass half full: Allmendinger had the second-best 10-lap average speed in the first practice. Glass half empty: that was out of two cars, and he was 36th in the second practice.
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Driver: Ryan Newman
Rank: 26
Change: -3
Comment: With his win in the Daytona 500 coming a full decade ago, now would be a good time for Ryan Newman to snap his four-year streak of being shut out of the top 10 in the 'Great American Race.'
Rank: 26
Change: -3
Comment: With his win in the Daytona 500 coming a full decade ago, now would be a good time for Ryan Newman to snap his four-year streak of being shut out of the top 10 in the 'Great American Race.'
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Driver: Paul Menard
Rank: 25
Change: -3
Comment: Menard is in a competitive Ford at Daytona, so he has a great shot to make some noise Sunday. His No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford was third-best in terms of 10-lap average speed in the second practice.
Rank: 25
Change: -3
Comment: Menard is in a competitive Ford at Daytona, so he has a great shot to make some noise Sunday. His No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford was third-best in terms of 10-lap average speed in the second practice.
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Driver: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Rank: 24
Change: --
Comment: Wallace is fitting right in at NASCAR's highest level, and should only continue to improve throughout Speedweeks and into the season.
Rank: 24
Change: --
Comment: Wallace is fitting right in at NASCAR's highest level, and should only continue to improve throughout Speedweeks and into the season.
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Driver: Trevor Bayne
Rank: 23
Change: +3
Comment: You may have heard something about this guy winning a Daytona 500 in rather-remarkable fashion a few years back. With Fords looking great so far, it could happen again and it wouldn't come nearly as much of a surprise.
Rank: 23
Change: +3
Comment: You may have heard something about this guy winning a Daytona 500 in rather-remarkable fashion a few years back. With Fords looking great so far, it could happen again and it wouldn't come nearly as much of a surprise.
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Driver: Kasey Kahne
Rank: 22
Change: -1
Comment: Kahne, looking to make a splash in the early going with his new team in Leavine Family Racing, has been unspectacular thus far. He finished 15th in the Advance Auto Parts Clash.
Rank: 22
Change: -1
Comment: Kahne, looking to make a splash in the early going with his new team in Leavine Family Racing, has been unspectacular thus far. He finished 15th in the Advance Auto Parts Clash.
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Driver: Ty Dillon
Rank: 21
Change: 4
Comment: Dillon's ranking has gone up almost on mojo alone. The chip on the Germain Racing driver's shoulder is evident, and he has a significant shot to surprise some people this year.
Rank: 21
Change: 4
Comment: Dillon's ranking has gone up almost on mojo alone. The chip on the Germain Racing driver's shoulder is evident, and he has a significant shot to surprise some people this year.
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Driver: Aric Almirola
Rank: 20
Change: -1
Comment: Almirola has the Daytona win in the July race in 2014, and was fourth in the Daytona 500 last year before missing the second race due to injury. It'll be interesting to see what he can do in a Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.
Rank: 20
Change: -1
Comment: Almirola has the Daytona win in the July race in 2014, and was fourth in the Daytona 500 last year before missing the second race due to injury. It'll be interesting to see what he can do in a Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.
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Driver: Austin Dillon
Rank: 19
Change: +1
Comment: At certain times during the Advance Auto Parts Clash, the No. 3 was in contention at the front of the field at Daytona -- just like old times.
Rank: 19
Change: +1
Comment: At certain times during the Advance Auto Parts Clash, the No. 3 was in contention at the front of the field at Daytona -- just like old times.
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Driver: Kurt Busch
Rank: 18
Change: --
Comment: The defending winner of the Daytona 500, Busch kept the good going at Daytona by finishing third in the Advance Auto Parts Clash.
Rank: 18
Change: --
Comment: The defending winner of the Daytona 500, Busch kept the good going at Daytona by finishing third in the Advance Auto Parts Clash.
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Driver: Clint Bowyer
Rank: 17
Change: -3
Comment: The runner-up in the last race at Daytona in July, Bowyer will hope to ride that into redeeming himself for finishes of 33rd and 32nd in the last two Daytona 500s.
Rank: 17
Change: -3
Comment: The runner-up in the last race at Daytona in July, Bowyer will hope to ride that into redeeming himself for finishes of 33rd and 32nd in the last two Daytona 500s.
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Driver: Jamie McMurray
Rank: 16
Change: -1
Comment: While not quite his fault, McMurray crashed out of the Advance Auto Parts Clash and hasn't done much else yet through Speedweeks -- but it's early.
Rank: 16
Change: -1
Comment: While not quite his fault, McMurray crashed out of the Advance Auto Parts Clash and hasn't done much else yet through Speedweeks -- but it's early.
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Driver: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Rank: 15
Change: +2
Comment: Stenhouse has been money on plate tracks lately, and had the second-fastest speed in practice two. He'll be a contender Sunday, especially given how fast the Fords have looked.
Rank: 15
Change: +2
Comment: Stenhouse has been money on plate tracks lately, and had the second-fastest speed in practice two. He'll be a contender Sunday, especially given how fast the Fords have looked.
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Driver: Daniel Suarez
Rank: 14
Change: -2
Comment: Suarez looks completely comfortable at the Monster Energy Series level these days, working seamlessly with his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates in the draft in the opening practice to place third on the charts.
Rank: 14
Change: -2
Comment: Suarez looks completely comfortable at the Monster Energy Series level these days, working seamlessly with his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates in the draft in the opening practice to place third on the charts.
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Driver: William Byron
Rank: 13
Change: --
Comment: So much for rookie nerves. Byron isn't showing his age thus far, holding the best 10-lap average speed in the first practice, leading the second one and posting the fifth-best lap in the last round of qualifying.
Rank: 13
Change: --
Comment: So much for rookie nerves. Byron isn't showing his age thus far, holding the best 10-lap average speed in the first practice, leading the second one and posting the fifth-best lap in the last round of qualifying.
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Driver: Alex Bowman
Rank: 12
Change: +4
Comment: What more can you say? Bowman immediately answered the question of if he can carry the No. 88's legacy at Daytona by going out and winning the pole.
Rank: 12
Change: +4
Comment: What more can you say? Bowman immediately answered the question of if he can carry the No. 88's legacy at Daytona by going out and winning the pole.
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Driver: Erik Jones
Rank: 11
Change: -1
Comment: Jones crashed out of his first Daytona 500 last year, finishing 39th. Nowhere to go but up for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver.
Rank: 11
Change: -1
Comment: Jones crashed out of his first Daytona 500 last year, finishing 39th. Nowhere to go but up for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver.
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Driver: Joey Logano
Rank: 10
Change: +1
Comment: Perhaps the driver with the most to prove in 2018 after missing the playoffs last year, Logano has jumped out to a hot start. He held the best 10-lap average speed in the second practice and finished runner-up to his teammate in the Advance Auto Parts Clash.
Rank: 10
Change: +1
Comment: Perhaps the driver with the most to prove in 2018 after missing the playoffs last year, Logano has jumped out to a hot start. He held the best 10-lap average speed in the second practice and finished runner-up to his teammate in the Advance Auto Parts Clash.
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Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Rank: 9
Change: -1
Comment: Despite wrecking out of the Advance Auto Parts Clash, Johnson's No. 48 -- along with the other Hendrick Motorsports cars -- have looked sporty halfway through Speedweeks.
Rank: 9
Change: -1
Comment: Despite wrecking out of the Advance Auto Parts Clash, Johnson's No. 48 -- along with the other Hendrick Motorsports cars -- have looked sporty halfway through Speedweeks.
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Driver: Ryan Blaney
Rank: 8
Change: +1
Comment: There's lots pointing Blaney in the direction of a solid finish this weekend, with a win a distinct possibility. The Team Penske newcomer was fourth in the Advance Auto Parts Clash and was runner-up in the 500 last year.
Rank: 8
Change: +1
Comment: There's lots pointing Blaney in the direction of a solid finish this weekend, with a win a distinct possibility. The Team Penske newcomer was fourth in the Advance Auto Parts Clash and was runner-up in the 500 last year.
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Driver: Kevin Harvick
Rank: 7
Change: -3
Comment: After three straight top-four finishes at Daytona from 2015-16, Harvick has crashed out of two of the last three for an average finish of 31.33.
Rank: 7
Change: -3
Comment: After three straight top-four finishes at Daytona from 2015-16, Harvick has crashed out of two of the last three for an average finish of 31.33.
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Driver: Chase Elliott
Rank: 6
Change: -1
Comment: With two Daytona 500 poles already to his credit, the young Elliott doesn't have much to show for it. All four Hendrick Motorsports cars have single-car speed, so perhaps the quartet can work together to bring home the Harley J. Earl trophy for one of them.
Rank: 6
Change: -1
Comment: With two Daytona 500 poles already to his credit, the young Elliott doesn't have much to show for it. All four Hendrick Motorsports cars have single-car speed, so perhaps the quartet can work together to bring home the Harley J. Earl trophy for one of them.
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Driver: Denny Hamlin
Rank: 5
Change: +1
Comment: Hamlin has risen to the upper echelon of the current crop of drivers when it comes to success on restrictor plate tracks. He'll be starting on the front row and placed in the top four of each Daytona 500 practice thus far.
Rank: 5
Change: +1
Comment: Hamlin has risen to the upper echelon of the current crop of drivers when it comes to success on restrictor plate tracks. He'll be starting on the front row and placed in the top four of each Daytona 500 practice thus far.
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Driver: Brad Keselowski
Rank: 4
Change: +3
Comment: Keselowski continues to back up his plate-racing prowess, winning this past Sunday's Advance Auto Parts Clash. He still has a Daytona 500 win missing from his resume, but he might be the favorite this weekend.
Rank: 4
Change: +3
Comment: Keselowski continues to back up his plate-racing prowess, winning this past Sunday's Advance Auto Parts Clash. He still has a Daytona 500 win missing from his resume, but he might be the favorite this weekend.
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Driver: Kyle Busch
Rank: 3
Change: --
Comment: The 2015 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion has been itching to go since heartbreak in Miami, so it was no surprise he came out and led the first Daytona 500 practice.
Rank: 3
Change: --
Comment: The 2015 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion has been itching to go since heartbreak in Miami, so it was no surprise he came out and led the first Daytona 500 practice.
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Driver: Kyle Larson
Rank: 2
Change: --
Comment: After crashing out of his first two Daytona 500 starts, Larson has a 9.5 average finish over his last two. He's hoping a third-straight clean race lands him in Victory Lane for the first time at Daytona.
Rank: 2
Change: --
Comment: After crashing out of his first two Daytona 500 starts, Larson has a 9.5 average finish over his last two. He's hoping a third-straight clean race lands him in Victory Lane for the first time at Daytona.
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Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Rank: 1
Change: --
Comment: It's going to take a lot more than Truex running 34th in the second practice at Daytona to knock the defending champion from this spot.
Rank: 1
Change: --
Comment: It's going to take a lot more than Truex running 34th in the second practice at Daytona to knock the defending champion from this spot.