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Power Rankings: Austin Dillon rises after nearly securing second Daytona 500
By Pat DeCola | Tuesday, February 16, 2021
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NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola ranks the top 20 NASCAR Cup Series drivers after the Daytona 500 and before the Daytona Road Course -- in Power Rankings presented by Mack Trucks.
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20. Michael McDowell (NR)
Comment: Not many saw it coming, but McDowell's Daytona 500 win is one for the history books. It likely has him in the NASCAR Playoffs for the first time, with 26 more races to find the speed to make it a competitive effort. Who knows how this story ends, so just enjoy the magic moment for now. And, hey, he was 10th at the Daytona Road Course last year, for what it's worth.
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19. Tyler Reddick (-2)
Comment: Reddick's aggressive driving style will, at some point, likely lead him to a road-course win. It'll likely also result in a lot of frustrating days, but you have to like a driver willing to muscle his way to the front. He has yet to see a Cup top 10 at a road course, though he's only raced in two such events.
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18. Matt DiBenedetto (--)
Comment: DiBenedetto is another who feels like at some point down the line he's destined for a road-course victory, though he has just two top 10s in 14 tries thus far. That said, he did notch a top five last time out at Sonoma.
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17. Chase Briscoe(-2)
Comment: Briscoe's Daytona 500 debut perhaps could've gone a little better — though a mid-race pit stop at Panda Express due to the rain delay is always a win — but his time to shine is this weekend, anyway. Arguably one of the better road racers in the series before he even turns a Cup lap on a road course, he should be in the mix this weekend.
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16. Cole Custer (+3)
Comment: Stewart-Haas Racing has a good shot to be strong as an organization this weekend, Custer included. He notched a top 10 at the Charlotte Roval last fall, and was a consistent presence in the top 10 in nearly all of his Xfinity starts on road courses.
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15. Christopher Bell (+1)
Comment: It sure was a topsy-turvy Joe Gibbs Racing debut for Bell, who led 32 laps but also kinda-maybe-definitely sparked the big pileup on Lap 14 that took out a bunch of good race cars. His two road-course attempts didn't go well last year, but he's a strong driver with a trio of teammates that excel on these tracks. He'll be fine.
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14. Bubba Wallace (-1)
Comment: The 23XI Racing debut had plenty of glitz but also looked at times like it would add the glamour of a Daytona 500 win. He's historically not a strong road racer, but, like Bell, should have the JGR resources to tap into for help.
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13. William Byron (-1)
Comment: After securing a front-row starting spot, Daytona was pretty much nothing but a headache for young William, though he should have a good chance to rebound this weekend. He's quickly developing into a strong road racer that should compete for wins at some point.
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12. Kurt Busch (-3)
Comment: After an early Daytona 500 exit, Busch could be one to watch this weekend. He's produced two strong runs on the Charlotte Roval and has top 10s in more than half of his 42 career road-course starts.
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11. Austin Dillon (+3)
Comment: For the first time in his career — despite winning the 2018 Daytona 500 — the Duel 2 winner leaves Daytona as the points leader. Unfortunately for him, however, he's going back to Daytona this weekend to race on the road course, a type of track that he's yet to notch a top 10 at in 15 tries.
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10. Kyle Larson (+1)
Comment: Larson proved to be a competent road racer in his Chip Ganassi Racing days, and should be able to slide right back in with better equipment at Hendrick Motorsports. That said, he wasn't able to gain experience on the Daytona Road Course last year and has no top 10s in his two Charlotte Roval starts.
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9. Ryan Blaney (-1)
Comment: We've obviously seen how strong Blaney is on road course/oval layouts (three top 10s, win at Charlotte Roval in three starts), though he finished 31st in the Daytona running last August. With the speed in his No. 12 Team Penske Ford, expect that subpar result to be an anomaly.
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8. Alex Bowman (+2)
Comment: Bowman's Daytona 500 pole wasn't able to materialize into much of anything in the race, but he's got a great shot at another victory this weekend. His teammate just ran the Rolex 24 on this layout, he's been super strong at the Charlotte Roval, and just missed a top 10 at Daytona last August.
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7. Martin Truex Jr. (-1)
Comment: After another frustrating Speedweek(s) for Truex — something about the 2017 champ and superspeedways don't mix — he'll have another shot at Daytona glory this weekend. Truex is a top-five road racer in the sport, and finished third on this course last year.
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6. Kyle Busch (+1)
Comment: This past weekend looked like a good opportunity for Rowdy to finally win the Daytona 500, but alas, it was not meant to be for the Busch Clash winner. He was 37th in at the Daytona Road Course last year, but he's an exceptional road racer and should be among the favorites for this weekend.
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5. Brad Keselowski (--)
Comment: Keselowski was fired up after the 500, and rightfully so. Another Great American Race was taken out from beneath his feet, and he could be a man on a mission this weekend. He's yet to win a road-course race but has had some strong runs, including a fifth-place finish at the Charlotte Roval in 2019.
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4. Joey Logano (-1)
Comment: Logano was half a lap away from securing his second Daytona 500 crown before disaster struck, but should be able to regroup for a shot at a W this weekend. The No. 22 driver has just one road-course win, but has finished in the top 10 in half his 26 career starts — including all three races on the Charlotte Roval.
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3. Kevin Harvick (-1)
Comment: Despite the fourth-place finish, it felt like a relatively quiet first week back at school for Harvick. If he's putting together ho-hum top fives, however, watch out because we know the wins are coming.
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2. Denny Hamlin (+2)
Comment: Hamlin wasn't able to capitalize on a third-straight Daytona 500 crown (obviously no easy feat) but make no mistake — he was the best driver in this race. He was second at the Daytona Road Course last year, and should give this week's No. 1 driver a run for his money.
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1. Chase Elliott (--)
Comment: Of course. Elliott didn't win the 500, but was strong throughout the week and the defending champion should be considered the favorite at all road courses until proven otherwise. Last year's Daytona Road Course winner also spent a ton of time on the track last month at the Rolex 24 and could put a stomping on the field this weekend to really kick off his title defense.
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