Bowyer Pr Hero

BACK TO GALLERIES

Power Rankings: Bowyer’s Bristol run a sign of things to come?

By Pat DeCola | Published: June 2, 2020 21

BACK TO GALLERIES

1 of 21

Bowyer Pr Hero

NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola ranks the top 20 NASCAR Cup Series drivers after races at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway and ahead of Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

2 of 21

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 28: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #8 Okuma Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Alsco Uniforms 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 28, 2020 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

20. Tyler Reddick (-6)

Comment: Reddick was caught up in a wreck, so his 36th-place finish at Bristol is just one of those things that can happen to any driver at any time there. Look for him to work back into the top 15 of the finishing order next weekend.

3 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 SunnyD Ford, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

19. Chris Buescher (-1)

Comment: Buescher has had one bright spot (Charlotte, 10th) in NASCAR's return, with all other finishes outside the top 20. Perhaps he'll get it going again at Atlanta, where he placed ninth last year.

4 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: John H. Nemechek, driver of the #38 SCAG Ford, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

18. John Hunter Nemechek (NR)

Comment: Apart from one misfire in the second Darlington race, Nemechek is averaging a 12.75 finish in the other four races since NASCAR's return. No reason to think he can't be a consistent fixture in the 11-20 range given how he's competing.

5 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, aits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

17. William Byron (--)

Comment: Things might finally be turning a corner for Byron, who has averaged a good-not-great finish of 13.0 in four races since placing 35th in the first race back. With the speed at Hendrick Motorsports right now, he could come alive at any point.

6 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Matt DiBenedetto, driver of the #21 Reese/Draw Tite Ford, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

16. Matt DiBenedetto (-3)

Comment: The Atlanta history certainly isn't there for DiBenedetto (28.5 average finish), but there are some reasons to believe, despite a 31st-place result at Bristol. He notched a top 10 and a 13.75 average finish in the four previous races since NASCAR's return, and he's aligned with Team Penske, which is on a season-long heater.

7 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Symbicort Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

15. Austin Dillon (+4)

Comment: Dillon's Atlanta history isn't exceptional (no top 10s, 22.9 average finish), but he might have found something in recent weeks. The Richard Childress Racing driver has bettered his finishing position each race from second Darlington on, culminating in an impressive sixth-place Bristol run.

8 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield Ford, exits his car after the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

14. Aric Almirola (-3)

Comment: Almirola is starting to skid, seeing his strong Darlington runs washed away by a 21.3 average finish at the Charlotte races and Bristol. Perhaps last year's Atlanta pole winner can recover at the Georgia track.

9 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

13. Jimmie Johnson (+3)

Comment: The active leader in wins at Atlanta with five trips to Victory Lane picked up two of them in the not-too-distant past (2015, '16). After Jimmie's inspiring Bristol run, is Sunday the day he remerges as a Cup Series winner?

10 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Erik Jones, driver of the #20 STANLEY Toyota, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

12. Erik Jones (--)

Comment: Jones has just one top 10 in three Atlanta races to his name, but his 10.7 average finish in them is actually good enough for second in the series among active drivers.

11 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Built Ford Proud Ford, stands on the grid during the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

11. Clint Bowyer (+4)

Comment: Is Sunday's runner-up set to go on a tear? Well, he finished top-five at Atlanta each of the past two years and then we quickly turn around and head to Martinsville, one of Bowyer's best tracks. The pieces are certainly in place for it to happen.

12 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Richmond Ford, and crew work on the car after a spin impact during the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

10. Ryan Blaney (-3)

Comment: As far as nicknames go, at least "Bad Luck Blaney" has a nice ring to it. The Team Penske driver was snake-bitten once again at Bristol on a day he led 60 laps and each of his teammates was in contention for the win, with one of them eventually taking it. Things will start going his way soon.

13 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Kurt Busch, driver of the #1 Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

9. Kurt Busch (+1)

Comment: Busch appeared set for a strong weekend at Bristol but should have a shot to rebound at Atlanta, site of three of his wins. Though none have come since 2010, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver has averaged a 6.9 finish in nine races since.

14 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Auto Owners Insurance Toyota, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

8. Martin Truex Jr. (-2)

Comment: Truex is 0-for-21 at Atlanta, but was last year's runner-up and has a top-seven finish in seven of his previous eight races there. Sure feels more like a win there is more of a "when" than an "if."

15 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

7. Alex Bowman (-2)

Comment: Bowman has improved on his Atlanta finish each time out in four tries, landing in the top 15 last year. A top 10 is a near-certainty this weekend, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him battle for the win.

16 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Skittles Toyota, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

6. Kyle Busch (+3)

Comment: We're leaving Bristol and Kyle Busch really has yet to win this season. We're just as surprised as you, but even more so that his 100 laps led this past weekend were his first since the Daytona 500. He keeps knocking on the door, so a run has to be coming.

17 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

5. Denny Hamlin (+3)

Comment: Hamlin picked up a win at Atlanta in 2012 and has seen a real mixed bag of mostly not-great results since. Still, he's talented enough to win at any race track as long as he has the right car at his disposal. No reason to think he won't be competitive this weekend after leading 131 laps at Bristol.

18 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

4. Chase Elliott (--)

Comment: There's no denying that Elliott has been dominant in 2020 and his numbers could be significantly better if a few things had fallen in a slightly different manner. He now gets to race at his home track, where he owns a series-best 10.5 average finish.

19 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Autotrader Ford, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

3. Joey Logano (-1)

Comment: Logano is itching to win at Atlanta, a track he's been racing at since childhood. After not even sniffing the top 10 in his Joe Gibbs Racing days, he's been getting closer in Team Penske equipment, with a runner-up in 2013 and another three top-six finishes over the subsequent years.

20 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

2. Kevin Harvick (-1)

Comment: The series' leader in laps led (1,197) saw his top-10 streak end at Bristol (11th), but there's a pretty strong chance he gets right back on the horse this weekend. Arguably the season's best driver thus far won this race in 2018.

21 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Discount Tire Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

1. Brad Keselowski (+2)

Comment: As it so often seems, Keselowski, the series' most recent winner, rolls into the next race track as the defending winner of that race, too. After winning the last two Sundays, a third in a row wouldn't be surprising at the track Keselowski took a trip to Victory Lane at in 2017, too.