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Power Rankings: Does Kyle Busch line up as title underdog?
By Pat DeCola | Published: November 12, 2019 5
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NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola ranks the Championship 4 drivers after the Round of 8 finale at ISM Raceway and before the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
4. Kyle Busch (--):
Comment: Look, with a Championship 4 that includes Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. ... there are no underdogs. But the sheer nature of ranking things requires me to pick somebody to bring up the rear, and unfortunately for him, it has to be Busch. Arguably the most talented of the four, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver had easily the worst playoff stretch of the group, despite his second-place finish Sunday at Phoenix. Four finishes outside the top 10 in nine postseason races is spotty compared to the other three, but Busch has shown his strength at Miami when it matters. He has averaged a finish of 3.25 over the last four races there, all of which had him in the title hunt.
Comment: Look, with a Championship 4 that includes Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. ... there are no underdogs. But the sheer nature of ranking things requires me to pick somebody to bring up the rear, and unfortunately for him, it has to be Busch. Arguably the most talented of the four, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver had easily the worst playoff stretch of the group, despite his second-place finish Sunday at Phoenix. Four finishes outside the top 10 in nine postseason races is spotty compared to the other three, but Busch has shown his strength at Miami when it matters. He has averaged a finish of 3.25 over the last four races there, all of which had him in the title hunt.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
3. Kevin Harvick (-1):
Comment: It feels silly to rank a driver with two wins and just one finish worse than ninth since August in the lower half here, but that's what happens with a Championship 4 this heavy on star power. Harvick has seemed to be a tick behind the JGR cars this season -- even admitting Sunday he thinks he has had a "fifth-place car" -- but in no way should he be ruled out as a legitimate title threat. He's perhaps the most headstrong driver in the sport, and his Miami stats speak for themselves. Harvick hasn't finished outside the top four there since 2013 and no worse than 10th since 2007.
Comment: It feels silly to rank a driver with two wins and just one finish worse than ninth since August in the lower half here, but that's what happens with a Championship 4 this heavy on star power. Harvick has seemed to be a tick behind the JGR cars this season -- even admitting Sunday he thinks he has had a "fifth-place car" -- but in no way should he be ruled out as a legitimate title threat. He's perhaps the most headstrong driver in the sport, and his Miami stats speak for themselves. Harvick hasn't finished outside the top four there since 2013 and no worse than 10th since 2007.
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Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
2. Martin Truex Jr. (-1):
Comment: A strong case can be made for Truex as the overall favorite, as he and crew chief Cole Pearn put together another strong campaign and didn't miss a beat after making the official move to Joe Gibbs Racing for this season. This year stands as the veteran's second best in the series, with his seven wins (three of which were in the playoffs) the next most behind his eight-win 2017 title campaign. The veteran had to win at Miami to clinch the championship that year, so perhaps he matches his '17 victory total Sunday evening.
Comment: A strong case can be made for Truex as the overall favorite, as he and crew chief Cole Pearn put together another strong campaign and didn't miss a beat after making the official move to Joe Gibbs Racing for this season. This year stands as the veteran's second best in the series, with his seven wins (three of which were in the playoffs) the next most behind his eight-win 2017 title campaign. The veteran had to win at Miami to clinch the championship that year, so perhaps he matches his '17 victory total Sunday evening.
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Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
1. Denny Hamlin (+5):
Comment: No driver has more mojo at the moment than this guy right here. Sunday's winner at Phoenix clinched his Championship 4 berth in dramatic, do-or-die fashion and has been perhaps the most consistent week-in, week-out driver the second half of the season. No reason to think that doesn't remain the case for another week, especially given Miami is one of his best tracks and the No. 11 crew has all the momentum in the world.
Comment: No driver has more mojo at the moment than this guy right here. Sunday's winner at Phoenix clinched his Championship 4 berth in dramatic, do-or-die fashion and has been perhaps the most consistent week-in, week-out driver the second half of the season. No reason to think that doesn't remain the case for another week, especially given Miami is one of his best tracks and the No. 11 crew has all the momentum in the world.