BACK TO GALLERIES
Power Rankings: Kansas to All-Star Race
By Pat DeCola | Published: May 14, 2019 21
Cindy Gonzalez | NASCAR Digital Media
1 of 21
Cindy Gonzalez | NASCAR Digital Media
NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola ranks the top 20 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers following the race at Kansas Speedway and ahead of the race All-Star Race.
2 of 21
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images
Driver: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Rank: 20
Change: (Not ranked last week)
Comment: Stenhouse Jr. came alive at Kansas, leading for 11 laps and nearly completing his first top 10 since Vegas. Perhaps he'll stand out during the All-Star Race, too, though he's yet to notch a top 10 there in three starts.
Rank: 20
Change: (Not ranked last week)
Comment: Stenhouse Jr. came alive at Kansas, leading for 11 laps and nearly completing his first top 10 since Vegas. Perhaps he'll stand out during the All-Star Race, too, though he's yet to notch a top 10 there in three starts.
3 of 21
Chris Trotman | Getty Images
Driver: William Byron
Rank: 19
Change: -2
Comment: The Charlotte native would certainly love to be a part of his first All-Star Race this year after coming in seventh in last year's Open. Byron has greatly improved his finishing position overall in 2019 and could surprise.
Rank: 19
Change: -2
Comment: The Charlotte native would certainly love to be a part of his first All-Star Race this year after coming in seventh in last year's Open. Byron has greatly improved his finishing position overall in 2019 and could surprise.
4 of 21
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Driver: Ryan Newman
Rank: 18
Change: -2
Comment: Newman tends to do well in the All-Star Race, with one win and seven top 10s in 17 starts. That said, out of his three 2019 top 10s, none of them came on 1.5-mile tracks.
Rank: 18
Change: -2
Comment: Newman tends to do well in the All-Star Race, with one win and seven top 10s in 17 starts. That said, out of his three 2019 top 10s, none of them came on 1.5-mile tracks.
5 of 21
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Austin Dillon
Rank: 17
Change: +2
Comment: Dillon has a Charlotte win under his belt (2017 Coca-Cola 600) and finished P2 in the Open that year, as well. He's kept the car clean this year with no DNFs and a career-best 15.2 average finish.
Rank: 17
Change: +2
Comment: Dillon has a Charlotte win under his belt (2017 Coca-Cola 600) and finished P2 in the Open that year, as well. He's kept the car clean this year with no DNFs and a career-best 15.2 average finish.
6 of 21
Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Rank: 16
Change: +2
Comment: Johnson's four All-Star Race wins are most in the series, though he hasn't landed in Victory Lane since back-to-back victories in 2012 and '13. Still, he almost always does well, with nine top fives in 17 starts.
Rank: 16
Change: +2
Comment: Johnson's four All-Star Race wins are most in the series, though he hasn't landed in Victory Lane since back-to-back victories in 2012 and '13. Still, he almost always does well, with nine top fives in 17 starts.
7 of 21
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Driver: Kyle Larson
Rank: 15
Change: -1
Comment: Larson led 40 laps in the 2017 running of the event, settling for a runner-up finish. He won the Open in 2016, as well, but it's hard -- though not impossible -- to see him performing well on Saturday night based on his '19 season.
Rank: 15
Change: -1
Comment: Larson led 40 laps in the 2017 running of the event, settling for a runner-up finish. He won the Open in 2016, as well, but it's hard -- though not impossible -- to see him performing well on Saturday night based on his '19 season.
8 of 21
Chris Graythen | Getty Images
Driver: Daniel Suarez
Rank: 14
Change: -1
Comment: The 2017 Open winner was also last year's All-Star Race runner-up. Amidst his best career season to date, Suarez could make some noise under the lights.
Rank: 14
Change: -1
Comment: The 2017 Open winner was also last year's All-Star Race runner-up. Amidst his best career season to date, Suarez could make some noise under the lights.
9 of 21
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Erik Jones
Rank: 13
Change: +2
Comment: Jones was P2 in last year's Open, and has been a factor in each of the past two 2019 races. A summer breakout looks likely for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, and Saturday night could be the start of something special.
Rank: 13
Change: +2
Comment: Jones was P2 in last year's Open, and has been a factor in each of the past two 2019 races. A summer breakout looks likely for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, and Saturday night could be the start of something special.
10 of 21
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Driver: Ryan Blaney
Rank: 12
Change: -3
Comment: Blaney has yet to earn a top 10 in his two All-Star Race starts and appears to be less likely to break through for a win this weekend than his Team Penske counterparts. That said, he did win the most recent Charlotte race -- though on a layout that has just about nothing in common with Saturday night except for the venue.
Rank: 12
Change: -3
Comment: Blaney has yet to earn a top 10 in his two All-Star Race starts and appears to be less likely to break through for a win this weekend than his Team Penske counterparts. That said, he did win the most recent Charlotte race -- though on a layout that has just about nothing in common with Saturday night except for the venue.
11 of 21
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Aric Almirola
Rank: 11
Change: --
Comment: Almirola has just one All-Star Race under his belt, but his 8.0 average finish (again, one start) would be third-best in the series. Still, an improvement on that number looks likely this weekend.
Rank: 11
Change: --
Comment: Almirola has just one All-Star Race under his belt, but his 8.0 average finish (again, one start) would be third-best in the series. Still, an improvement on that number looks likely this weekend.
12 of 21
Driver: Alex Bowman
Rank: 10
Change:+2
Comment: The best consolation for Bowman's three straight heartbreaking/encouraging runner-up finishes would be the $1 million prize handed to the All-Star Race winner. That feels like a distinct possibility for him this weekend.
Rank: 10
Change:+2
Comment: The best consolation for Bowman's three straight heartbreaking/encouraging runner-up finishes would be the $1 million prize handed to the All-Star Race winner. That feels like a distinct possibility for him this weekend.
13 of 21
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Driver: Clint Bowyer
Rank: 9
Change: +1
Comment: Bowyer has won the Open twice, but has arguably the worst stats in the actual All-Star Race. The SHR driver owns just one top 10 (2014) in nine tries.
Rank: 9
Change: +1
Comment: Bowyer has won the Open twice, but has arguably the worst stats in the actual All-Star Race. The SHR driver owns just one top 10 (2014) in nine tries.
14 of 21
Chris Trotman | Getty Images
Driver: Kurt Busch
Rank: 8
Change: --
Comment: Busch won the All-Star Race from the pole in 2010 and has exceeded just about every expecation set for him in 2019. He'll be a contender this weekend.
Rank: 8
Change: --
Comment: Busch won the All-Star Race from the pole in 2010 and has exceeded just about every expecation set for him in 2019. He'll be a contender this weekend.
15 of 21
Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Rank: 7
Change: --
Comment: After a blazing start to the season, Hamlin has cooled over the past three. Perhaps the 2015 All-Star Race winner will use Saturday night as turning point.
Rank: 7
Change: --
Comment: After a blazing start to the season, Hamlin has cooled over the past three. Perhaps the 2015 All-Star Race winner will use Saturday night as turning point.
16 of 21
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Rank: 6
Change: -3
Comment: Truex has just two top 10s in eight All-Star Race appearances and led his first laps (16) last year before crashing out. Still, one of the sport's top drivers (particularly at the track lately) will be a favorite for the win.
Rank: 6
Change: -3
Comment: Truex has just two top 10s in eight All-Star Race appearances and led his first laps (16) last year before crashing out. Still, one of the sport's top drivers (particularly at the track lately) will be a favorite for the win.
17 of 21
Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images
Driver: Chase Elliott
Rank: 5
Change: --
Comment: Elliott has no Charlotte wins of any kind under his belt yet, but does own a top 10 in all three All-Star Race starts -- along with the best average finish (6.0) in the series.
Rank: 5
Change: --
Comment: Elliott has no Charlotte wins of any kind under his belt yet, but does own a top 10 in all three All-Star Race starts -- along with the best average finish (6.0) in the series.
18 of 21
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Rank: 4
Change: --
Comment: The defending All-Star Race winner (36 laps led last year) is one of just two drivers in the field with multiple victories in the exhibition. He had the dominant car at Kansas and is among the favorites on Saturday.
Rank: 4
Change: --
Comment: The defending All-Star Race winner (36 laps led last year) is one of just two drivers in the field with multiple victories in the exhibition. He had the dominant car at Kansas and is among the favorites on Saturday.
19 of 21
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Rank: 3
Change: +3
Comment: All of a sudden Keselowski is tied for the series lead in wins and looks primed to be a championship contender for the long haul. He'll likely compete for the win on Saturday night, though he's yet to break through in 10 tries.
Rank: 3
Change: +3
Comment: All of a sudden Keselowski is tied for the series lead in wins and looks primed to be a championship contender for the long haul. He'll likely compete for the win on Saturday night, though he's yet to break through in 10 tries.
20 of 21
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Joey Logano
Rank: 2
Change: --
Comment: Logano has been pretty sensational in the All-Star Race, winning in 2016 and having finishing worse than eighth just once in 10 tries (P22, 2014). Somewhat bafflingly, though, the Team Penske driver has led just 16 career laps in the event.
Rank: 2
Change: --
Comment: Logano has been pretty sensational in the All-Star Race, winning in 2016 and having finishing worse than eighth just once in 10 tries (P22, 2014). Somewhat bafflingly, though, the Team Penske driver has led just 16 career laps in the event.
21 of 21
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
Driver: Kyle Busch
Rank: 1
Change: --
Comment: As he does in most races these days, Busch enters the weekend as the driver most likely to win. The 2017 race winner also has three poles for the race and his 256 laps led are most in the series.
Rank: 1
Change: --
Comment: As he does in most races these days, Busch enters the weekend as the driver most likely to win. The 2017 race winner also has three poles for the race and his 256 laps led are most in the series.