Power Rankings: Keep your eyes on Elliott for Michigan

By George Winkler | Published: August 4, 2020 21

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George Winkler ranks the top 20 NASCAR Cup Series drivers after the race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and before Saturday’s (4 p.m. ET) and Sunday’s (4:30 p.m. ET) races at Michigan International Speedway (both on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM).

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FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 19: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Cash App Chevrolet, stands on the grid following the NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on July 19, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

20. Bubba Wallace (--)

Comment: Wallace finished 23rd at New Hampshire and lost his crew chief because of a pre-race ballast penalty -- but he has been competitive at times on bigger tracks.

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FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 19: Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet, celebrates winning the NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on July 19, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

19. Austin Dillon (-2)

Comment: The Texas win was Dillon's only top 10 in the past eight races, so he will be trying to buck that trend at Michigan.

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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - JULY 15: Cole Custer, driver of the #41 HaasTooling.com/Fusion 360 Ford, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

18. Cole Custer (+1)

Comment: Custer has shown some muster with four top 10s in the past five races. Plus, Michigan has been good to Ford drivers over the years.

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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - JULY 15: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

17. Jimmie Johnson (+1)

Comment: Johnson showed some moxie rebounding from a spin to finish 12th at New Hampshire. Weird year 2020 is when that gets us excited.

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FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 19: Erik Jones, driver of the #20 Craftsman Toyota, looks on following the NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on July 19, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

16. Erik Jones (-3)

Comment: Jones has been one-step-forward, one-step-back lately as he tries to become the first Michigan-born driver to win at MIS.

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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - JULY 15: William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to he NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

15. William Byron (+1)

Comment: You know that commercial where everything is "just OK?" Kind of sums up the season to this point, but Byron has shown some speed lately.

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FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 19: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 ChevyGoods.com/Adam's Polishes Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on July 19, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

14. Alex Bowman (+1)

Comment: I'll take cold race-car drivers for $800, Alex. However, a daily double at Michigan could be just what the doctor ordered for the No. 88.

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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - JULY 15: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #8 Food City Chevrolet, prepares for the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Open at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

13. Tyler Reddick (+1)

Comment: Red Dog, which is my new nickname for him, is coming in hot with four top 10s in his past five outings.

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FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 19: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Rush Truck Centers Ford, walks on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on July 19, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

12. Clint Bowyer (--)

Comment: Bowyer has hit a bumpy patch with finishes outside of the top 10 in the last five races.

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FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 19: Matt DiBenedetto, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, looks on prior to the NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on July 19, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

11. Matt DiBenedetto (--)

Comment: He flexed his biceps with a sixth-place finish at New Hampshire, but his history at Michigan is nothing to get pumped up about.

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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - JULY 15: Kurt Busch, driver of the #1 Monster Energy Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

10. Kurt Busch (--)

Comment: He's about to head in the opposite direction of his brother Kyle, which come to think of it, is not that unusual for the competitive siblings.

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FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 19: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, walks on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on July 19, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

9. Kyle Busch (-2)

Comment: Suggested answers for the next Kyle Busch Q&A with media: Everything is not great. Everything is not great. Everything is not great. Next.

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FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 19: Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield Hometown Original Ford, walks on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on July 19, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

8. Aric Almirola (+1)

Comment: This will be a good heat test for Almirola, who has nine straight top-10 finishes this season but only one top 10 in 15 Michigan starts.

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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - JULY 15: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 BodyArmor Ford, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

7. Ryan Blaney (-2)

Comment: Back-to-back 20th-place finishes represent a hiccup, but Michigan is a potential sugar-and-water cure for him. (Trust me, it works.)

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FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 19: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, walks on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on July 19, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

6. Chase Elliott (+2)

Comment: Michigan looks like a good spot for Elliott to reassert himself in the championship picture -- he is the active leader at MIS in average finish (7.6).

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FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 19: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, walks on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on July 19, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

5. Joey Logano (+1)

Comment: Logano is riding some momentum with two top fives in the past three races. Plus, he has 12 top 10s in his past 14 races at Michigan.

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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - JULY 15: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 15, 2020 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

4. Martin Truex Jr. (--)

Comment: One gets the feeling that Truex has not truly hit his stride this season, and yet here he is lurking just outside of a trio of championship contenders.

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FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 19: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Wurth Ford, stands on the grid following the NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on July 19, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

3. Brad Keselowski (--)

Comment: His dominant win at New Hampshire puts him in the championship conversation, and he's ready to pounce should someone in front of him stumble.

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FORT WORTH, TEXAS - JULY 19: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Mobil 1 Ford, walks on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on July 19, 2020 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

2. Kevin Harvick (--)

Comment: Harvick holds serve with a top-five finish at New Hampshire, and now he comes to Michigan, where he has been crushing it lately (two wins in the past three races).

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LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 27: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, walks the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Pocono Organics 325 in partnership with Rodale Institute at Pocono Raceway on June 27, 2020 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

1. Denny Hamlin (--)

Comment: It would not be a surprise to see a repeat of Pocono with Hamlin and Harvick alternating 1-2 finishes in a doubleheader weekend.