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Clintbowyer Pr 2019
BACK TO GALLERIES

Power Rankings: New Hampshire to Pocono

By Pat DeCola | Published: July 23, 2019 21
Gerald C. Donaldson | NASCAR Digital Media
BACK TO GALLERIES

1 of 21

Clintbowyer Pr 2019

Gerald C. Donaldson | NASCAR Digital Media

NASCAR.com's Pat DeCola ranks the top 20 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers after the race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and before Pocono Raceway.

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CHARLOTTE, NC - MAY 17:  Chris Buescher, driver of the #37 Kroger Your Personal Pit Stop Chevrolet, walks on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Open Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 17, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina.  (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

20. Chris Buescher (Not ranked last week): The JTG Daugherty Racing driver won this race in 2016 (when he was with Front Row Motorsports) and while it may be a long shot for him to repeat, a solid run isn't out of the question. Buescher has had a knack for finding his way into the top 10 and 15 consistently this year -- even if the results don't always show it -- and he was 14th there earlier this season.

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LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 01: Paul Menard, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, signs autographs for fans during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 01, 2019 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Trotman | Getty Images

19. Paul Menard (+1): Menard is on pace for the second-best average finish of his career (16.5), which would only be bested from his 15.5 mark in 2012. He's kept the car clean all year long with consistent finishes in the 15-20 range, which is about what to expect at Pocono.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 19: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

18. Jimmie Johnson (-1): Johnson has long enjoyed success at Pocono, with three wins and a career average finish of 12.3. It's been a rough go lately, however, with just one top-10 finish (eighth) in his last seven Tricky Triangle starts, three of which were 35th or worse. Given his current state of performance -- he's on the outside looking in for the playoffs -- it's not likely he turns it around this weekend.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 19: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #41 Haas Automation Ford, looks on during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Trotman | Getty Images

17. Daniel Suarez (+1): Can we make it five straight weeks with a first-time 2019 winner -- and third first-time ever winner? Suarez offers a great chance for that. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver finished second from the pole in this race last year, leading 29 laps. He led another nine earlier this year and finished eighth.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 19: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 Toco Warranty/Haas Automation Ford, looks on during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Trotman | Getty Images

16. Clint Bowyer (-1): We're getting dangerously close to the point of the season where we're going to have to say "Bowyer needs to win to get into the Playoffs." Pocono doesn't offer a good opportunity for him to break through, with no wins and just three top fives in 27 starts. That said, one of them was earlier this season.

7 of 21

LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 19: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 McDonald's Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

15. Kyle Larson (-3): Larson looked to be turning a corner but had a pretty dreadful weekend at NHMS. He pulled out a runner-up finish last year at Pocono and led 35 laps earlier this year, so perhaps he gets things rolling again this weekend.

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - JULY 04: Ryan Newman, driver of the #6 Roush Performance Ford, stands in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 04, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Sean Gardner | Getty Images

14. Ryan Newman (+2): The good: Newman has been great lately, once won a race at Pocono from the pole and was eighth in this race last year. The bad: That win came in 2003, last year's result was his only Pocono top 10 since 2014 and he's led just one lap there since 2013.

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SPARTA, KENTUCKY - JULY 13: Erik Jones, driver of the #20 Craftsman Toyota,  stands on pit road before the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart at Kentucky Speedway on July 13, 2019 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

13. Erik Jones (+1): Like his former teammate Suarez, Jones offers a great shot at stretching the run of first-time 2019 winners this weekend. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver seems to have Pocono figured out in the early going with four finishes of eighth or better in his first five starts.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 20: William Byron, driver of the #24 Liberty University Chevrolet, stands in the garage area after being involved in an on-track incident during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 20, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

12. William Byron (+1): Byron might be Hendrick Motorsports' best shot at a quick turnaround this weekend. The young driver earned the Busch Pole there earlier this year, leading 25 laps along the way to his second straight top 10 at the Tricky Triangle.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 19: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Sylvania Ford, looks on during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

11. Ryan Blaney (--): Blaney seems to have really turned a corner lately -- he was almost set for a season-best runner-up finish at Loudon before settling for fourth -- and Pocono could be his official 2019 coming out party. His first-career win came there in 2017 and apart from a 30th place result later that year has never finished outside the top 12 in seven starts.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 20: Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Axalta Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 20, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

10. Alex Bowman (-1): Bowman has seven total Pocono starts -- with just one top 10 -- but just three behind the wheel of the No. 88. That came in last year's running of this race, when Bowman finished a season-best third. He's one to watch this weekend.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 19: Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield Ford, looks on during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

9. Aric Almirola (+1): Almirola has just two top 10s at Pocono to go along with a dismal 24.6 average finish. They've both come in the past two seasons, but he's also only notched three top 10s since Talladega this year. Not exactly confident he has a good weekend in store for him.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 19: Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 Kelley Blue Book Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Trotman | Getty Images

8. Chase Elliott (--): Elliott also presents a stellar opportunity for HMS to get some good juju going their way. The Talladega winner was fourth at Pocono earlier this season, his fifth straight top 10 there.

15 of 21

LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 19: Kurt Busch, driver of the #1 Monster Energy Chevrolet, stands by his car during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Trotman | Getty Images

7. Kurt Busch (-1): Not only has Busch picked up a win, he was in the mix late at New Hampshire before fading at the very end and he'll have a shot this weekend at Pocono. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver has three wins there -- the last one was in 2016 -- and has finished in the top 10 there in 56% of his starts.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 19: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford, celebrates with the Pole Award qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

6. Brad Keselowski (-1): Keselowski has just one win at Pocono, back in 2011. He also might be the best driver at the "Tricky Triangle" in the entire series. Taking out a 38th-place finish as a result of a crash in this race last year, the Team Penske driver owns a ridiculous 3.7 average finish in the seven races dating back to '15.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 19: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, looks on during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Trotman | Getty Images

5. Denny Hamlin (-1): Hamlin was denied his second win of the season on Sunday at NHMS in thrilling fashion, but he should have another shot this weekend. Hamlin has a series-high four wins at Pocono and three top-10 finishes in his last four Tricky Triangle starts.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 19: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Beer/National Forest Foundation Ford, looks on during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

4. Kevin Harvick (+3): Harvick is 0-for-37, somehow, at Pocono. That seems odd because 1. He's so talented and 2. That's so many starts. He does have seven finishes of fourth or better in his last 10 starts, however, which shows it can happen any time.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 19: Martin Truex Jr, driver of the #19 Sirius XM ToyotKurt Busch, driver of the #1 Monster Energy Chevrolet, sits in his car during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Trotman | Getty Images

3. Martin Truex Jr. (--): Loudon broke a very un-Truex like two-race stretch of consecutive finishes of 19th or worse and there's a good chance he keeps the positive momentum rolling this weekend. He's got two wins at Pocono (2015, '18) and the chances of him being shut out of the top 10 at the Tricky Triangle three races in a row are slim to none.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 19: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 AAA Insurance Ford, stands on the grid during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images

2. Joey Logano (--): Logano has had good runs at Pocono -- 2012 win, two top 10s in his last three -- but nowhere near to the same level his teammate has. Still, the current points leader feels about due for a win (it's been a month and a half) and Pocono feels like it could provide.

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LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - JULY 19: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota, walks to his car during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Foxwoods Resort Casino 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2019 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Trotman | Getty Images

1. Kyle Busch (--): But then again, like most weekends, every driver has to go through this guy. Busch is the two-time defending winner of the race ... and won at Pocono earlier this year. Look past his pedestrian 15.9 average finish here -- he's the favorite until proven otherwise.
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