Power Rankings: Kyle Busch drops out of the top 10

By George Winkler | Published: June 30, 2020 21

1 of 21

NASCAR.com's George Winkler ranks the top 20 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series after the races at Pocono Raceway and before the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

2 of 21

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 09: Ryan Newman, driver of the #6 Koch Industries Ford, walks on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series 62nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 09, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

20. Ryan Newman (NR)

Hello, Newman -- let's welcome the Indiana native back into the mix after a pair of solid finishes at Pocono. He also has three straight top 10s at Indianapolis.

3 of 21

HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA - JUNE 14: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #8 Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on June 14, 2020 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

19. Tyler Reddick (-4)

Nothing gained, but a few spots lost after a disastrous weekend at Pocono (30th, 35th). The promising rookie did finish second in 2018 at Indy in the Xfinity Series.

4 of 21

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - JUNE 10: Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Fastenal Ford, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on June 10, 2020 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

18. Chris Buescher (no change)

Buescher finished 10th in Pocono 1 but 36th in Pocono 2, which is why he's stuck in neutral in these rankings. His average finish at Indy (15.8) is steady.

5 of 21

HAMPTON, GEORGIA - JUNE 07: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the #47 Kroger Chevrolet, stands for the national anthem prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on June 07, 2020 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

17. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (+2)

Stenhouse was more consistent than Reddick and Buescher at Pocono, so he jumps over them. However, his average finish at Indy (28.0) is concerning.

6 of 21

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - JUNE 10: Erik Jones, driver of the #20 Genuine Parts Toyota, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on June 10, 2020 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

16. Erik Jones (+1)

Jones rebounded from a wreck with Reddick in Pocono 1 to finish third in Pocono 2. His Indy stats need some work, but he's in a good mood as he builds toward a possible new deal with Joe Gibbs Racing.

7 of 21

HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA - JUNE 14: Matt DiBenedetto, driver of the #21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford, stands on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on June 14, 2020 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

15. Matt DiBenedetto (+1)

Heck of a weekend for DiBenedetto at Pocono where he was 13th and sixth. The Wood Brothers/Team Penske speed seems to be finally kicking into gear.

8 of 21

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - JUNE 10: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on June 10, 2020 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

14. Jimmie Johnson (-3)

Just a ho-hum weekend at Pocono with finishes of 21st and 16th as Johnson continues to search for that signature moment in his final season.

9 of 21

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - JUNE 10: William Byron, driver of the #24 Axalta Chevrolet, and crew talk prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on June 10, 2020 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

13. William Byron (+1)

Byron improved over Pocono weekend and now comes to a track where he won in Xfinity and has an impressive average finish of 11.5 in Cup.

10 of 21

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 28: Kurt Busch, driver of the #1 Monster Energy 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

12. Kurt Busch (-2)

Busch won Stage 1 at Pocono 2 and led 35 laps, but he finished 13th. Thus, he is sliding a bit with just one top 10 in his last four races.

11 of 21

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 25: Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 App State Class of 2020 Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 2020 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

11. Kyle Busch (-2)

Busch might have had the car to beat in Pocono 2 until he and Ryan Blaney collided. That led to Busch’s second worse-than-30th finish in the past three races.

12 of 21

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 28: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #14 PEAK Ford, 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

10. Clint Bowyer (+3)

Bowyer collected back-to-back top-10 finishes at Pocono and comes into Indy where he has an average finish of 13.5.

13 of 21

CONCORD, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 24: Aric Almirola, driver of the #10 Smithfield Ford, exits his car on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, 2020 in Concord, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

9. Aric Almirola (+3)

Almirola scored back-to-back top-five results at Pocono, extending his streak of top-five finishes to four in a row.

14 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

8. Alex Bowman (-1)

Bowman rebounded from Saturday’s 27th-place finish to notch a top 10 in Pocono 2. However, his average finish at Indy is 34.2.

15 of 21

HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA - JUNE 14: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Toyota, walks on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on June 14, 2020 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

7. Martin Truex Jr. (+1)

Truex bounced back from Talladega with a pair of top-10 finishes at Pocono. Unfortunately, his average finish at Indy (21.3) is among his worst tracks.

16 of 21

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - JUNE 10: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, waits in his car prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on June 10, 2020 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

6. Joey Logano (-1)

Logano had an unusually rough weekend at Pocono (36th, 24th). But his average finish of 10.9 at Indy is second among active Cup drivers.

17 of 21

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - JUNE 10: Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 Menards/Cardell Caninetry Ford, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on June 10, 2020 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

5. Ryan Blaney (-1)

Blaney came down from his Talladega win with a pair of finishes outside the top 10 at Pocono, and now he might have to watch out for Kyle Busch.

18 of 21

HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 Chevrolet, stands on the grid prior to the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on June 13, 2020 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chris Graythen | Getty Images

4. Chase Elliott (-1)

Elliott rebounded nicely on Sunday with a fourth-place finish, but drops a spot because the trio in front of him had a more consistent weekend.

19 of 21

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - JUNE 10: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 PPG Ford, prepares for the NASCAR Cup Series Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on June 10, 2020 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

3. Brad Keselowski (+3)

Keselowski won Stage 2 on Sunday but had to pit late and ended up 11th. He still had a strong weekend and should be in the mix at Indy with a 13.8 average finish.

20 of 21

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - JUNE 10: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on June 10, 2020 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

2. Kevin Harvick (-1)

Harvick won Pocono 1 and was second in Pocono 2, so this drop might be harsh. He could rise next week if he continues to do well at Indy (8.9 average finish is best among active Cup drivers).

21 of 21

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - MAY 31: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, 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

1. Denny Hamlin (+1)

Hamlin now has a series-best four wins, which gets him the top spot over Harvick for now. His average finish at Indy (12.4) suggests he will again be a factor.