Power Rankings: Pocono

“Six-Time” wasn’t celebrating in Victory Lane at Pocono, but his ability to overcome inspection hold-ups, a flat tire and brush with the wall for a third-place result was impressive. And with four 2015 victories, Johnson remains the winningest driver this season and doesn’t appear to be done — he’s finished seven of the past eight races in the top three.

Bridesmaid Harvick. This description of “Happy” isn’t totally accurate — after all, he’s won two races this season — but it does seem to be scarily coincidental at Michigan. Harvick has finished second in the past four races at the track located in Michigan’s Irish Hills. Will he be sitting in second again this weekend — or tossing the bouquet from Victory Lane?

After weeks of dominating and just missing out on a win, Truex Jr. and Co. finally took the checkered flag last weekend at Pocono, giving them stellar momentum heading to Michigan. And they may need it — the No. 78 driver brought home 37th and 36th-place finishes at the 2-mile track in 2014.

Joey Logano put his No. 22 Ford back in the top five with a fourth-place finish at Pocono. His good fortune may very well continue this weekend, as Logano has earned two top-threes in his last three races at Michigan, a track where Fords tend to run well. The No. 22 driver also took the checkered back in 2013, when he won from the pole position.

The eldest Busch brother bounced back from a 31st-place finish at Dover, nabbing a fifth-place result after starting from the pole position at Pocono. He knows how to win at Michigan, too — the Stewart-Haas Racing driver is a two-time victor at the Irish Hills track.

Junior wasn’t able to follow up his 2014 Pocono sweep, finishing just outside the top 10 for the second straight week. But Michigan looks brighter for the No. 88 wheelman; he earned his first win with Hendrick Motorsports there in 2008 before winning again in 2012, owns an 15.6 average finish and recorded fifth- and seventh-place results in 2014.

Keselowski has been a bit of a sleeper, recording 12th and 17th-place results at Dover and Pocono. Luckily, Michigan is familiar territory for him, as Kes hails from nearby Rochester Hills, Michigan — less than 100 miles from the speedway. He’s also got the stats to boot, finishing both Michigan races in the top eight last season.

With a sixth-place result at Pocono last weekend, Kenseth broke his five-race streak of finishing 22nd or worse at the Tricky Triangle. Michigan looks like it will be a bit more enjoyable for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, as he boasts an impressive 10.7 average finishing position there.

As a four-time winner at Pocono with a solid eighth-place starting position, expectations were higher for Hamlin last weekend at the Tricky Triangle. Nevertheless, hat tip to the No. 11 driver, as he did nab a 10th-place finish. He’s won twice at Michigan, but hasn’t managed to earn a top-five result since his win in 2011.

Sadly for Gordon, the bickering between him and crew chief Alan Gustafson was the highlight of his 14th-place performance at Pocono. The No. 24 team needs to smooth things over before Sunday, as Gordon’s got good chances at Michigan, a track where he’s reached Victory Lane three times and where he picked up one of his four wins last season.

After notching his spot in the Chase with a win at Charlotte, Edwards has managed sub-par 15th- and 19th-place runs at Dover and Pocono. Michigan may bring some better numbers for the No. 19 team, as Edwards holds the best average finishing position (9.7) among his peers at the Irish Hills track and is the only active driver to have an average inside the top 10.

Kahne’s run at Pocono was fairly uneventful, as the No. 5 driver started 12th and finished 13th in the 400-mile event. His early-season speed has slowed in recent races, with the exception of a fourth-place finish at Dover. But a win for Kahne at Michigan isn’t outlandish; he finished in the top five last June and won back in 2006.

McMurray has quietly recorded steady finishes throughout the year and has especially excelled in the past couple weeks with a pair of seventh-place finishes at Dover and Pocono. There’s a reason McMurray is seventh in points — he’s consistent week after week and may very well be a dark horse this season.

Kudos to Busch, as he earned his first top-10 finish since returning to competition at Pocono last weekend. However, Busch needs a win to make the Chase and it doesn’t look likely that Michigan is the track where he’ll take the checkered — despite winning in 2011, he’s posted a trio of 31st-or-worse finishes in his past three races at the track.

Newman’s day at Pocono was ultimately ruined when he and AJ Allmendinger made contact and the No. 31 ride was unable to finish the race. Left with a 39th-place score at the Tricky Triangle, Newman heads to Michigan with a vengeance against the 47 car — but he’ll have to make it to him first. Despite being a two-time Michigan winner, Newman hasn’t nabbed a top-10 there since 2012.

Like his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate McMurray, Larson has made strong runs the past two weeks, recording a pair of top-eight finishes at Dover and Pocono. He finished eighth in this race last season at the Irish Hills track, so the weekend looks promising for the No. 42.

If any track is one for “The Biff,” it’s Michigan. The leader in wins among active drivers with four, Biffle has finished 41.7 percent of his races there in the top five and owns the top average running position of 8.9 at the Irish Hills track. Tack on that his Ford manufacturer excels there and you’ve got a recipe for a good day for the No. 16.

Aric Almirola didn’t do himself any favors last week, as he was scored 43rd after heading to the garage early with a blown engine. And this week doesn’t look much better for the No. 43 team; in six starts at Michigan, he has yet to finish in the top 15 or lead any laps.

Bowyer’s 22nd-place result at Pocono was mediocre — but No. 15 fans, never fear, because Michigan is almost here. If history repeats itself, Bowyer could be looking at a solid day Sunday — he’s nabbed top-10 finishes in the last eight races there.

Menard’s day at Pocono was one of many battles, his penalties and cut tire eventually leading to a 31st-place result. The Irish Hills of Michigan do look a little brighter for the No. 27, as he’s recorded three straight fourth-place finishes at the 2-mile track.