Power Rankings: Michigan

When you're able to run out of gas in the middle of the race and still finish second, that’s about as close to being a win without landing in Victory Lane as you'll get.

At this point, we're going to see a less aggressive "Rowdy" over the next three races since he just has to stay in the top 30 and attempt to qualify. After that, the restraints are off.

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Logano continues to be one of just a small handful of drivers to remain consistently strong through the season’s first 23 races. That'll come in handy.

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Junior was Hendrick’s highest-placing car at Michigan -- in 10th. The whole team needs to find speed, but he appears to be in the best shape.

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"Bad Brad" still has yet to win a Cup race at his home track, but at least he finished in the top 10 for the fourth consecutive race there.

Kenseth's performance Sunday was one of the surest victories we’ve seen all season. If he's getting as hot as it appears, look out.

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High drag certainly doesn't seem to phase Truex, who finished in the top four at both tracks the rules package has been run at in 2015 (Michigan and Indy).

The traditionally flawless No. 48 team is suddenly ... vincible. Johnson has swooned in the races leading up the Chase in the past, but this is slightly worrisome for the six-time champ.

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From Pocono to Indy, Busch had seven straight top 10s. He only has one in the past three races.

Michigan broke up a string of two sub-20 finishes for Hamlin, but one thing’s for sure moving forward: he’ll go as JGR goes.

Speaking of which, Edwards is another whose fate rides with the tide of the Gibbs organization, with Kenseth and Busch seemingly the two that can win at will. Don't be fooled though, Edwards is strong.

It certainly feels like McMurray is shaping up to be this year's Ryan Newman, no?

It almost seems strange that Menard is on the verge of the top 10 in points in mid-August, ahead of even Jeff Gordon in his much-hyped final season, but here we are.

While it may not be up to him -- given Hendrick's overall woes -- expect Gordon to do everything in his power to do something spectacular over the next three races. If he doesn't, he might miss the Chase.

If Jamie McMurray doesn't end up being this year's Ryan Newman, expect Newman to be this year's Ryan Newman. Got it? Good.

How does that old Staind song go? Oh, yeah ... "I'm on the outside, and I'm looking in." Aaron Lewis may've been singing about Kahne's 2015 Chase hopes and we never even knew it.

The first man out of the Chase, Almirola is at least keeping his head afloat with consistent top-15 finishes.

The Michael Waltrip Racing driver took a big hit to his Chase chances -- though he’s still currently in -- at Michigan. After missing the Chase last season, it'd be a shame for him to miss the postseason again.

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Larson was excellent in the Chase last season and his first win appeared imminent. Here we are three races removed from the postseason and he’s outside of the Chase window on points and still winless.

Dillon nearly leapfrogged those ahead of him still trying to get in on points by competing for the win at Michigan. He could easily be ranked ahead of at least Kyle Larson based on how well he ran. Let’s take a wait-and-see approach.

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