Power Rankings: Bell re-emerging as elite force — is first All-Star Race win coming?

Analysis: Larson is not going to win every week, obviously, but there’s no other driver in the series right now who makes you think, “You know, maybe ... “ With his latest stomping in the books, Larson will now shift his focus to Sunday night’s $1 million prize as he looks for a second All-Star Race win at North Wilkesboro. Analysis: It’s a shame Byron’s race was derailed so early -- and, worth noting, he fought back to finish 24th -- as he likely had the speed to battle with his teammate for the win. No. 24 has been fast all year, and he’ll hope to show that off on Sunday night as he looks for just his third All-Star Race top 10. Analysis: Bell hasn’t had as many words written about him lately as he did during his three-race win streak, but in reality, his performance hasn’t really dipped at all and actually just turned in his second-best points day of the season on Sunday at Kansas. You can bank on him landing his second All-Star Race top 10 on Sunday and being in the mix to win. Analysis: “Clutch” jokes aside, Hamlin’s mechanical failure at Kansas was a bummer for him, as the potential for a fifth Kansas win felt very much in play otherwise. With a pair of recent runner-ups in the All-Star Race but no wins in a decade, expect him to be motivated to battle for victory on Sunday. Analysis: Blaney continues to be among the fastest cars, if not the fastest, each week, and perhaps could have run down Larson if the race had a handful more laps. The 2022 All-Star Race winner hasn’t led an All-Star lap since claiming that checkered flag, but it’s hard to see how that doesn’t change this weekend. Analysis: A P15 isn’t horrendous, and yet there’s perhaps no driver more looking forward to turning the page from Kansas and looking ahead to North Wilkesboro. Though he’s only won it a single time (2020), Elliott shines in the All-Star Race and has finished eighth or better in all but two of his nine starts. Analysis: Surprisingly, Reddick was a non-factor at Kansas with no stage points and a P17, and all of a sudden his 86 laps led for the year look a little more glaring as we hit the one-third point of the season. Perhaps also worth noting, he’s never led a lap in an All-Star Race. Analysis: We already knew Logano was back in business, but it’s still worth mentioning that Kansas’ ninth-place result marked his first back-to-back top 10s of the season. He returns to North Wilkesboro as the defending All-Star Race winner after toying with the field for 199 laps led last year. Analysis: Bowman continues to take advantage of his incredible notebook at Kansas, adding his 11th top 10 there and looking like he’s capable of stealing a Round of 8 spot this fall. He’s another guy who seems to bring it at the All-Star Race as No. 48 hasn’t finished worse than eighth since 2018. Analysis: Chastain’s average start this year (23.8) is the worst he’s compiled on a full-time basis since his Premium Motorsports days, yet he’s only a hair off his career-best average finish set in 2022 (13.3). His first top 10 in the All-Star Race came last year and he’s likely to get another one, even if he’ll have to come from the back for it. Analysis: 23XI Racing -- apart from Corey Heim’s bright spot of turning in a solid run in his fourth Cup start -- had a miserable day at Kansas, Wallace not excluded. A quick rebound could be in order, however, as he has a top-six finish in three of his four All-Star Races. Analysis: Briscoe can clearly make it happen when the factors are right, and four of his five top 10s this year have seen him finish inside the top five. Eventually, those will translate into wins, and despite missing the cut for last year’s All-Star Race, his last showing in the exhibition event in 2023 also netted a top five. Analysis: It’s tough to say whether Buescher preferred his P8 garnered yesterday or his heartbreaking runner-up from a year ago, but either way, he continues to look the part of a contender and should find his way to Victory Lane sooner rather than later. Last year’s third-place All-Star finisher will likely have a shot this weekend, too. Analysis: Decent day at Kansas for Cindric, who landed in the top five in Stage 1 but dipped just outside the top 10 in 11th at the checkered. After picking up a P3 in his first All-Star Race in 2022, No. 22 hasn't finished better than 20th, but there’s a great chance he does on Sunday. Analysis: Berry’s average finish is only slightly better than last year’s in a lame-duck season for Stewart-Haas Racing, but he’s been a factor in significantly more races this season, as we saw at Kansas. The sophomore didn't make last year’s All-Star Race, but has one start in it in the past -- when he won the Open and landed 15th in the race subbing for Bowman in the No. 48. Analysis: Preece is now just one top 10 shy of matching his career-best of five set last year and it looks like he’ll genuinely be battling for a playoff spot this season, perhaps even clinching with a win. He’s yet to make an All-Star Race appearance, but looks like a solid bet to make the magic happen in the Open. Analysis: Stenhouse isn’t setting the world on fire but is doing just enough to stay afloat, and sometimes that’s enough. He certainly made some headlines at last year’s All-Star event and hopes to pick up his first career top 10 in one on Sunday. Analysis: Nemechek has now earned back-to-back top 10s for the second time this season as he continues to look sporty much more often than many anticipated. He’ll likely need to race his way in to make his first All-Star Race, and it looks quite possible from what we’ve seen. Analysis: We still have a ways to go, but Busch is on pace to finish outside the top 10 in points for the fourth consecutive year after not having done that in back-to-back seasons at all since 2011-12. The past few All-Star Races for him haven’t been remarkable, either (on-track at least), and it doesn’t feel very likely he all of a sudden turns it around Sunday. Analysis: Hocevar wasn’t able to sweep the weekend and take the Cup race after winning in the Truck Series, but he did lead the field for a handful of laps before landing 26th. One of the sport’s rising stars has All-Star Race appearances in his future, but he’ll likely have to race in this weekend if he wants the first one to come Sunday.