NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings: Drivers slip after a wet Chicago Street Race

With another wet Sunday in Chicago in the books, we are once again shifting our NASCAR Cup Series Power Rankings this season. This is the last six-race run to the NASCAR Playoffs. Who will rise and who will fall will be all we talk about for the next two months.

A lot of fast cars and drivers wrecked, struggled, and had bad days. So, how do we judge them? Well, given the weather and circumstances, it’s hard to ding drivers too much. Then again, everyone went through the same race, so why not be harsh?

At this point in the season, there is too much body of work from many of the top drivers to justify dropping them too much for one off race. There is going to be a driver knocked off of the NASCAR Power Rankings and another rejoining the mix.

1. Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports (-)

This weekend was going to be so good for Kyle Larson. P3 in the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series pole award.

However, things would not end well. A DNF in Stage 2 after sending it into the Turn 6 tire barrier ended the weekend for our top driver in the NASCAR Power Rankings. He still leads in points for the regular season championship.

2. Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing (+3)

In the last seven races, Tyler Reddick has finishes of P4, P4, P8, P22, P6, P3, and P2. That’s a pretty good bell curve in that time for Reddick.

Speed week in and week out, it feels like he is about to go on a monster run, maybe even a Chris Buescher type run with multiple wins in a handful of weeks. Reddick hype is real.

3. Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing (-1)

Denny Hamlin has had a lot of benefit of the doubt. But another tough weekend for the 11 team means I have to drop them to third on this list.

Hamlin has consistently been one of the fastest drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series and for at least one more week will remain where he is. Arguably his best track, Pocono is next up.

4. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing (-)

Both Reddick and Christopher Bell had chances to win both Nashville and Chicago and they both come up short in the end. Bell stays despite back-to-back DNFs because of his pure speed.

Bell is rounding the corner and getting into shape for the playoffs. The rest of these drivers in the NASCAR Power Rankings should be concerned by that.

5. Chase Elliott – Hendrick Motorsports (-2)

While Chase Elliott has been consistently in the top-20 at worst this season, that ended at Chicago. A last lap spin courtesy of Daniel Suárez relegated Elliott to P21.

Even so, it feels like Elliott is getting too much credit for being average most weeks. Need to see that top-5 speed, that winning speed, to show up here soon. Otherwise, he will keep falling in the NASCAR Power Rankings.

6. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports (-)

Finally another top-10 for William Byron. The speed has not been there in the 24 car like it was earlier in the season.

Byron’s last pole award was at COTA. His last win and the last time he led the most laps was at Martinsville. This team has to pick up the pace if they want to make another Championship 4 and hold serve in the NASCAR Power Rankings again.

7. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske (-)

Another team that feels like they are ticking off solid days, Ryan Blaney. What I like about Blaney that I don’t see from everyone, he is making his equipment run better than qualifying or practice might suggest.

Of course, Blaney is in fantastic Team Penske equipment. Still, there are times when the car doesn’t come off the hauler with speed but Blaney manages to find just enough.

8. Alex Bowman – Hendrick Motorsports (NR)

Welcome back to the NASCAR Power Rankings, Alex Bowman. I probably should have never taken him off.

Now, Bowman has his first win since Las Vegas in the Spring of 2022. It came at the most improbable time, but Chicago propels the 48 car into the playoffs.

9. Brad Keselowski – RFK Racing (-1)

Both of the RFK Racing drivers are falling in the NASCAR Power Rankings. Bowman has been better and now that he is coming fresh off the win, I feel like he belongs there.

Keselowski impressed me at Chicago. He performed far better than in 2023 and had great qualifying speed as well.

10. Chris Buescher – RFK Racing (-1)

For all of the reasons I listed for Brad Keselowski, I have to drop Chris Buescher. It feels like they are just a few steps away from making it all work.

However, until they do make it all work and make a strong push into the playoffs, I can’t have Buescher higher than 10th for now.