NASCAR Power Rankings: Another photo finish at Talladega

Another week in the Cup Series and edition of the NASCAR Power Rankings. Talladega shook up the playoff picture, but did we learn anything? I’m not sure if we know anything we didn’t already know in the first nine weeks of the season after this race.

However, the NASCAR Power Rankings do look a little different this week. We have to take into account that these teams and drivers actually did do something on Sunday. Whether that’s wrecking out early or finding a way to finish high in the running order.

Track position remains king, and pit road is where most passing is going to happen. Heading into Texas, here are the top drivers in the Cup Series.

1. Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports (+1)

How about Kyle Larson finishing P2 at Talladega? Now he’s back on top of the NASCAR Power Rankings. He even won his first stage at the track!

Larson has two wins and five stage wins this season. That is a total of 15 playoff points. Only Christopher Bell has more at this time in the season. The 5 team will be a factor again this week.

2. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports (+2)

Texas might be where William Byron makes up for that Darlington loss. He finished P3 at Talladega in a relatively quiet day at the track.

Byron remains the points leader by 31 points. He has the most stage points this year but Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, and Kyle Larson are slowly catching up.

3. Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing (-2)

A very quiet day for Denny Hamlin. The biggest highlights were him wrecking Christopher Bell and getting blocked majorly by Ross Chastain. So, he drops a couple of spots in the NASCAR Power Rankings.

P21 this week, whatever. At least he didn’t get into a crash at the end. Hamlin has been solid at Texas lately. Another top-10 finish is likely on the way.

4. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske (-1)

Out early in this race, Ryan Blaney drops two spots in the points standings. He is still having a solid season, but his four DNFs currently lead all drivers in the Cup Series.

Blaney has to get to the finish line this week. A strong run at Texas would go a long way to getting this group back into the regular-season championship picture.

5. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing (-)

Still quiet after his three straight wins, Christopher Bell had an early end to his day courtesy of Denny Hamlin. Still, those wins have done a lot to keep his season afloat despite recent struggles.

I think that the 20 team will be fine in the long run. I’m not sure Texas is the race they will bounce back at, I at least don’t see them winning. But would it be shocking? Not at all.

6. Chase Elliott – Hendrick Motorsports (-)

Another top-10 for Chase Elliott. He keeps racking them up, but the winning speed and that extra edge just isn’t there for this group. Will they find that edge at Texas, where they won a year ago?

If this were the pre-playoff, pre-Chase era of NASCAR, Elliott would be doing great. He is consistent and finishes well every week. He will likely win one or two races this year. But fans expect more from Elliott. For now he stays put in the NASCAR Power Rankings.

7. Bubba Wallace – 23XI Racing (+2)

Bubba Wallace now has the second-most stage points this season behind only William Byron. He is one of four drivers to have over 90 stage points in 2025.

Charles Denike has made this team a points machine, and Wallace can take credit for that, too. They are playing the game, and it has helped them overcome some poor finishes. Four top-10s and two top-fives on the season don’t hurt, either.

8. Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing (-)

While Tyler Reddick has more points than Bubba Wallace, I have him below Bubba this week. More or less, I’ve credited Wallace for being the only Toyota to finish in the top-10.

23XI is having a really solid season, and I think one of these two are going to find the win column soon. Reddick won at Texas in 2022 in his final victory at RCR.

9. Ross Chastain – Trackhouse Racing (-2)

Ross Chastain made the biggest move of the race when he threw a block on Denny Hamlin and the Toyotas. He also managed to finish one spot better than Hamlin at the end.

Chastain has been having a quietly good season. Trackhouse is still looking for that extra bit of speed to take them to the next level.

10. Chase Briscoe – Joe Gibbs Racing (-)

To be honest, I couldn’t really decide who to put in the final spot in the NASCAR Power Rankings. So, Chase Briscoe gets to stay. Again, what did we really learn this week from the on-track product?

I guess I could put Austin Cindric here, but I don’t really believe he’s a top-10 driver in the Cup Series right now. Great win, but he is still not to that level. Briscoe could be one to watch at Texas as well.