NASCAR Power Rankings: We're not in Kansas anymore

A weekend in Kansas has come and gone for the NASCAR Cup Series and now we are headed to Talladega. First, NASCAR Power Rankings. There has once again been a shift after watching the Hollywood Casino 400.

The NASCAR Power Rankings have been up and down throughout the season. But we are starting to steady out in the playoffs.

Kansas Speedway produced another great race. It wasn’t the thrilling photo finish was saw in the spring. However, this was one of the better races of the year.

1. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing (+1)

A pole award in the postseason and a top-10 to show for it. Christopher Bell is starting to do what he does in the postseason.

Bell is known for turning it up this time of the year. He is starting to do that now and it is why he is the top driver in the NASCAR Power Rankings this week.

2. Ross Chastain – Trackhouse Racing (+6)

A huge boost for Ross Chastain this week. He had been slowly putting together great races, but capped it off in Kansas. So, he’s shooting up the NASCAR Power Rankings.

Those Kubota colors keep bringing good luck to Chastain. Fifth win all time in the No. 1 car, and that is a Cup Series record.

3. Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports (-1)

Another disappointing race and Kyle Larson falls again in the NASCAR Power Rankings. I really didn’t expect this from Larson.

If he keeps making mistakes and getting caught up in early incidents, he’s going to be out before Phoenix. He has to avoid a DNF at Talladega, not an easy task for Larson.

4. Chase Elliott – Hendrick Motorsports (-1)

Here is a Hendrick driver that keeps putting up consistent results, but that true winning speed is lacking. Chase Elliott is good, but doesn’t feel like a threat right now.

Still, I can’t fault the speed that he is bringing. He seems to be making the most of his days even with a Lap 1 wreck at Kansas getting him caught up in the wall.

5. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske (+2)

P3 at Atlanta, P6 at Bristol, and P4 this past week at Kansas. Ryan Blaney is putting together races that tell me he’s about ready to get back in Victory Lane.

Blaney has been carrying the Fords and Team Penske this season. In the playoffs, it has been no different, outside of Joey Logano’s Atlanta win.

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

If there is a driver that has gotten in his own way more than Denny Hamlin, let me know. He was able to put up a top-10 performance this past week.

The only concern is that his speed was not as great as it has been at Kansas in the last two years. Perhaps everyone else is catching onto what made 23XI Racing and Joe Gibbs so strong there.

7. Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing (-3)

Speaking of 23XI Racing, Tyler Reddick was nowhere to be seen late in this race. He had a very poor performance that should be sounding alarms.

Reddick is now below the cutline after winning the regular season championship. Exiting in the Round of 12 cannot happen for this team.

8. Alex Bowman – Hendrick Motorsports (+2)

With all of the crap people have talked, Alex Bowman keeps putting up good results. Most importantly, he is earning a lot of points and that is why he’s No. 8 in the NASCAR Power Rankings.

Bowman is proving to be maybe the second-best driver in the playoffs if you look at points. Again, that winning speed has to show up to prove to me he’s capable of making the Championship 4.

9. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports (NR)

After P2 at Kansas, I have to put William Byron back on the NASCAR Power Rankings. He is still too inconsistent to trust too much.

Solid showing at Kansas, but it was really all about Chastain. While Byron closed the gap late, he didn’t have an answer for the Melon Man.

10. Chase Briscoe – Stewart-Haas Racing (-1)

Chase Briscoe enters Talladega -25 to the cutline. A DNF this weekend probably ends his hopes of making the Round of 8.

Stewart-Haas Racing is bringing a throwback scheme to the track. Briscoe will rock a Tony Stewart Rush Truck Centers scheme for SHR’s final Talladega race.