NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR: Power Rankings - The Hollywood Casino 400 From Kansas

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:44 p.m. ET

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Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Once again, it’s time for our weekly NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Power Rankings. Who is at the top of our list following the Bank of America 500 as the series heads to Kansas for the Hollywood Casino 400 ?

Some of the drama that was missing in the first round of the 2016 Chase sure appeared in Charlotte, just one day after Hurricane Matthew also brought chaos to the region. Chase drivers Martin Truex, Jr., Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and Austin Dillon all suffered either pit miscues, mechanical failures, pit penalties or were involved in a crash.

As the series returns to Kansas Speedway for the Hollywood Casino 400, we’re reminded that Martin Truex, Jr. led 172 of the 267 laps back in May but in the end, Kyle Busch prevailed for the win. Will the Chasers rebound with strong performances or are we in for more unrest at the 1.5-mile oval? Who will be forced to go to Talladega needing a miracle?

Be sure to leave comments here or reach us via social media to discuss where your favorite driver is on the list, or to tell us who should be on/off the list in your opinion!

Dropping off the list this week: 17, 88

New (or returning) to the list this week: 14, 31

Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mentions

Danica Patrick

No. 10, Stewart-Haas Racing

HM(Last Week: NR) – After qualifying 13th. and running in the Top-10 late into the race, Danica finished 11th., which is her best finish so far in 2016. Sure, the attrition among the Chase drivers helped this, but at the end of the day, she was running and on the lead lap and they were not. So there.

Michael McDowell

No. 95, Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing

HM(Last Week: NR) – The addition of veteran crew chief Todd Parrott apparently gave this team some new energy and enthusiasm, which reflected well in a strong run in Charlotte to finish 14th. Next: No. 15 to No. 11

Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Power Rankings (No. 15 – No. 11)

Tony Stewart

No. 14, Stewart-Haas Racing

#15(Last Week: HM) – This was the finish you needed last week, Smoke. Better late than never, I guess.

Ryan Newman

No. 31, Richard Childress Racing

#14(Last Week: HM) – Newman is another guy who could have used his 4th-place finish a month or so ago, but it didn’t happen. Amazing now that he is 6 weeks from the end of his career and not 11 or 12 weeks out how things go differently.

Austin Dillon

No. 3, Richard Childress Racing

#13(Last Week: 11) – Seems whomever is driving the No. 3 can’t handle a little contact from behind. Son – folks have been getting pushed on restarts for decades, especially when they don’t go. The No. 11 had the No. 48 jacked up and Jimmie was able to handle it. That’s the difference between a race car driver and an entitled brat.

Joey Logano

No. 22, Penske Racing

#12(Last Week: 8) – He mentioned after his Xfinity win on Sunday that it was important to keep digging no matter what. Guess that’s why he took a second shot at Charlotte’s wall in the Cup race earlier in the day so as to finish the job.

Carl Edwards

No. 19, Joe Gibbs Racing

#11(Last Week: 10) – He radioed to his pit crew that it was important for the whole team to be “all in” from here on out. If he keeps posting 12th-place finishes, they’ll be “all in” the rest of the pack while eight others move on to the next round.Next: No. 10 to No. 6

Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Power Rankings (No. 10 – No. 6)

Kurt Busch

No. 41, Stewart-Haas Racing

#10(Last Week: 12) – Busch caught a little shrapnel from the restart wreck, but was able to soldier home with an 8th-place finish, leading the SHR effort on Sunday. He’s anxious to return to Kansas next weekend, where he finished 3rd earlier this year. Who knew he’d be the pride of SHR as we approach the half-way point of the Chase?

Kasey Kahne

No. 5, Hendrick Motorsports

#9(Last Week: 13) – Careful there, Top-5 finishes are uncharted territory for you. But hey, when you scare yourself by running with the big boys, new sponsor Unifirst can clean your shorts for ‘ya.

Chase Elliott

No. 24, Hendrick Motorsports

#8(Last Week: 7) – The team adopted a “nothing to lose” attitude as the only rookie left in the Chase. Then they found out what they indeed could lose when someone else’s mess came their way.

Denny Hamlin

No. 11, Joe Gibbs Racing

#7(Last Week: 9) – Hamlin remarked that “I guess it was our time” when he tossed a grenade through the motor. One of the JGR cars isn’t going to make it to the Round of 8, and he’s apparently going to go fight Carl for that honor.

Brad Keselowski

No. 2, Penske Racing

#6(Last Week: 5) – New Army recruits are taught to fly under the radar and not bring any undue attention to themselves. The No. 2 car is using that philosophy well so far this Chase. Maybe Penske is getting ready to pounce at just the right moment.Next: No. 5 to No. 1

Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

Power Rankings (No. 5 – No. 1)

Kyle Busch

No. 18, Joe Gibbs Racing

#5(Last Week: 6) – Have to wonder if his 4th-place finish would have been better without the unscheduled stop for a tire going down on lap 90 plus the two pit road penalties…. probably a good bet that it would have been.

Kevin Harvick

No. 4, Stewart-Haas Racing

#4(Last Week: 2) – Ever hear the Ron White comedy skit about his new tires just falling off after having them installed at Sears? Guess Harvick’s crew was sick they day they taught ECU operation. I mean, that thing just busted out the Johnny Paycheck song “Take This Job And Shove It” and quit on the spot.

Martin Truex, Jr.

No. 78, Furniture Row Motorsports

#3(Last Week: 1) – My niece handled the clutch better during her first driving lesson than you did on that final stop. Jeez.

Matt Kenseth

No. 20, Joe Gibbs Racing

#2(Last Week: 4) – This author’s worst nightmare – realizing that either you or the No. 48 was going to win. Let’s hope for a repeat of 2015 next week at Kansas.Related Story: Winners And Losers From Charlotte

Jimmie Johnson

No. 48, Hendrick Motorsports

#1(Last Week: 3) – “Hell yeah, we’re back!” exclaimed Jimmie on the radio after taking the checkered flag. That’s OK, the farther you advance into the Chase, the harder it hurts when you don’t win it all.