Week 36 - StatChat Power Rankings After Martinsville

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

By Adam Carabine

Throughout the playoffs, the StatChat Power Rankings are focusing in on the 16 Cup Series Playoff Drivers.  Rankings are determined using a large number of statistical inputs, with most emphasis on the last 5 races

Ty Gibbs – This week: 16th – Last week: 16th

What seemed like an inevitability this season will likely have to wait until next year – Ty Gibbs likely won’t get his first Cup Series win in Phoenix.  It’s been a trying few weeks for the youngster, but it’s likely all part of his learning process.

Harrison Burton – This week: 15th – Last week: 14th

DNF at Martinsville, finishing almost in last place – that’ll bring you down in the Power Rankings a few notches.  He’s finishing out his Cup Series season knowing that he’ll be returning to Xfinity next year, and maybe that weighs on him?  Pair that with the 21 not always being super competitive equipment, and you’ve got Harrison in 15th this week.

Chase Briscoe – This week: 14th – Last week: 15th

If anyone at SHR has been trying their best to finish the season strong, it’s Briscoe.  He earned a Top 15 at Martinsville last week, and while he’s out of the running for the championship, he’s not bad at Phoenix – it is where he earned his first Cup win after all. 

Daniel Suarez – This week: 13th – Last week: 11th

Daniel Suarez seems like the forgotten child in this year’s playoff group.  He earned his way in with a win at Atlanta – the second race of the year, and he’s been fairly quiet since.  There have been some high points, certainly, but it seems like he’s not talked about as much as the others. 

Austin Cindric – This week: 12th – Last week: 13th

While Cindric’s playoff run was cut short at the Round of 12,  his performance overall has gone up during the final races of the season.  His average finish has gotten 2 places better, which might not sound like a lot but it could be significant over the long term.  If he can match this intensity (and maybe even find more) next season, he could be someone to keep an eye on.

Brad Keselowski – This week: 11th – Last week: 12th

Keselowski was vocal on Twitter/X about his displeasure with the current playoff format.  For the record, if we were just going on regular points for the entire year, Brad K would currently rank 10th, with no shot at the championship (though he would be ahead of Logano).  While RFK continues to grow, it’s nice to see Keselowski still competing at a high level, and it seems like his team is continuing to get better each year.

Tyler Reddick – This week: 10th – Last week: 10th

The lowest ranked of our Championship 4 in the Power Rankings, but really it could be anyone’s race on Sunday.  His average finish over the last 3 races is 23, and that includes a win at Homestead.  While he didn’t need a good finish at Martinsville, he’ll be hoping that his multiple laps down-P34 won’t carry some negative momentum into the final race.

Alex Bowman – This week: 9th  – Last week: 9th

Bowman has had a hell of a playoffs, and it’s unfortunate that his DQ at the Charlotte Roval kicked him out of the playoffs when it did.  He’s earned the third-most points of any driver in the playoffs, and that’s including the single point he got for his Roval performance. 

Martin Truex Jr. – This week: 8th – Last week: 7th

It was looking a little too ‘storybook perfect’ for Martin Truex Jr. at Martinsville (they literally named the track after him!).  His final season before retirement, a track where he’s had some dominant performances, and he earns the pole.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as he finished P24.

Joey Logano – This week: 7th – Last week: 8th

As the first one locked into the Championship Four, Logano hasn’t had to work too hard these last few weeks.  Credit where credit is due, though – he earned a Top 10 at Martinsville.  Does he win his third championship this weekend?  It is an even-numbered year…

Denny Hamlin – This week: 6th – Last week: 5th

Hamlin had a steep hill to climb in points deficit, so despite a really solid Round of 8, he still wasn’t able to advance.  8th, 3rd, and 5th were his finishes this round, but with only one spot available on points alone, it wasn’t meant to be.  Sounds like next year will have to be Denny’s year.

William Byron – This week: 5th – Last week: 3rd

Speaking of good rounds, William Byron was the lone driver to point his way into the final race.  His round consisted of a 4th and two 6ths. He had a bit of a point advantage over Hamlin coming into the Round of 8, but that’s why you race the races!  Byron hasn’t won in 27 races – does he have one more in him on Sunday at Phoenix?

Ryan Blaney – This week: 4th – Last week: 6th

They say history repeats itself.  Last year Blaney came in 2nd at Homestead, won at Martinsville and then won the championship.  He earned his spot in the Championship Four with his walk-off win at Martinsville this year, and also had a heartbreaking P2 at Homestead… could this be Blaney’s year (again)?

Chase Elliott – This week: 3rd – Last week: 4th

Chase Elliott comes up short at Martinsville, and can’t move into the Championship Four, despite a P2 finish.  What really hurt him was his P33 at Vegas, which essentially put him in a must-win scenario after just one race.  Chase Elliott has been one of the most consistent drivers of the field this season, and if he can keep that up he’ll be a contender again next year.

Christopher Bell – This week: 2nd – Last week: 1st

What a finish the Martinsville race was for Christopher Bell.  Unfortunately he gassed up too much in the final corner and ended up riding the wall.  This led to a safety violation from NASCAR, and the cost was his playoff spot.  His P22 finish was his first finish outside of the Top 15 this playoffs, and his first finish outside of the Top 5 since the Charlotte Roval.  Watch out for him next year, too.

Kyle Larson – This week: 1st – Last week: 2nd

Another driver that needed some more points in this round was Kyle Larson.  While he performed well in key moments, his P11 and P13 at Vegas and Homestead respectively (plus an extra 13 stage points) weren’t enough to get him back to the Championship Four.  It was enough, however, to get him back to the top of our Power Rankings! 

Stay tuned for our final Power Rankings of the season after we have crowned a new champion!