Week Seventeen - 2025 StatChat Power Rankings After Pocono

Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

By Adam Carabine

A look at the Top Ten in our weekly Power Rankings, plus the biggest movers! While finishing position is important, it’s not always indicative of the full picture.  StatChat rankings are determined using a large number of statistical inputs, with an emphasis placed on the most recent 5 races.

AJ Allmendinger – This week: 10 – Last week: 18

With a solid numbers day for him last week in Mexico City, followed by a P21 that packed some underlying-numbers-gusto at Pocono (his pass differential was +45!), Allmendinger cracks into the Top 10 for the first time this season.  With two more road courses in the next three races, he could be up here for a while.  His oval program seems to be getting a bit better too.

Ryan Preece – This week: 9 – Last week: 8

It is curious that Ryan Preece and Tyler Reddick swapped places this week in the Power Rankings, considering Preece finished P8 at Pocono, while Reddick was a lap down.  Preece (and all of RFK, for that matter) have been much better lately, and it really comes down to underlying numbers that dictate where he is this week.

Tyler Reddick – This week: 8 – Last week: 9

It was a weekend to forget for Reddick at Pocono, and yet he still gains a spot in the Power Rankings.  While the potential brake issues for 23XI caused Reddick and his team to go to the garage and change the brakes on the right front, losing him two laps, the 45 car was still pretty fast. Finishing position doesn’t dictate everything, but it helps when you’re the fastest car on track for 22 laps in the race.

Ross Chastain – This week: 7 – Last week: 7

With an emphasis placed on the last five weeks of racing, this is the last week that Chastain’s win at the Coca-Cola 600 is weighted heavier in the Power Rankings formula.  While his results haven’t been all that terrible since then, expect to see him drop down some in the Power Rankings next week. 

Chase Briscoe – This week: 6 – Last week: 10

We were just singing Briscoe’s praises last week in the Power Rankings article, and here he goes and wins the next race.  It’s Briscoe’s first win with JGR, and his first win in 26 races.  Out of all the SHR drivers from last year who moved forward, Briscoe getting offered the best equipment also came with some pressure.  He’s likely got more in the tank.

Christopher Bell – This week: 5 – Last week: 3

Christopher Bell got caught up in a wreck fairly early on in the race at Pocono, and it wound up setting the tone for the rest of the day for him, unfortunately.  Bell rallied back for a Top 20, but it was still his worst result in the past 8 races.  He’ll likely rebound and be fine, but he loses a few spots for his trouble along the way.

Ryan Blaney – This week: 4 – Last week: 5

Blaney, similarly to Ross Chastain, is still clinging onto his win at Nashville to keep his position in the Power Rankings.  A P3 at Pocono certainly helps things, which is why he moves up a spot this week, but he’s also got two DNFs in the last five races which would have a bigger negative impact on a winless driver.

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

Once again, Chase Elliott is NASCAR’s most consistent driver, at least in the Cup Series.  Another Top 5 for him in Pocono, and he gains another spot in the Power Rankings.  While he remains winless, and maybe needs a little more flash to get to the top spot, he’s comfortably 160 points above the playoff cutline, and I’m sure he’s quite pleased with that.

William Byron – This week: 2 – Last week: 1

Byron somehow remains the NASCAR Cup Series points leader despite a disappointing finish at Pocono.  That’s more a testament to how good he’s been this season.  He had a rough go in qualifying, had to repair the primary car, and then even made his way to the front for a bit.  Byron’s passing numbers on the day were solid, but the P27 finish drops him a spot in the Power Rankings.

Denny Hamlin – This week: 1 – Last week: 6

Hamlin may have taken a week off last week for the birth of his son, but he charges to the front of the Power Rankings this week after a very solid showing at his best track, Pocono.  With a win in his previous race (Michigan), a hard-fought P2 this weekend, and a P3 in Nashville, Hamlin’s spot atop the Power Rankings is well-deserved.  Can he hold onto it?

Biggest Movers

Kyle Larson – This week: 12 – Last week: 2

Falls 10 places

AJ Allmendinger – This week: 10 – Last week: 18

Gains 8 places

Rest of the List

11.	Erik Jones	LW: 14	+3
12.	Kyle Larson	LW: 2	-10
13.	Chris Buescher	LW: 13	--
14.	SVG	LW: 11	-3
15.	Brad Keselowski	LW: 19	+4
16.	Joey Logano	LW: 12	-4
17.	Carson Hocevar	LW: 20	+3
18.	Todd Gilliland	LW: 16	-2
19.	Josh Berry	LW: 15	-4
20.	Ty Gibbs	LW: 23	+3
21.	Kyle Busch	LW: 24	+3
22.	Austin Cindric	LW: 22	--
23.	Bubba Wallace	LW: 17	-6
24.	Michael McDowell	LW: 21	-3
25.	Daniel Suarez	LW: 31	+6
26.	Zane Smith	LW: 25	-1
27.	Austin Dillon	LW: 27	--
28.	JH Nemechek	LW: 29	+1
29.	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	LW: 29	-1
30.	Justin Haley	LW: 35	+5
31.	Alex Bowman	LW: 26	-5
32.	Ty Dillon	LW: 34	+2
33.	Noah Gragson	LW: 30	-3
34.	Cody Ware	LW: 36	+2
35.	Cole Custer	LW: 33	-2
36.	Riley Herbst	LW: 32	-4