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By Adam Carabine With the playoffs in full swing now, 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   Harrison Burton – This week: 16th – Last week: 16th After being eliminated, Burton sits in the 16th spot overall in both our Power Rankings and the official standings.  Without a playoff spot to push for anymore, will we see Burton be able to get out of the playoff basement?   Tyler Reddick – This week: 15th – Last week: 15th It’s kind of wild that our Regular Season Champion is sitting in 15th right now, but he’s had a rough few weeks.  His playoff point advantage helped him through a shaky first round, and he followed it up with an uncharacteristic P25 at Kansas.   Chase Briscoe – This week: 14th – Last week: 9th   Briscoe put a solid effort into the first three races of the playoffs, earning his way into the second round.  He’s started this next round a little slower, but I wouldn’t count him out yet.  The next two tracks might be in his wheelhouse.   Brad Keselowski – This week: 13th – Last week: 8th Brad K’s average finish through the first four races of the playoffs has been 9 spots worse than his average through the rest of the season.  Not exactly a recipe for success.   Daniel Suarez – This week: 12th – Last week: 13th Another driver who had a surprisingly solid first round, and earned his way into Round 2.  It wasn’t looking good for him most of the day at Kansas, but he somehow turned it into a P13, which certainly keeps him within shouting distance of the next round.   Martin Truex Jr. – This week: 11th – Last week: 14th Albeit a week too late, Martin Truex Jr. had a good looking car at Kansas.  His P3 finish won’t do anything for his playoff hopes, which were dashed the previous week in Bristol, but he’s getting closer to that final win of his career, which he hopes can come in the next 6 races.   Austin Cindric – This week: 10th – Last week: 4th A tough start to the Round of 12 for Cindric, as he finished 34th.  He’s now dug himself a hole to climb out of if he wants to continue his playoff push.  However, he has shown strength at both drafting tracks and road courses, and the next two races happen to be just that.   Ty Gibbs – This week: 9th  – Last week: 10th  Ty Gibbs certainly was disappointed not to make it to the next round at the end of the Bristol Night Race, but he hasn’t let that affect his performance.  He finished P5 at Kansas, and is just sniffing at that first career win.    Ryan Blaney – This week: 8th – Last week: 11th After a P4 at Kansas, Blaney is sitting in the second-best position of any driver, +28 to the cutline.  His performance in the Power Rankings is a little lower just as he recovers from lap 1 DNF at Watkins Glen, but he should be safe into the next round barring a catastrophe.   Joey Logano – This week: 7th – Last week: 7th He was the first one to lock himself into this Round of 12 after winning the opening race of the playoffs, and he’s done a decent job of holding serve since then.  He came into the playoffs with a point disadvantage, so he’ll still need to work to get into the next round, but this time of year always seems like Logano’s favourite.   William Byron – This week: 6th – Last week: 12th A late charge by William Byron wasn’t enough to chase down eventual winner Ross Chastain at Kansas, but Byron has shown he’s not messing around in this second round.  P2 (with no playoff winner) puts Byron at the top of the standings for the moment.    Alex Bowman – This week: 5th – Last week: 5th Probably the most consistent driver of the playoffs so far, and also the driver who has scored the most points.  A few weeks ago, people were questioning whether Bowman was being shipped out of Hendrick Motorsports.  These playoffs have silenced those critics.   Denny Hamlin – This week: 4th – Last week: 6th It wasn’t flashy, but it was a solid Top 10 for Denny at Kansas this week.  He’s got his work cut out for him in these next two races, especially if he repeats his Atlanta strategy at Talladega next weekend, but if he can keep it consistent, he should be okay into the next round.   Chase Elliott – This week: 3rd – Last week: 3rd The Cup Series’ best average finisher, Chase Elliott, is on the podium again this week in our Power Rankings.  Not only did Elliott finish in the Top 10, he had the best passing differential (+52) of anyone at Kansas.  He’s still only +4 on the playoff cut line, but consistency has been the hallmark of his season this year.   Christopher Bell – This week: 2nd – Last week: 2nd Bell’s worst finish in the last 6 races came at Watkins Glen, where he finished P14.  Four of those races were Top 5s.  Whatever JGR has found in this 20 team, Christopher Bell has been using it to his advantage.  He’s making a case for himself, and it’s hard to argue.   Kyle Larson – This week: 1st – Last week: 1st Still riding high from the points he collected in our formula with all of those laps led at Bristol, Larson retains the top position in our Power Rankings.  It wasn’t exactly a smooth Kansas for the driver, though, as he finished P26.  His playoff point buffer has given him the chance to stay above the cutline, but he’ll need to find that Bristol magic again.

(Photo Courtesy NHRA) PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE PRO STOCK FUNNY CAR TOP FUEL

Press Release | NHRA CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 20, 2024) – Two-time Top Fuel world champion Brittany Force made the quickest runs in both qualifying sessions on Friday at zMAX Dragway, powering to the provisional No. 1 position at the 16th annual NHRA Carolina Nationals. Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 16th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. Force went 3.690-seconds at 334.24 mph in her 11,000-horsepower HendrickCars.com Chevrolet dragster to close out the night session, putting Force on track for her third No. 1 qualifier of the year and the 49th in her career. Currently ninth in points after the opening race in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs – and 133 points out of first entering the weekend – Force is after a big weekend as she seeks her first victory since her record-breaking 2022 championship season. “To end qualifying with two solid runs, we picked up points, and we're leaving currently No. 1, our Monster Energy/HendrickCars.com team are all very excited and very proud of that," Force said.   "Our mindset for tomorrow is what it was coming into today. We want to do exactly what we accomplished today. We want to pick up points where we can tomorrow in the conditions we're running in where the track temp is going to be quite a bit different, and we've got to figure that track out for Sunday. That's where it really matters.” Shawn Reed impressed and is currently second with a 3.700 at 324.12, and defending world champion Doug Kalitta sits third after going 3.710 at 332.59. Needing his own big weekend to get back in championship hunt, defending Funny Car world champ Matt Hagan enjoyed an ideal Friday, making the quickest pass of both sessions as well, including a blistering 3.832 at 333.25 under the lights in his 11,000-horsepower Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Dodge//SRT Hellcat. Two runs after points leader Austin Prock went 3.833, Hagan eclipsed him by .001 in a stellar Friday-night pass. If it holds, it would be Hagan’s first No. 1 qualifier since the second race of the season as the Tony Stewart Racing team, which won the 4-Wide race this spring, looks to get rolling in the Countdown to the Championship.   “That's definitely a good shot in the arm. Our qualifying positions all year long have been a struggle and we've been working hard behind the scenes to figure it out," Hagan said. "It's always tough when you see a guy like [crew chief] Dickie Venables scratch his head. That's when you're going, 'This must be pretty bad if the guy's not got it figured out,' but those guys never give up.    "It's just good to come back and see our guys smiling in the pit and everybody high-fiving and to be on top. There's a lot of times that these race cars will kick you, and it's just an awful feeling because it's just so humbling because you work so hard at it, and then you every now and then you get a little shot in arm." Points leader Prock made a big move in the second session, with his 3.833 at 332.84 good enough for second, and John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman is third thanks to his 3.850 at 327.27.   In Pro Stock, Erica Enders, who was the runner-up at last week’s playoff opener, went to No. 1 in her Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling Performance/Scag Power Equipment car after going 6.557 at 208.20. It would be her sixth top qualifier of the season and things appear to be heading in the right direction for the defending and six-time world champion. She advanced to the final round in Reading against her teammate, Aaron Stanfield, and was just 35 points out first heading into the weekend at zMAX Dragway.   “Those [qualifying bonus points] can be huge and make or break a championship run,” Enders said. “I think in 2015 when we won the championship, we accumulated the most 'baby' points in the Countdown, and it was definitely helpful for us to lock it up. We got six today and if we do the same tomorrow, that will be 12, and that's more than a half a round of racing, so it's a pretty significant chunk.   ‘I'm sure it'll be sunny and hot and sticky tomorrow, so I just want to go out there and make good runs. I want to make two really clean cracks at the Christmas Tree, trying to redeem myself on last week's holeshot loss in the finals. I’ve got a little bit of work to do in the cockpit.”   Points leader and Reading winner Stanfield took the second spot after going 6.580 at 207.85 and Dallas Glenn, who is currently second in points, went 6.590 at 208.20 to sit third.   Racing close to home, Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Matt Smith enjoyed a strong Friday on his Denso Auto Parts Buell, grabbing the No. 1 spot on Friday thanks to a run of 6.803 at 198.47. The six-time world champion is after his fifth top spot of 2024 and is right in the thick of the points chase, sitting less than 20 points out of first. Smith ran into bike troubles in the semifinals at the playoff opener but returned in impressive fashion on Friday in Charlotte.   "We've just got to do our job and collect points,” Smith said. “We gained some points on Gaige (Herrera) today and those bonus points are huge and we're gaining ground, but we're in a dogfight. They've had the dominant bike all year long, and I still think they have the better bike than what we have right now, so we have to turn on win lights. That's our goal right now.    "If we win this race. we'll probably leave here as the point leaders. We've just got to keep going, keep digging and turn on some win lights on Sunday."   Defending world champion and points leader Herrera is right behind after going 6.812 at 198.47 and his teammate, Richard Gadson, is third after a 6.836 at 197.80.   Qualifying continues at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at the NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway. (Photo Courtesy NHRA)

RICK WARE RACING, SPIRE MOTORSPORTS With eight races left on the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series calendar, two teams are making changes for the remainder of the season. Rick Ware Racing (RWR) has acquired driver Corey LaJoie from Spire Motorsports, and Spire Motorsports has procured driver Justin Haley from RWR. Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway will be the last race for each driver with their current organizations. Beginning with next weekend’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, LaJoie will take over the No. 51 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for RWR, and Haley will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports. While LaJoie’s pending partnership with RWR will mark his first stint with the team, Haley’s upcoming drive with Spire Motorsports serves as a homecoming. Haley began his NASCAR Cup Series career with Spire Motorsports, winning the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in just his third career NASCAR Cup Series start. “Justin Haley is a very talented driver who has done a lot to help elevate RWR,” said Robby Benton, president, RWR. “Justin came to us over the Olympic break with a longer-term opportunity that would serve his career well. We were sympathetic to his desires, as Justin committed to RWR early last year and has since played a key role in the growth of our organization. We didn’t want to compromise his growth or our own. In our talks with Justin following the break, we agreed to release him from his contract with RWR. “Obviously, we needed a new plan to maintain the momentum we’ve gained this year, and Corey LaJoie joining RWR allows us to keep moving forward. These seven races provide a unique and unconventional opportunity to work together now and evaluate what we may be able to accomplish together going forward. Corey wants to continue his path toward winning in the NASCAR Cup Series, and so do we. We’re like-minded in that pursuit.” LaJoie comes to RWR after spending the last four seasons (2021-2024) at Spire Motorsports. “Corey LaJoie has been a cornerstone of Spire Motorsports and we’re incredibly appreciative of all the time, effort and energy he has invested in our program. RWR is getting a workhorse in Corey. He’s dedicated to his craft and his tenacity brings out the best in those around him,” said Jeff Dickerson, co-owner, Spire Motorsports. “We’ve known Justin Haley for many years and have been bullish on his talent from the beginning of his NASCAR career. Justin, and his win at Daytona, put us both on the map. It was a pivotal moment for his career and our organization. We’ve both grown since that day, as Justin has proven his talent in the Cup garage and he comes back to an organization that is very different from the one he left a few years ago. Getting back together now, rather than waiting until 2025, gives us an excellent opportunity to build a baseline and be a step ahead when we get to Daytona next February.” LaJoie is a 32-year-old, third-generation racer who grew up near stock-car racing’s epicenter of Charlotte, North Carolina. Haley is a 25-year-old racer from Winamac, Indiana, who began his career on dirt tracks before transitioning to pavement racing. Both drivers have worked their way up the NASCAR ladder to the elite NASCAR Cup Series, competing in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Saturday night’s race at Bristol will mark LaJoie’s 265th career NASCAR Cup Series start and it will be Haley’s 137th career NASCAR Cup Series start. (Photo Courtesy Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Press Release | AM RACING AM Racing proudly announced today that recent Daytona Cup Series winner Harrison Burton will join the organization to pilot the team’s flagship Ford Mustang entry full-time in the Xfinity Series beginning with the season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on February 15, 2025. Burton will join the Statesville, N.C. team following a three-year stint in the Cup Series, driving the famed No. 21 Ford Mustang for the iconic Wood Brothers Racing team. The son of former Cup Series driver and current NBC television analyst Jeff Burton, missiled his way into the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs with a dramatic last-lap pass in the penultimate Cup Series race of the regular season at Daytona International Speedway to deliver the Stuart, Virginia team its 100th victory in the Cup Series and Burton’s first-career win at the sports pinnacle level. The Huntersville, N.C.-native will join AM Racing for its third year of full-time competition in the Xfinity Series. After several years as a mainstay in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, the family-owned team graduated to the Xfinity Series in 2023. “I’m excited to join AM Racing and help build it into the race-winning race team I believe it can and will be,” said Burton. “I think this will be a great opportunity for me to take the things I’ve learned in the Cup Series, bring those to the Xfinity Series and be the best driver I can be. “It’s a blessing to continue my NASCAR journey, and I intend to make the most of this opportunity.” AM Racing has also renewed its agreement with Roush Yates Engines to continue to provide the legendary Ford horsepower for the 33-race schedule next season. The team will continue its technical alliance with the soon-to-be-rebranded HAAS Factory Team for a third consecutive Xfinity Series season. “AM Racing is proud to welcome Harrison Burton on board,” offered Wade Moore, president of AM Racing. “He is a first-class individual and has already proven that he will immediately impact each team member here at AM in a positive manner. His experiences across NASCAR’s National Series will position him to be a leader and a catalyst in our pursuit of Victory Lane and the goals we ultimately envision for this program. “We are equally proud to continue our strong partnerships with Ford Performance, Roush Yates Engines and HAAS Factory Team. These collaborations have been instrumental in supporting our team’s growth and success, and we look forward to building upon these relationships in the upcoming season. We will continue to invest in this team, our employees and ultimately, our future.” Additional details on Burton’s Xfinity Series program with AM Racing will be announced in due course. (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)

Press Release | BIG MACHINE RACING Nashville, Tennessee – Nick Sanchez will drive the #48 Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers Chevrolet in the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series as announced today by Scott Borchetta, CEO/Owner of Big Machine Racing. The team also announced Gainbridge®, a Group 1001 company, as an associate sponsor on the #48 entry.   Sanchez, 23, of Miami, Florida joins Big Machine Racing from the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series where he has won twice this season, driving the No. 2 Gainbridge Chevy Silverado with Rev Racing. He is the 2022 ARCA Menards Series Champion and drove for Big Machine Racing in the same year, when he drove the #48 in six NASCAR Xfinity Series races.   “In 2022 we put Nick in our car for a handful of races and he was fast right out of the gate,” said Borchetta. “At Martinsville in particular, I watched him go full-on, elbows out, putting the car right where it needed to be, with no fear against the best-of-the-best in the series. Since then, he’s done a fantastic job in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and I know that he and Crew Chief Patrick Donahue and the entire Big Machine Racing Team are going to be a force to be reckoned with in 2025.”   Gainbridge® is an innovative digital platform offering direct access to trusted financial products to grow savings. Gainbridge® invests in sports sponsorships, including motorsports, as a vehicle for brand growth. “Gainbridge is excited for Nick and will continue to support him as he advances through the ranks of NASCAR,” said Group 1001 President and CEO Dan Towriss. “We are looking forward to following him during this year’s Craftsman Truck Series playoffs with Rev Racing and next year’s Xfinity Series with the Big Machine Racing family.”   “I couldn’t be more excited to join Big Machine Racing with Chevrolet next year in the Xfinity Series, commented Sanchez.”  “I’m grateful to get the opportunity to work with Scott Borchetta, Patrick Donahue, and the whole Big Machine team next year.  This amazing opportunity would not be possible without Big Machine Records, Big Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers, Chevrolet, Gainbridge, the NASCAR Diversity program, Rev Racing, Bono, and everyone at Spire, who made this dream a reality. As a driver, I feel that I’m ready to move to the next level and I look forward to competing for wins and ultimately a championship next year driving the #48 for Big Machine Racing!”   Big Machine Racing joined the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2021 and scored their first win in just their second season. Led by Crew Chief, Patrick Donahue, the Big Machine team made the playoffs in 2023 and have a very good chance to lock in 2024 playoffs spot this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. The race will air live on the CW at 7pm eastern. The team is currently 10th in points and ninth in driver points with Parker Kligerman who recently announced his departure from full-time racing.   Borchetta commented on Kligerman’s achievements, “I am so grateful to Parker Kligerman for coming to Big Machine Racing for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He was the perfect driver at just the right time to help us go to the next level in the Xfinity Series. His smarts as a race driver have been on display since his first race with us. He’s simply a very fast driver that makes very few mistakes and unforced errors. His ability to bring home race cars with all four corners intact while battling door to door is absolutely top percentile in the series, which is fully on display with him on the eve of clinching our second consecutive playoff appearance. He and the team are determined to go as far as we possibly can in the play-offs and, who knows, maybe we’ll cap this off at the finale in Phoenix! I have nothing but great things to say about Parker and I hope that our relationship continues at the highest level as he navigates his next career moves. He will always be a Big Machine Driver.” (Photo Courtesy NASCAR)