NASCAR Power Rankings: Joe Gibbs Racing takes second spot in Championship 4

Only two races remain in the NASCAR Cup Series season and this will be the final Power Rankings of the season. After next week, we will rank the drivers who make the Championship 4 and go into detail on Phoenix race weekend.

For now, let’s reflect a bit on Talladega and then focus a little on this week’s race at Martinsville. Joe Gibbs Racing has taken two spots now in the Championship 4 with Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe winning races in the Round of 8.

If everything goes chalk and the points standing as it is today holds up, Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson will advance. They are +37 and +36, respectively. Should a driver below the cutline win at Martinsville – William Byron, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, or Chase Elliott – that points battle between Bell and Larson will be the big story.

1. Chase Briscoe – Joe Gibbs Racing (+1)

The move that Chase Briscoe made to get to the bottom lane on the backstretch on the last lap was fantastic. He was decisive and quick. Ty Gibbs deserves credit for shadowing that move without causing a wreck in the process.

Briscoe has now won three times this season. I’m putting him at the top of the NASCAR Power Rankings for this final top-10 list. He could still win this week, too.

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

Also locked into the Championship 4, Denny Hamlin has been known to win a race or two at Martinsville. While his team is likely figuring out Phoenix right now, Hamlin would love to officially block Team Penske out of Phoenix this year.

Hamlin has won six races and achieved 60 career wins this season. Does he end the season with one win, two wins, or does it end in disappointment once again?

3. Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports (-)

I’m not moving Kyle Larson anywhere in the NASCAR Power Rankings because he did great at Talladega, but didn’t win. He has a strong chance to advance, but a winner below the cutline would put a thorn in that whole plan.

Larson is going to be a contender at Martinsville. If Cliff Daniels has that No. 5 car hooked up, it could be domination from Larson and his team.

4. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske (+1)

Moving up one spot in the NASCAR Power Rankings, Ryan Blaney has been fanastic at Martinsville. He’s been damn good at Phoenix, too.

In the last two seasons, he’s won both Martinsville races and finished P2 in both Phoenix races. Can he overcome the odds to win and advance to the Championship 4?

5. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing (-1)

Christopher Bell is just as comfortable as Kyle Larson. The two drivers are separated by only one point going into Martinsville.

Everyone is going to go out there and race like it’s a must-win situation. If you don’t, you risk getting complacent, and that’s no good on the race track. You can go from safe to in danger pretty quickly at Martinsville.

6. Chase Elliott – Hendrick Motorsports (+1)

Still not sure Chase Elliott has what it takes to win at Martinsville this weekend. We will see if his consistency this season pays off.

He didn’t get much of a chance to race and DNF’d for P40. Still, I’m moving him up because I like his chances overall more than what I’ve seen from the 24 team recently.

7. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports (-1)

The 24 team hasn’t won a race since Iowa, and they haven’t really been that close lately, either. Now, Byron should have finished like P5 at Talladega but got dumped going to the finish line.

It is also true that he got into a freak accident at Vegas. But right before that he had gotten loose and given up the lead. So, there was no guarantee of a win there, either. Wreck or no wreck. I’m dropped Byron in the NASCAR Power Rankings because I’m just not sure they can get the finish they need.

8. Joey Logano – Team Penske (-)

Despite leading the most laps, Joey Logano couldn’t get the job done at Talladega. Barring a win at Martinsville, it doesn’t appear that he’s going to make a late-season championship run.

Then again, Ryan Blaney has won Martinsville in the fall the last two seasons. So, why not Logano this year?

9. Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing (-)

Staying here at ninth in the NASCAR Power Rankings, Tyler Reddick has four straight top-10 finishes. A win is still entirely possible for Reddick this season.

There have been very few upsets in the NASCAR Playoffs this season. Reddick is a strong candidate to play spoiler, if you ask me.

10. Brad Keselowski – RFK Racing (NR)

In the final top-10 edition of the NASCAR Power Rankings this season, I have to show Brad Keselowski some love. He has recoreded his third top-10 in the last four races now. His late season performance, dating back to Dover in the summer, has been great.

Had Keselowski and Jeremy Bullins been doing this back in March, they could likely be in the Playoffs still. But they deserve credit for what they have been able to do lately on the track.