Pit Road Week 20: Indianapolis

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Week 20

By Richard Tix

It's official, NASCAR has six races left until the Chase field is set and NASCAR's version of a playoff begins. Indianapolis Motor Speedway could have been a bit of a wild card race, where guys like McMurray, Menard, and Ryan Newman have won in the past.

So going in some guys had some hope's of getting that illusive win that would almost assure them a Chase spot. But, IMS also holds some impressive statistics for guys like Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. Those stats would hold up once again at Indy as the inaugural winner in 1994, Jeff Gordon, won for a record 5th time in his career. 

With the win at IMS Gordon officially locks himself in the Chase with it being his second win of 2014. In my mind the win wasn't important in the way of locking in a Chase spot (he was locked in anyways with a win and points). It is still statistically possible to end up with more then 16 winners, but it just wont happen. This win is bigger for Gordon because he can start to get on a hot streak that will carry him through the Chase. If you missed it, here are the full IMS results.

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 20 (Week 19)

1. Kyle Busch (LW-5)- Yes, this even shocked me. I don't know if many Power Rankings will have Rowdy as there #1 right now, and as I said I am also shocked, but he does have 3 runner up finishes in his last 4 races (crash at Daytona is his only blemish). He has had an up and down year, but right now things are clicking.
2. Jeff Gordon (LW-4)- Gordon is your Cup Points leader and newest winner (second win of 2014), but his Loudon finish will hold him back one week from the #1 spot. Heck of a win on Sunday though and a very memorable moment for him. Remember when fans were wondering if he would retire at the end of the year and they thought he might be slowing down, never to contend again?
3. Brad Keselowski (LW-1)- BK didn't do much to fall this far after being #1, but he also didn't do enough to keep #1. The good news for #2 fans is that he has been steadily getting it back together and is all the way up to 3rd in points. Plus, a 12th place finish isn't a terrible, points killing finish.
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-2)- Jr is in the same boat with BK, he didn't do anything to loose ground but guys around him just did enough to gain it. Jr admittedly didn't have the greatest car on Sunday but made the day alright by finishing 9th.
5. Matt Kenseth (LW-6)- So, Kyle Busch has three second place finishes in the last four races right? Well every time Rowdy has finished second Kenseth has finished 4th. Kenseth is just looking to get over that hump right now, but no need to worry he will make the Chase.
6. Denny Hamlin (LW-9)- Quietly Hamlin has strung together three straight top 10 finishes, the last being a third place finish at IMS. Is he back? Time will tell, but getting hot at the right time will let him forget about his shaky start.
7. Ryan Newman (LW-7)- Will he win before the Chase? I'm not sure. Will he get into the Chase? In my opinion yes, he has too many tracks coming up that he runs pretty well at. Not sure he will run well enough for the win, but right now he is the second guy to get in on points (behind Kenseth) and he is up 29 points on Bowyer. He has been too consistent this season to not make it in.
8. Kasey Kahne (LW-11)- After a crash at Daytona and just missing the top 10 at Loudon (11th) Kahne got back on track at IMS with a 6th place finish. He did miss out on one of his best chances for a win in 2014 after leading 70 laps (most laps led on the day). I still think he can win before the Chase, but right now he is also 6th among drivers without a win. Meaning, as of today he just misses the Chase but is on the bubble (up 4 points on Paul Menard).
9. Jimmie Johnson (LW-8)- From weeks 11 to 17 we saw the JJ we have come to know over the past years, but the rest of the season has been a strange one for the #48 team. After back to back weeks of being involved in crashes, JJ stayed out of trouble and finished 14th. All this team needs to do in the next 6 races is just smooth out the bumps and get ready for the Chase.
10. Clint Bowyer (LW-3)- Big fall this week for Bowyer and all he did was finish 16th. He is still in the hunt, sitting behind Newman as the third non winner in points. The goal here is just to keep putting up quality finishes so they can get in on points (maybe sneak a win).
11. Austin Dillon (LW-12)- Third top ten of the season for Dillon (10th) just two weeks after finishing 5th at Daytona. He is hanging around and keeping his Chase hopes alive, but every new winner that comes along (think Smoke, Kahne, or Ambrose) hurts his chances. You can't knock him for running well week in and week out.
12. Kyle Larson (LW-NR)- Right now, after 20 races, two rookies would make the Sprint Cup Chase. Larson is up 3 points on Dillon but both get the last two spots in the Chase. But what I said for Dillon is true for Larson, unless he wins, every new 2014 winner means less of a chance for the rookies to get in. But, unlike Dillon, I could see Larson stealing a win (but I don't see it happening until the Chase starts if he does win).

Dropped Out- Paul Menard

Just Missed- Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, and Joey Logano

Honorable Mention- Greg Biffle (13th place finish)

No one got it right this week, but I will leave that up to my mistake. I only asked once this week on Twitter after Jeff Nathans send me his prediction, reminding me that I had not asked yet. Otherwise I am sure one or more of my Gordon fan followers would have predicted him the winner. This weekend I will be in Northern MN at my fiance's family cabin, but I should be able to watch the race before heading back home. I will still have all the weekly articles up as normal and my review should be up on Monday per the usual. 

As always, thanks for reading and checking out NASCAR Behind the Wall.