2016 Week 22 Pit Road: Watkins Glen

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Cheez-It 355 at the Glen

Photo: NASCAR via Twitter

By Richard Tix

Monday mornings are never a man's best friend. After a weekend (for most) and a race on Sunday (most of the time), Monday hit's us all hard. Even if you enjoy your job, the thought of not having a full day to enjoy on your own for five full week days can drive a man crazy.

What is worse then Monday? A Monday to start an off week in NASCAR. After Watkins Glen NASCAR takes a week off before heading to Bristol August 20th. Hopefully they drivers and teams enjoy some much needed time off while we put in our time. They all deserve it in a NASCAR season that I would bet makes a man on a Cup team go crazy. 

They spend countless hours everyday working on cars, strategy, and fine tuning skills. All this in a season that last from February to November (and that's only counting the racing season and not the preseason work they put in).

So hopefully the drivers and team members enjoy their time while we try and pass the time until Bristol.

The upside to all of this is that when they come back we head into crunch time before the Chase. Bristol, Michigan, Darlington, and Richmond are the only thing between us and the 2016 Sprint Cup Chase. So many story-lines are starting to really pick up steam and are worth watching for the next four races. During those next four races we will take a look pre-race to review how it has played out.

Chris Buescher's Quest for the 2016 Chase

• Even after a disappointing race where he finished 30th, Buecher picked up three points on 30th place (David Ragan). Ragan was also part of a wreck and finished the race in 33rd. Ragan now has 295 points while Buescher sits at 292 total. The first time we went to Bristol this year Chris finished 21st and David finished 39th after engine issues.

The Chase for Points

• Every race that passes relieves some pressure for the guys without a win but on top of the points standings, but it adds in more pressure towards the bottom. Right now NASCAR has 12 winners. 11 winners in the top 30, one outside the top 30. So, if we ended today five non win drivers would get in, but if Buecsher gets into the top 30 that number reduces to four. So, how do we stand and who is in trouble? Newman currently leads the non win pack at 562 points. Elliott (-1 from Newman), Dillon (-2), McMurray (-12), and Larson (-42) follow behind. The top two or three guys should feel safe week to week, but with four races nothing is for sure right now. CGR is really in a hard spot here being 15th and 16th in. They passed the first scare when AJ Allmendinger didn't win at WG and moved the number to four in on points and potentially three when/if Buescher gets to the top 30. But if a new non winner pushes the number down both CGR cars could be the big losers. Next in line is Bayne (-8 behind 16th), Kahne (-11 behind 16th), and Blaney (-18 behind 16th).

The Chase for a Win

• The last guys above (Bayne (-8 behind 16th), Kahne (-11 behind 16th), and Blaney (-18 behind 16th)) need to start looking at needing a win to get in. Buescher holds the key for everyone, but if he makes the top 30 these guys will drop further down the standings, making a win even more important. The rest of the guys in the standings on down to 30th including Dale Earnhardt Jr (concussion) are also in a huge need of a win. If someone does pull it off it also will change the outcome of the above topic "The Chase for Points."

Pit Road Power Rankings Week 22 (Week 21)

1. Kyle Busch (LW-1)- The consistency Rowdy has had lately is just too much to lose the top spot. In his last seven he has a win, two top 5's, six top 10's, and a 12th. Finish: 6th
2. Brad Keselowski (LW-3)- 28 laps led were the most on the day and his average running position was 6th. Yes, he got into Truex and the No. 78 team should be upset, but BK did take the blame and it was a late race situation. Every driver is at fault at some point. Finish: 3rd
3. Joey Logano (LW-4)- JoLo almost looked like he was going to repeat as WG winner, but Hamlin closed the door. The No. 22 team only has one win in 2016. Crazy. Finish: 2nd
4. Kevin Harvick (LW-2)- Harvick lost the standings lead to BK after being involved in a late wreck. Tough luck during a season he hasn't been caught up in much rough luck. Finish: 32nd
5. Tony Stewart (LW-5)- This isn't just for novelty, Smoke is putting him in position to be a Chase threat for the Championship. SHR has shown they have the equipment and now Smoke is reminding us he is kind of good at this racing thing. Finish: 5th
6. Denny Hamlin (LW-10)- It's been a good season, he just won, and he is climbing the power rankings, but... But, his two wins on the season are Daytona and Watkins Glen. Win's are wins, but if I am picking a final four that reason above will have me leaving him out right now. Finish: 1st
7. Matt Kenseth (LW-6)- A nice top 10 at a track where he only holds a handful of top 10's. Nice way to leave road courses behind if you're Kenseth. Finish: 10th
8. Kurt Busch (LW-8)- 
9. Kyle Larson (LW-7)- The ending for Larson (and Truex) is just a script of hard racing at road course racing. It's what makes it fun, but also frustrating when you're having a good day like Kyle. Finish: 29th
10. Martin Truex Jr (LW-12)- See Larson above. Sucks when you have raced clean all day for that to happen late. BK made a mistake but I will say it did look like Truex may have been getting a bit loose already, BK just made it happen. Martin rallied to finish well. Finish: 7th
11. Carl Edwards (LW-9)- When a team has four drivers like Busch, Kenseth, Hamlin, and Edwards someone has to have a down week, right? Most have them have had low points in the season. The last six races would be considered a down point for the No. 19. Finish: 15th
12. Chase Elliott (LW-NR)- That finish was needed for the No. 24 team. One: AJ Allmendinger didn't win so its another race down without a new winner. Two: the got a nice finish at a road course to help them in the standings. After a nightmare run at Pocono that left with cloudy weather, the Chase forecast looks a bit better this week. 

Dropped Out: Austin Dillon (LW-11)

Just Missed: Trevor Bayne