2016 Pit Road Week 32: Talladega

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Hellman's 500

By Richard Tix

I'm going to leave most of the ranting out of this week's preview (though this is normally where I get my full opinion out in one piece and not 140 characters at a time). I think I covered enough on twitter and if you're really curious as to my opinion of Talladega or Joe Gibbs Racing at Dega, just ask me and I will enlighten you.

So, Ill leave it at this: They still have a chance to win the war without winning the battle. Even while losing the battle they didn't take many casualties because they were smart with strategy, but rather set themselves up for a better shot at winning the war.

When you're in a spot to win a war, you can take any strategy it takes as long as you do not take on added casualties to get there. I'd say no wrecked cars or injured drivers will suffice for nor casualties.

Oh, and if JGR wins a Championship they will gain more fans then they lost during the "layup" at Dega.

Now, onto the Power Rankings that finally gives hope to non Chase drivers again! That's because we still have twelve spots but only the top eight have to be the current Chase drivers, the last four spots are fair game!

A review of the Chase Power Ranking Rules:

For the first three races we will have 16 drivers ranked and they will all come from the Chase field. Once NASCAR cuts the field to 12 so will Behind the Wall (again, all Chase drivers). Once we cut to 8 drivers I will still rank the top 12, but the top 8 will be only drivers left in the Chase and the remaining four can be anyone (previous Chase drivers OR someone who was never in the Chase). This type format will continue all the way down to the final (so in the end the Champion will be number one and the other eleven can be anyone in the Sprint Cup.

We're down to 8 Chase drivers so only those 8 are in the top 8 and the bottom four can be anyone.

Pit Road Power Rankings Week 32 (Week 31)

1. Kevin Harvick (LW-3)- Was the Kevin Kurt thing just a misunderstanding? I have no idea still if Kurt bumped Kevin in celebration or what it was, but Kevin sure came in like that raging bull. KH and crew are not one to be messed with when it comes to Championship contender once again this year.
2. Jimmie Johnson (LW-1)- Quietly JJ also hung back and stayed out of trouble. Why risk tearing up a car or worse, injury, when you're locked in? He has run very well this Chase and not enough people have been talking about him.
3. Kyle Busch (LW-2)- Try and tell me the guy who runs Xfinity races and wins a ton wasn't pissed off he was sitting back and playing it safe on Sunday. Sunday was his first non top 10 since Darlington when he finished 11th, yeah I'm sure he loved it.
4. Matt Kenseth (LW-4)- Kenseth's top 10 streak was shorter by one race then Kyles, only dating to Chicagoland, but I'm sure he wasn't having fun hanging back, either. But, Championship teams do what they have to to have a shot.
5. Joey Logano (LW-7)- Gritty win by a team that needed the boost. It's crazy to think the No. 22 only has two wins after Sundays trip to Victory Lane. They still can win the Championship and will have the help of the No. 2 along the way. 
6. Denny Hamlin (LW-12)- The No. 11 need ALL of that finish on Sunday. They actually tied Austin Dillon for the eighth and final spot, but got the transfer because they finished a round best 3rd. This round plays much better for Hamlin and he could bounce back with a trip to the final four.
7. Kurt Busch (LW-8)- I can't believe Kurt is this low with how consistent he has been, but he just hasn't had the same speed as some of these other guys. He can still points his way to the final four, but it will be tough. 
8. Carl Edwards (LW-6)- Carl just keeps doing what he has to round by round. Can that continue? We will see.
9. Austin Dillon (LW-10)- One spot, at Talladega. Just one. I haven't looked at the results but I am sure he finished mere fractions of a second behind Aric Almirola. It was one heck of an effort by a team most counted out when the Chase started. 
10. Chase Elliott (LW-11)- Fun run by Chase, who remember is just a rookie... He was fast to finish this season but he just couldn't find his way past the front seven guys playing follow the leader on Sunday. 
11. Kyle Larson (LW-NR)- We still only have four spots open to grab in these rankings, but Kyle got the nod for two top 6 finishes in this round (three races). If CGR can find speed and he can start mixing in taking care of his equipment (meaning not running it into the wall driving the wheels off), then he might end up competing for a Championship sooner rather then later.
12. Brad Keseloski (LW-9)- BK needed a win, or a very good finish at the very least, and his engine blew up while trying. Tough spot deciding to get trash off and when it's too late. The No. 2 couldn't stop finding it, either. Not a good way to end a great season, but that's how it goes.

Dropped Out: Martin Truex Jr (LW-5) - Does he deserve to drop out? Nope. I'd really say we have a 12a and 12b, but that's not how my rankings work. He was another very fast car in 2016 that just couldn't get by some bad finishes in a round.