Weekly Review and Power Rankings
Auto Club 400
By Richard Tix
Another week in the books and another new winner visiting Victory Lane. NASCAR is now a perfect five for five in regards to different winners so far to start the season off. Things will most likely level off, but it is fun to see different strategies playing a part in this weekly. Last week it was Newman staying out and clinching a win and this week it was Martin Truex Jr trying to do the same but falling to Kyle Larson.
Even though we have had a five different winners, the early season is starting to give us some clarity on early season story lines within teams. While Hendrick Motorsports seems to be struggling, Chase Elliott is thriving for the most part. Meanwhile JGR has had a slow start, but Martin Truex Jr -- also in a Toyota -- is on fire weekly. Then you have the Fords of Team Penske where all three -- yes, one is technically Wood Borthers -- are a threat each week to be running up front.
So, even though the winners have been different, many of the same drivers are bringing it week to week and really we could have had just two winners thus far because Larson has been that good. Meanwhile, we wait to see how long it is until Johnson, Kenseth, Earnhardt, and Hamlin get it going. Will they? I have no doubt that Jimmie and Chad will turn things around and have plenty of time to do so, but will they miss out on too many bonus playoff points while they right the ship?
One thing is for sure, we aren't short of things to watch for early this year so settle in and enjoy.
Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 5 (Week 4)
- Kyle Larson (LW-1)- 3, 2, 12, 2, 2, 2, and 1. Dating back to the end of last year, those are the finishing position of Larson in the last seven Cup races -- oh and that 12th was Daytona where he was pushing for the win but ran out of fuel....
- Brad Keselowski (LW-2)- After and early spin, BK and the No. 2 team took a beat up car and fought back. Heck, late in the race they had a slim shot at still pulling out a win before finishing runner up to Larson.
- Chase Elliott (LW-3)- Elliott has three straight races of an average running position of 4th, but that changed this week when he came in with a higher average....Of fifth... The No. 24 is one HMS car taht has speed, thy just need to close.
- Martin Truex Jr (LW-7)- A few weeks after his Vegas win, Truex again was one of the best cars on the day and one of the only ones with a chance to beat Larson. Some gambling backfired late, but the No. 78 is on point right now.
- Kyle Busch (LW-5)- Kyle finished up a strong top 5 finish at PIR with a top 10 at Auto Club. He and Truex are starting to come alive.
- Joey Logano (LW-6)- JoLo started toward the rear of the field after not getting to qualify for the race while stuck in inspection. They bounced back with a strong top five.
- Kevin Harvick (LW-4)- It looks like Harvick will be going through every situation possible early this year. Sunday it was bouncing back after early damage from a flat tire. His 13th was pretty impressive all things included.
- Jamie McMurray (LW-8)- Aggressive and fast can describe JMac early this year. CGR has found something (maybe extra help from Chevy with SHR gone?) early on and Jamie has benefited.
- Ryan Blaney (LW-9)- Blaney and Harvick have seemed to be the two guys who have gone through everything early this year, but kept it enough together to finish off some races. Blaney notched another top ten Sunday (9th).
- Daniel Suarez (LW-NR)- Don't look now but Suarez has beck to back 7th place finishes which is an early season bonus. I still expect him to be inconsistent, but these finishes will help in the long run no doubt.
- Denny Hamlin (LW-10)- DH hasn't been that great early this year, but he also hasn't been bad. Sunday at Auto Club was the same.
- Clint Bowyer (LW-NR)- Welcome back to the top five Bowyer... Sunday ended a decent drought for Bowyer and top fives, next up, a win...Maybe..
Dropped Out: Jimmie Johnson (LW-11) and Ryan Newman (LW-12)
Just Missed: Erik Jones
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