2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 11: Kansas

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

GoBowling 400

By Richard Tix

Let's start this Pit Road into out with a note on Aric Almirola. First, I an glad to hear he is doing ok and I am hoping for a quick and safe rehab back to full health. Man, those images Saturday night are ones that stick with you for a long time. All in all, I am glad all three involved are fine and well for the most part and can walk away to talk about it.

Unfortunately wreck's happen but I am glad safety has made strides to get where we are today. Also, it's unfortunate the wreck happened because it overtook the fact that Kansas was producing some really entertaining racing, which in my opinion had been lacking at the track in the past. I missed the first and second stage but heard from a large percentage of fans on social media that the stages were filled with quality racing and some exciting moments.

The fight between Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr was a fun storyline to watch during the closing laps and in the end one of the best cars of the night won, Truex. All in all it was a good race that will forever be remembered by images of a terrifying wreck that thankfully everyone came away with their lives from.

Get better soon Aric!

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 11 (Week 10)

1. Brad Keselowski (LW-1)- In my personal opinion no single driver has taken total control of being the dominate driver for a large period of time in 2017, making the top of this list a tough call each week. BK held the top spot last week and most of Saturday looked like a candidate to tumble, but the No. 2 team fought back and somehow finished second.
2. Martin Truex Jr (LW-8)- I apologized last week to Truex fans for having him too low, so a huge jump up the standings shouldn't be surprising. He has the best car all night at Kansas and proved it by taking it to VL.
3. Kyle Larson (LW-5)- He is still the points leader and keeps knocking out playoff points as well, but will he get back to his top 2 prowess? 
4. Kevin Harvick (LW6)- Four top fives in his last five races, like I said last week, "I feel a win coming."
5. Jimmie Johnson (LW-2)- JJ hit a lull in Kansas, but don't forget he still is third in playoff points accumulated with 10 and it's the end game that matters.
6. Jamie McMurray (LW-9)- JMac is fifth in points without a win in 2017, only Chase Elliott (fourth) is higher without a win. Jamie's seven top 10's are already more than half way to his total in an season from 2005-2016 (in 2004 he had a career best 23).
7. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (LW-4)- Stenhouse was close to his fourth straight top 10 on Saturday (11th) and it also would have made five in his lasts six, Instead he will settle for six straight finishes of 14th or better which is light years ahead of where this team was last year and even further than 2015.
8. Joey Logano (LW-3)- What a tough hit for Aric, Danica, and Joey. None of them nor none of us will forget that one in quite some time.
9. Kyle Busch (LW-NR)- Don't look now but Rowdy has been having "poor runs" that have given him some nice finishes. Kyle has back to back top fives and has lead at least one lap in six of the last eight races.
10. Chase Elliott (LW-7)- The little miscues have been leading to bad, bad days at the track. This week it was on pit road while exiting his box (some miscommunication I assume). It's been too many weeks of saying "they will learn to close," they need to start doing it to hang out in the top five of these rankings.
11. Clint Bowyer (LW-12)- Consistency. That's pretty much all that needs to be said for Bowyer. He hasn't been great, he hasn't been bad. 
12. Ryan Blaney (LW-NR)- Blaney's bad luck finally turned around as he won a stage and ran up front for most of the evening. Unfortunately the 78 had a better car late and the 21 couldn't hold him, or a few others, off.

Dropped Out: Denny Hamlin (LW-10) and Kurt Busch (LW-11)

Just Missed: Trevor Bayne and Kasey Kahne