2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 14: Pocono

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Axalta Presents the Pocono 400

By Richard Tix

Yup, this week's power rankings are coming in all kinds of late. With that in mind I will be skipping most of the review which is normally just a bunch of rambling opinions anyways!

I do want to mention how fantastic the end of Pocono really was. Respect to Kyle Busch for running Ryan Blaney hard and doing everything he could to hold the lead while not wrecking him. Respect to Kevin Harvick for pushing as hard as he could for the win. And huge respect to Blaney on his first career Cup win. The win couldn't have been scripted any better and he couldn't have found a more deserving way to earn it. He worked his way around on of the best in the sport (Busch) and was being chased down by a guy nicknamed by some as "the closer" (Harvick).

The win on Sunday by Blaney and the Wood Brothers will go down as one of the most popular wins of the season and possibly even the last three (up there with Stewart's last and Gordon's last). Wood Brothers and Blaney doing well is overall good for the sport in my opinion, so soak it in while it lasts.

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 14 (Week 13)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- Truex has been the best Toyota and Cup car all season. Just check out the nice cushion he is giving himself for the playoffs.
2. Kevin Harvick (LW-2)- Harvick was chasing Blaney down in the closing laps but couldn't get right to his bumper to either move him or make a pass (or both). It was good to see another strong run from the No. 4, but I am sure they're more than ready for that win.
3. Kyle Busch (LW-5)- Easily one of the best, if not the best, car on Sunday. He lead more laps this race then all of his other Pocono races combined. In the end, he did all he could to hold the lead and it wasn't enough, but mad props for making Blaney earn it.
4. Kyle Larson (LW-4)- Not enough on Sunday, but he lead a few laps including one to finish up a stage and grab a point. Larson is starting to gain some steam again.
5. Jimmie Johnson (LW-2)- A slip up by HMS or Chevy, the breaks at Pocono happened to be an issue. Luckily JJ was alright after a hard hit.
6. Brad Keselowski (LW-8)- Luck turned around for BK on Sunday. BK pitted and got back out just to see a yellow that put him in the front row with Rowdy. Unfortunately for BK he didn't have winning speed Sunday and fell back a bit.
7. Denny Hamlin (LW-7)- Hamlin is just hanging around, not really doing much, but not really being terrible either. Honestly, every week I struggle with what to say and where to put him.
8. Matt Kenseth (LW-9)- The JGR Toyota's are slowly moving up, but the only one showing real speed at the moment is Kyle Busch. Don't overlook Kenseth though, as he is moving up the standings after his second top ten in the last three races and four straight races with a top 12.
9. Jamie McMurray (LW-6)- Just like JJ, breaks were the story in the No. 1 camp. In fact, the brake failure hit JMac and JJ at the same time, crazy.
10. Ryan Blaney (LW-NR)- What a win. He wasn't just handed this win or have mother nature cave in, he took it from one of the best (Ky. Busch) and was chased down by another (Harvick).
11. Erik Jones (LW-NR)- Erik had his best overall run as a Cup rookie on Sunday and it also resulted in his best finish (3rd). After a crazy year that includes first time winners like Dillon, Stenhouse Jr, and Blaney I don't think it's 100% out of the realm of possibilities that Jones wins before the Playoffs start.
12. Ryan Newman (LW-11)- This final spot was a close call between Suarez, A. Dillon, and Newman. In this case the vet got the spot after a slight bobble at Pocono (14th). Perviously Newman had two straight top tens.