2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 20: IMS

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400

By Richard Tix

The Week 20 NASCAR Power Rankings after Kasey Kahnes win at IMS.

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 20 (Week 19)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- The top three all got a pass for the week after the cluster that was IMS. The madness really got started when Truex and Kyle Busch went out, but before that Truex was easily the second best car of the day.
2. Kyle Larson (LW-2)- Toss this one out the window, just like results at Daytona. Let's move onto next week.
3. Kyle Busch (LW-3)- This one was wrapped up for Kyle to take and then it slipped away at a snap of a finger (or a mix up with the 78...). Either way, he was the head of the field and gets a pass this week, like so many others do.
4. Kevin Harvick (LW-4)- Harvick doesn't need a pass this week as he posted his third straight top ten (6th at IMS). He still doesn't seem to have winning speed every week, but the No. 4 team is consistently running towards the front.
5. Jimmie Johnson (LW-6)- What a move by JJ late on Sunday to push three wide while he had something causing smoke off of his car. It didn't end well, but it was the most exciting moment of the race in my eyes.
6. Chase Elliott (LW-5)- Can't catch a break? So far that's the No. 24's story this year, well that and not closing out races.
7. Brad Keselowski (LW-11)- Would BK have been better off starting on the bottom again? We will never know. Either way, Kahne took and won that race from him, but both gave us a fun show.
8. Matt Kenseth (LW-12)- Hanging around in 9th, Kenseth has to be worried about not winning and seeing someone lower than him in points getting a win (Think AJ or Junior). 
9. Denny Hamlin (LW-5)- DH's push on the second to last restart almost cost Kahne his win, but can you blame him for wanting to get a jump on it and seeing BK time it up perfect?
10. Jamie McMurray (LW-8)- JMac scrapped together a top 15 after a rough day on Sunday. Those things will come back to help when it comes down to the top 16 heading into the playoffs.
11. Joey Logano (LW-NR)- Welcome back to the rankings JoLo! Unfortunately it comes at a time where Kahne won and put you behind Clint Bowyer for the 17th spot.. Yes, Bowyer is in 17th and JoLo 18th for the final spot into the playoffs...
12. Clint Bowyer (LW-9)- Bowyer is now on the outside looking in (17th in Playoff Points) after Kahne's win. He has run well, but they need winning speed now..

Dropped Out: Ryan Blaney (LW-10)

Just Missed: Daniel Suarez