2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 25: Darlington

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Bojangles' Southern 500

By Richard Tix

The Week 25 NASCAR Power Rankings after Denny Hamlin's win at Darlington.

 

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 25 (Week 24)

1. Kyle Busch (LW-1)- He's been on fire in his last five races. Five top tens, three top fives, two wins, and 271 laps lead. The last time he didn't lead a lap in a race was eight races ago (Daytona).
2. Martin Truex Jr (LW-2)- Truex has been just as hot (and for the whole season), but as of late Kyle has just nudged him out. That doesn't mean Martin isn't the favorite going into the Playoffs, though.
3. Denny Hamlin (LW-3)- Getting hot is a trend so far in these rankings, and getting hot at the right time can get you all the way to Homestead. DH quietly has two wins and six top 4's in his last eight. Don't overlook him because of the 78 and 18.
4. Kyle Larson (LW-4)- Larson led 124 laps on Sunday and is still one of the fastest non Toyota's week to week in the field.
5. Matt Kenseth (LW-5)- Kenseth has made life a bit easier on himself by getting on a roll as of late. Six top tens (four of them top fives) in seven races have improved his playoff odds, but he still has work to do at Richmond.
6. Erik Jones (LW-6)- Erik needs a win at Richmond to get in (which probably wont happen), but he could play spoiler in the playoffs, the kid has been on fire (three straight top fives and five straight top tens).
7. Kevin Harvick (LW-7)- Harvick is still fourth in points and knocking out top tens weekly, but the winning speed seems to just keep escaping the No. 4 team. With how well he has ran, he could point his way to Homestead if the cards fall the right way (that's a huge IF).
8. Chase Elliott (LW-8)- Speaking of lacking winning speed, Chase just can't keep it together for a whole race. We keep waiting for that first win, will it happen before 2018?
9. Ryan Newman (LW-9)- This is the first time in 2017 that Newman has put together three straight top tens (its the first time since 2015 races 10, 11, and 12). 
10. Kurt Busch (LW-12)- Kurt now has back to back top fives and three top tens in his last four races.
11. Brad Keselowski (LW-10)- Once again the No. 2 team seemed to have some speed (which the 22 never finds), but fell off late when things went wrong. Even with this "speed," it isn't Toyota speed so they have to be in the right place at the right time.
12. Jamie McMurray (LW-NR)- McMurray needed this top ten at Darlington. He is currently the last driver in the playoffs and only a point behind Kenseth (15th).

Dropped Out: Trevor Bayne (LW-11)

Just Missed: Austin Dillon