2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 36: Homestead

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Ford EcoBoost 400

By Richard Tix

What a year it has been. This year has been a huge transition on Behind the Wall. Real life changes and priorities have really taken away from the content on here which sucks, but life goes on. Thankfully this site started as a hobby for me to keep me closer to the sport I loved following. It developed into a bit more with it providing a better platform to get my opinion out that couldn't get done on twitter (pre-280 character counts!). This year it basically broke back down to the basic's (Power Rankings and Race Prviews) and even then it was a struggle to get those done, but I still had fun with it and that's what this is all about.

Know what else was fun? The 2017 season. I have never actually called myself a Martin Truex Jr fan, but always thought he was a great guy, one of the good guys in the garage. So to have a season like this for him and his team is something special and I am glad we all got to watch it unfold week by week. 

From the start this was a fun season. We started with five different winners before Brad Keselowski became a multi winner in the sixth race, then Jimmie Johnson won his first and second in back to back races. Following JJ going back to back Joey Logano locked his name into the playoffs just to have it taken away and give the NASCAR world a fun word of the year: "encumbered." From there we moved on and had winners like Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, Ricky Stenhouse Jr TWICE, Kasey Kahne, and Ryan Newman just to shake things up. Story lines all around, the year had twists and turns that many may have forgotten just because Martin Truex Jr was so dominate once he got on a roll after all the early season drivers got wins out of the way. Before we got to the Toyota takeover it looked like Team Penske, Kyle Larson, and JJ would be able to get it done all year long, but people forgot that because, after all, NASCAR has a LONG season. 

However, it's a good thing the season will be known for a dominant No. 78 team and not how some drivers thought Toyota had an advantage, because Martin Truex Jr and that team deserve it to be that way. Little other things will be remembered about the 2017 season, but Truex and his story will be up there in everyone's memory bank. As will Dale Earnhardt Jr, Matt Kenseth, and Danica Patrick stepping away from full time Cup driving at season's end. Each are stepping away because of different life path's, but each deserve to be remembered in there own light because they all provided NASCAR and it's fans so much enjoyment. They all brought so much to the table over their careers in NASCAR and have helped shape the sport we watch every weekend. 

We maybe heading into another offseason and one without some core drivers of past, but plenty of news will be coming out every week to keep us going and new stars will start to shine. Luckily NASCAR has one of the shortest offseason's around so even when it feels like a long time, it really isn't as bad as it could be. So, brace yourself, NOD (NASCAR Offseason Disorder, credit @ANNOYINGRACEFAN) is a real thing...

Check back because I do plan on doing some Team Reviews, then Team Previews, and also a spot where you can catch all the offseason team/driver changes.

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 36 (Week 35)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- What a story. What a race. It started out slow, but Martin and the No. 78 team persevered through and in the end they ended up the car to beat, just like every other week. Martin, his wife, and the team have gone though a ton of adversity and stayed humble through the whole thing so it was a great Championship win for them as a whole.
2. Kyle Busch (LW-3)- They had the car to beat from the middle of the race on. They made a pit call during stage three that played a minor role, but they still got up front anyways. In the end the 78 was just too strong late in the race, just like all season.
3. Kevin Harvick (LW-2)- Harvick did what he could. He stayed up front all day, ran his line from light to dark, and hung tough. In the end it wasn't enough to compete with the two best cars all season long.
4. Matt Kenseth (LW-5)- Always overlooked. One day we will look back on his career and think "how didn't we hype what he was doing more?" It's because he just gets the job done. I always called him the most consistent driver on the track week in and week out. He is a future Hall of Fame driver who helped pave the way for today's NASCAR whether he tried or not (playoff system). It was nice to see him go out and win at PIR and follow it up with a strong 8th at Homestead where he hung up front a bunch but just couldn't crack the lead.
5. Chase Elliott (LW-6)- No win in 2017, but that overshadows what a great season Chase had. Kyle Larson in his third full year did have a win, 10 top fives, 15 top tens, and an average finish of 14.7, but Chase beat him in almost every category. Chase didn't get the win, but had 12 top fives, 21 top tens, and and average finish of 12th. So, lets not downplay what Chase accomplished this year just because he still doesn't have a win.
6. Brad Keselowski (LW-4)- BK just didn't have enough. Early in the race they pitted before everyone to throw off the strategy and get track position. That worked, but it wasn't enough by the end of the night. BK almost matched his statistics from 2016, but the top cars were just that much better.
7. Denny Hamlin (LW-7)- Homestead was the first race since Dover that Hamlin hadn't led a lap and that's after taking the pole this past weekend. However, he still ran well all day and even to close the season.
8. Kyle Larson (LW-NR)- Larson may have been able to contend for the win on Sunday, but we will never know as he hung back late in the race and let the battle for the Championship play out for the most part. Leading a races best 145 laps is a good way to go into the offseason after the teams rough skid to end the year.
9. Joey Logano (LW-NR)- What a rough way to find rock bottom, but the No. 22 team was much better on Sunday (finishing 6th) and started to put it together down the stretch. If the last three races mean anything for 2018, it is that JoLo may get back to his norm.
10. Ryan Blaney (LW-8)- The Homestead finish is not how Blaney and the Wood Brothers wanted to finish their pairing, but it is what it is. They had a better than expected playoff run which was good to see from both parties.
11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (LW-11)- Ricky finished with four straight top 15's (two of them being top tens). His stat line for 2017 was almost all career best down the line, so even though it felt like another poor season, it was a bit of a step forward.
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-10)- One last time for ole Junior. If he had a choice, I'm not sure this is how he would have wanted to end his career running, but you could tell in his voice he still soaked every second of this season up on and off the track. The crowd roaring when he makes a move at Daytona will sorely be missed, but his voice of the sport won't be going anywhere. Thanks for the fun ride Junior!

Dropped Out: Erik Jones (LW-9) and Austin Dillon (LW-12)

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 35: Phoenix

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Can-Am 500

By Richard Tix

Man, was that a fun ride on Sunday. With the elimination format in place Phoenix has been a must watch race filled with drama AND good racing. This past Sunday was no different. We had a dominate car early that needed a win to advance (Hamlin), a mix up with Championship implications during Stage Three (Hamlin and Elliott), some late restarts to jumble everything up (including Elliott to the lead), and lastly a NASCAR Cup Champion who might be on his last couple races pull off the trip to Victory Lane (Kenseth).

Without the cut line storylines we still had some late drama, but most of it dwindled down to the move Hamlin made at Martinsville which again was caused mostly by this format. However, at the end of the day no format can ever script a finish like Kenseth had when he charged to the back bumper of Elliott late in the race and took the lead from him winning his first race of 2017 and his 39th of his career.

The way this season has progressed for Kenseth it really has left us scrambling to think of a final goodbye. All season long it was rumored he wouldn't be back with JGR, but many of us thought he would still find some kind of halfway competitive ride (I thought he would swap with Jones and get into the 77 for a year). So, Sundays win is bittersweet for NASCAR fans and I am sure Matt Kenseth as well.

Kenseth is a guy who might not fully get appreciated until he has retired from the sport. His dry humor and personality has always been welcomed by myself as a fan because it is a shake up from the norm. He was a Midwestern kid thriving in a southern sport. His 39 wins ties him with Tim Flock for 19th overall (third most of active drivers). In his 18 years of full time Cup driving he only had four season's in which he failed to notch a win and ten of those season's he won multiple races. His career spanned from the Winston Cup all the way through a playoff structure that was actually developed because of his own dominance of the system while only winning one race. Matt Kensseth will go down as a NASCAR Hall of Famer who was as consistent a driver as any.

If this truly is his last ride, I hope everyone lets it sink and and soaks it up during a season that has been dominated by the goodbyes to Dale Earnhardt Jr. 

Thanks for the memories Dale and Matt!

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 35 (Week 34)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- Everything is heads up for Homestead, but with how Truex has run on 1.5's this year he has to still be the favorite. It will be a disappointment leaving with anything other than a Championship.
2. Kevin Harvick (LW-3)- Can you count Harvick out of it now that it's straight up at Homestead? He's coming into the final race with three straight top fives and running as well as he has all year long.
3. Kyle Busch (LW-2)- Rowdy took care of business early at Martinsville and cruised into Homestead. The No. 18 team had a nice run at PIR so they should be heading into the final race with some confidence.
4. Brad Keselowski (LW-5)- What a roller coaster ride Sunday must have been. Watching Denny lead a ton of laps early while barely being a top 15 car must have been horrible behind the wheel. Then, a late mix up between the 24 and 11 opened the door before a late restart almost put BK in the wall. The No. 2 creeped in, but it doesn't matter now that it's all even.
5. Matt Kenseth (LW-9)- What a way to go out, if in fact Kenseth is done forever. I changed so many times how I wanted Sunday to end, but when the No. 20 got to the back bumper of the 24 I knew I wanted to see one last Kenseth win. What a cool moment!
6. Chase Elliott (LW-7)- How heartbreaking. First the 24 pulls a bump and run on the 11 that essentially left the 11 no room but the wall (or backing way out of the throttle). Then, the crowd went wild as Chase took the lead and looked to hold his Championship fate. All of it ended with a charging Matt Kenseth stealing the glory many were hoping went to Elliott.
7. Denny Hamlin (LW-4)- Denny had to know it was coming eventually after Martinsville and it did when Chase and Hamlin were battling late in Stage Three. It had to be a disappointing day especially given how well they ran all day.
8. Ryan Blaney (LW-6)- The No. 21 made it farther along then most probably anticipated and it was a fun run while it lasted for Wood Brother. I actually wish Blaney was staying in the No. 21 next year, but we all knew a move to Penske was eventually coming.
9. Erik Jones (LW-NR)- Erik's late wheel spin on a restart sure did cause some drama to end the race, but he still managed to finish off strong with a top five.
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-NR)- One more race. It is crazy to think Junior's last Cup race as a full time driver is coming up in less then a week. He has had a strong finish since Dover, racking up four top tens in seven races (just eight top tens all season). 
11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (LW-NR)- It's been overlooked, but Ricky is actually finishing 2017 on a good note. He now has two top tens in his last three and three straight of 12th or better.
12. Austin Dillon (LW-12)- Another top 15, that makes it four straight. He isn't getting it done, but he is at least finding some kind of consistency, even if it is only top 15 consistency.

Dropped Out: Jimmie Johnson (LW-8), Kasey Kahne (LW-10), and Kurt Busch (LW-11)

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 34: Texas

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

AAA Texas 500

By Richard Tix

The 2017 season is dwindling down and so are the Power Rankings. Once again this week the top eight are made up of entirely current playoff drivers, but after next week only the top four will be. Meaning? Fresh faces on the Power Rankings as the season ends.

Speaking of the season ending, after Texas NASCAR now has just one spot open for the Championship at Homestead. Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Martin Truex Jr. are locked into a shot at the 2017 Championship, but who is the fourth that will join them? Will it be Brad Keselowski who currently holds the spot on points? Will it be Denny Hamlin who has been knocking off top tens left and right lately? Will it be Ryan Blaney who has three straight top tens for the first time this year? Or will it be a Hendrick driver (Chase Elliott or Jimmie Johnson) who badly need a win and have fallen off (performance and/or luck) down the stretch?

The final cut line before the final race makes everything seem like a bigger stage heading to Phoenix so be sure to tune in this weekend!

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 34 (Week 33)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- Martin is locked into the Finale at Homestead (which has been known for about three months now...). The No. 78 is the car to beat, but during a winner take all, its anyone's game.
2. Kyle Busch (LW-2)- Rowdy didn't need to press the issue at Texas, but it still wasn't the run they were looking for. Look for a strong run at Phoenix to get momentum back.
3. Kevin Harvick (LW-5)- Harvick locked in a spot at Homestead AND has Phoenix next up on the schedule. He has been consistent all season and is getting hot at the right time.
4. Denny Hamlin (LW-6)- Hamlin has five straight top tens including three top fives. If he makes Homestead and Chase doesn't we can talk payback, until then the TV broadcast has done enough.
5. Brad Keselowski (LW-3)- BK is safe and might be the fourth driver into Homestead, but he has to run well and hope the 11, 21, 24, or 48 don't win at Phoenix. He holds almost all the power to advance, but anything can happen when a win locks you into the next round.
6. Ryan Blaney (LW-7)- This No. 21 team has really made some strides in consistency now that everything is on the line. This is the first time the No. 21 has put up back to back top tens all season, and it happens to be back to back to back...
7. Chase Elliott (LW-4)- Chase put up another quality eight place finish, but the incident at Martinsville leaves him in a must win position.
8. Jimmie Johnson (LW-8)- The No. 2 team pulled a JJ (coming back from laps down to post a good finish), meanwhile the No. 48 team couldn't. Somethings been off and all year we have been waiting for it to click, because that's what this team does.
9. Matt Kenseth (LW-9)- Back to back top tens for Kenseth. It is a shame Matt couldn't find a competitive ride and is stepping away in 2018, I will greatly miss his dry humor and personality.
10. Kasey Kahne (LW-11)- He isn't posting top tens left and right, but these top 15's are encouraging considering the season he has had.
11. Kurt Busch (LW-NR)- Kurt won his first pole of 2017 and followed it up with a nice top ten. However, he still was held without leading a lap even after breaking a track record.
12. Austin Dillon (LW-NR)- I really thought AD and RCR would continue it's momentum from 2016 into a nice 2017. I was wrong, but the team is slowly putting some ok finishes together late in the year (three straight top 15's).

Dropped Out: Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-10) and Trevor Bayne (LW-12)

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 33: Martinsville

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

First Data 500

By Richard Tix

Well, that was fun! Sunday gave fan's and NASCAR just about everything they could ask for. Passing and hard racing all race long. Different leaders. Moves for the lead, including some beating and banging, door to door. Moving people for the lead which ultimately lead us to controversy that actually had to do with RACING. 

Most Monday mornings are filled with NASCAR talk about who broke the rules or penalties that many didn't know existed, but this Monday we actually were talking about racing. Some didn't like the move that Denny Hamlin put on Chase Elliott on the final laps, but no matter your view on that move it was refreshing we were talking about the cars/drivers on the track and not something that happened in the pits or after the race in tech.

We have all been saying it for a long time now, so NASCAR say it with me: "We need more short track racing!"

I know it isn't as easy as typing it out on this keyboard, but eventually NASCAR is going to realize that a schedule shake up that includes more short tracks, more road course, and more unique layout tracks with good old surfaces (think Darlington and Atlanta) is the best way to re-spark this fan base. Obviously track surface is a whole different argument that also has to do with tires (because the right set of tires that are softer and wear down are part of this riddle), and it is not something that NASCAR can easily control because each track is on its own schedule (and so is how the surface wears down), but letting them wear out is something that needs to be looked into before repaves.

It won't be an easy pill to swallow for NASCAR, and it will be tough to condense the one million 1.5 mile tracks and talk them into giving up a date, but it is something that could help the sport thrive like it once did even in the era of "right sizing." 

In reality, it's a pipe dream that I like chatting about, but if the schedule flip flopped 1.5's for short tracks and some racing under the lights, it couldn't be a bad thing. Dale Earnhardt Jr said it best, "it would be hard to get a ticket" if NASCAR had more short tracks under the lights.

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 33 (Week 32)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- He didn't lead a lap. He didn't win. However, Truex finished second at the end of the day and still has a 38 point lead on BK (next driver in points not locked into Homestead). 
2. Kyle Busch (LW-2)- Rowdy is locked into the Championship at Homestead. Will they keep on winning? The team has been fast enough all year to sweep the next two, but so has the No. 78.
3. Brad Keselowski (LW-6)- BK pretty much had Sunday locked up unless a late caution came. Guess what? It came and it was at the hands of his own teammate. Still, the No. 2 team is sitting ok if they can run well in the next two.
4. Chase Elliott (LW-3)- Rough blow for Chase's playoff chances. It may have ruined his shot, but he gave us one heck of a memorable moment when he was pumping up the crowd post race. 
5. Kevin Harvick (LW-4)- Even though the Ford's haven't shown the same speed as the Toyota's, the No. 2 and No. 4 have steadily stayed in the playoff picture.
6. Denny Hamlin (LW-5)- No comment. That's about how Hamlin's Sunday ended. 
7. Ryan Blaney (LW-7)- Blaney ran well Sunday, but in this round that's not going to be enough. The No. 21 team needs to find that winning speed.
8. Jimmie Johnson (LW-8)- I'm not counting JJ out, but Martinsville was a big spot for this team and they finished 12th after leading just 24 laps.
9. Matt Kenseth (LW-10)- After a wreck at Kansas that left him out of the playoffs, Kenseth bounced back with a top ten on Sunday.
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-12)- I think we would all like one more win, but at least Juniors season has started to turn around late in the year.
11. Kasey Kahne (LW-10)- 16th at Martinsville is his worst finish in his last five races (including two top tens).
12. Trevor Bayne (LW-NR)- It may have gone unnoticed, but Bayne has two top 10's (one a top 5) in the last three races.

Dropped Out: Kyle Larson (LW-9)

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 32: Kansas

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Hollywood Casino 400

By Richard Tix

One more round to go until NASCAR heads to Homestead for the finale. If this round is anything like last round than we're in for a huge outcry from the fans. What do I mean? Well, if you missed Sundays race at Kansas you would have missed the fact that Kyle Larson, one of the top drivers of 2017, is now out of contention for the Championship. One hit of bad luck at the wrong time can do that to you now, and it's what all of social media was talking about. 

I 100% get it as well. But, one bad key race if you didn't lock it up earlier is also a threat to any driver including the No. 78. So, the complaints will only get larger if the No. 78 gets knocked out this round.

This does bring back into play out important the regular season was, because maybe a win or two more (or winning the regular season points) would have been enough extra points to keep Kyle Larson in the hunt. Most likely the engine failure still would have done the No. 42 in on Sunday, but it's not like they also didn't have other times in this season, in these playoffs, to lock themselves in. It sucks, its a downfall of this format, but it isn't the end all be all and Larson handled it like a vet.

Not that this makes a difference, but to anyone wanting to go back to straight up points on the season should realize Larson would be all but out of it already as well (143 points back) and this would have been a huge blow to his Championship contention either way.

Anyways, lets move onto the Power Rankings. Remember, this week NASCAR cut down to eight drivers which means the top eight below are all playoff drivers. The remaining four spots are fair game to anyone!

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 32 (Week 31)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- Personally I am pulling for my favorite driver, however I would be disappointed if the 78 doesn't at least get to the Championship and it would be a format fail if he doesn't.
2. Kyle Busch (LW-8)- Kyle went from the edge of elimination to back in the hunt with just one race and one set of eliminations. 
3. Chase Elliott (LW-3)- Chase is the last remaining zero win driver in the playoffs. However, he has finishes of 2nd, 2nd, 16th, and 4th in his last four to get him this far.
4. Kevin Harvick (LW-7)- In a season of transition from Chevy to Ford, Harvick is just hanging around. That's all it may take until Homestead.
5. Denny Hamlin (LW-5)- Hamlin keeps riding around to nice finishes week after week. Sunday marked his third straight top 10 (two of them top 5's).
6. Brad Keselowski (LW-4)- BK's win at Talladege locked him into this round, but he will need more speed to make a push for Homestead.
7. Ryan Blaney (LW-10)- What a crazy weekend for the No. 21. Everything had to fall into place the right way for them to advance, and it did.
8. Jimmie Johnson (LW-9)- Here we are again, JJ just lurking in the back... Can he do it again?
9. Kyle Larson (LW-2)- I'm at a loss for words. We knew something like this could happen, but we never thought it would. The odds, especially in this day in age where engine failures are few and far between, had to have been so small.
10. Matt Kenseth (LW-6)- A wreck ended Kenseth's playoffs, but he left a lot on the table in 2017 that put him in this spot. He fought hard to hang on this long. So, here's to hoping he can find a decent ride in 2018.
11. Kasey Kahne (LW-NR)- Under the radar, Kahne has been running well in his last rides in the No. 5. 9th, 8th, and 15th round out this round.
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-NR)- Junior has three seventh place finishes in his last four and somehow it feels overlooked. I am not sure how that happens with Junior, especially in his final season, but it kind of has.

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 31: Talladega

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Alabama 500

By Richard Tix

2017 NASCAR Week 31 Power Rankings after Talladega

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 31 (Week 30)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- Everyone gets a pass at Talladega, including the best team in 2017. Truex might just go into Kansas and grab another win on the year.
2. Kyle Larson (LW-2)- After such a cluster, Larson can take a safe 13th place finish onto Kansas and the next round. 
3. Chase Elliott (LW-3)- Chase made his move late and Suarez was late to fill the hole. I get it, it was aggressive, but who wouldn't be? Suarez shouldn't have been clear to come down so I don't blame it on the No. 24.
4. Brad Keselowski (LW-9)- How BK made it through a few of those wreck and to the end unscathed is beyond me. He now has five career wins at Talladega and is locked into the round of eight.
5. Denny Hamlin (LW-5)- Hamlin was one of about three cars to not be involved in an incident heading into the last restart, amazing. This round he has finishes of 6th and 4th and should move on.
6. Matt Kenseth (LW-6)- 9th, 3rd, 11th, 11th, and 14th are Kenseth's playoff finishes. Yet, he finds himself at the moment on the outside looking in because of his regular season and lack of playoff points (3 playoff points. 10th in points).
7. Kevin Harvick (LW-10)- It's weird, Harvick is fourth in points but doesn't feel safe for the next round yet. He actually has a 22 point lead on 9th so he should be ok, but anything can happen.
8. Kyle Busch (LW-4)- What a round difference makes. Kyle can't catch a break right now, but luckily we're heading to Kansas and he has been very good here lately (five straight top 5's including a win).
9. Jimmie Johnson (LW-8)- JJ is currently sitting 8th, and would be moving onto the next round, however he will need a strong run at Kansas to make sure he advances.
10. Ryan Blaney (LW-11)- Blaney is actually in a transfer spot by 9 points over Kyle Busch and two points over Jimmie. Luckily the No. 21 has shown speed at 1.5's, unlucky he is up against Kyle Busch and JJ and only two of them get a spot in the next round.
11. Jamie McMurray (LW-7)- Did I jinx JMac? He was out before most of the craziness started after wrecking. This comes just a week after having back to back nice finishes. 
12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (LW-12)- I'm not sure Ricky will be able to get it done at Kansas to move on, but it was a nice run to get here.

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 30: Charlotte

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Bank of America 500

By Richard Tix

2017 NASCAR Week 30 Power Rankings after Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 30 (Week 29)

1. Martin Treux Jr (LW-2)- Just when you put Kyle ahead of him, Truex shows back up and locks himself in to the next round (as if he needed to). He came alive late on Sunday for this win and is easily the one to beat in 2017.
2. Kyle Larson (LW-3)- Larson was the victim of Kurt Busch getting loose on a late restart, but he stayed out and his left rear didn't go down (he had damage from the 41). It could have been a better day, but it could have ended much worse too.
3. Chase Elliott (LW-8)- One day he will win and not finish second. It. Will. Happen. It was cool to see the crowd get up when he charged to the lead.
4. Kyle Busch (LW-1)- What a day. Kyle went thru it all on Sunday. He hit the wall multiple times and ended the day laying next to his car. Thankfully he is fine and he will try and battle back at Dega.
5. Denny Hamlin (LW-6)- Hamlin took the pole and then followed up with a nice run. He has a twelve point cushion on the cut line.
6. Matt Kenseth (LW-5)- Kenseth rounds out the Toyota stable. After an 11th place finish he is a point out of 8th place.
7. Jamie McMurray (LW-9)- That was a great run by JMac and it leads into Talladega where we have seen him compete. A clean round at Dega could mean advancing to the round of eight.
8. Jimmie Johnson (LW-7)- Nice run by JJ at CMS. The top ten Sunday makes in three in four playoff races.
9. Brad Keselowski (LW-4)- What a mediocre day for BK. Every time I looked he was sitting in 13-15th with most of the playoff field in front of him.
10. Kevin Harvick (LW-10)- Harvick shed his two poor finishes in a row to a nice bounce back on Sunday. He could be higher, but those finishes linger into this round a bit (for me). 
11. Ryan Blaney (LW-11)- Blaney actually had a really strong day, fighting thru a bad car to finishing 8th, but he will need more of that to advance.
12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (LW-12)- One race into the second round and Ricky is in a ten point hole to eighth place already.

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 29: Dover

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Apache Warrior 400

By Richard Tix

NASCAR leaves Dover as four drivers drop out of the 2017 Playoffs. We say goodbye to Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, Austin Dillon, and Ryan Newman (not really, they will still be around...). However, Behind the Wall is also dropping back down to it's usual 12 drivers in the power rankings and for the next three races the 12 drivers will only consist of the playoff drivers. It won't be until the next round where the last four spots are up for grabs to anyone (top eight will still be playoff drivers). So, "Happy Trails to You" for now... Let's get one with it below!

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 29 (Week 28)

1. Kyle Busch (LW-2)- Even though Truex will have a 19 point cushion on Kyle, Rowdy gets the nudge here for winning back to back races while also collecting two poles this first round. These two are the head of the class right now.
2. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- 1st, 5th, and 4th, not bad considering during that 5th place finish he was involved in a wreck. Barring a meltdown, or terrible luck, the No. 78 should be locked into Homestead.
3. Kyle Larson (LW-3)- Larson led 137 laps (one less than Chase Elliott) on Sunday.Larson hands down has been the biggest threat to the Toyota duo above all season.
4. Brad Keselowski (LW-5)- Overlooked? Probably. Still starting 39 points behind Truex in the first round? Yup. It truly is a fight to just get to the last race where it's 1 v 1 v 1 v 1 straight up.
5. Matt Kenseth (LW-6)- Kenseth may reset 11th after the first round, but he had a nice first round to get him here (9th, 3rd, and 11th). 
6. Denny Hamlin (LW-4)- Sunday was bad luck, but Hamlin has seemed to have been fading a bit while Busch and Truex are surging. Luckily, all it takes is one race if you can get to Homestead.
7. Jimmie Johnson (LW-7)- JJ is just laying in the weeds once again. Since Richmond he has finishes of 8th, 8th, 14th, and 3rd. He isn't setting the world on fire, but he has done what it takes to move on.
8. Chase Elliott (LW-10)- What a run Sunday by Chase. It was another strong run that came up short of a win, but it was still good to see a finish like that from the No. 24.
9. Jamie McMurray (LW-11)- McMurray did what he had to in round one, finishing 10th, 16th, and then 9th at Dover while on the cut line. This round does have Talladega, so could JMac surprise?
10. Kevin Harvick (LW-8)- A forgettable round other than race one for Harvick. He can bounce back and resets 6th in the standings 12 points above 12th (McMurray).
11. Ryan Blaney (LW-9)- Consistency has evaded Blaney and the No. 21 all year and it might be what does them in during the playoffs. For now, they made it to the second round. It's always nice to see a team like the Wood Brothers still fighting.
12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (LW-12)- That was not a good round (25th, 15th, and 19th) for Ricky, but he squeaked by and gets a fresh start. Thanks to his playoff points he is eight in the standings, but its only a ten point lead on 12th at the moment.

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 28: NHMS

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

ISM Connect 300

By Richard Tix

Guess who is back? Yeah, I know I have been slacking lately on NBTW, but this week we're back on track. My busy Fall is winding down so the content hopefully will get up and running again. In the NASCAR world, this weekend marked the second race of the first round. This is the final Power Rankings that will have 16 drivers. After NASCAR cuts to 12 drivers, so will Behind the Wall so don't get to comfortable with the bubble drivers here, they could be gone next weekend!

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 28 (Week 26)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- Even after some bad luck, this team fought back and finished 5th just one week after winning. Book him to Homestead now.
2. Kyle Busch (LW-2)- The win at NHMS locks him into round two, not that he needed it.
3. Kyle Larson (LW-3)- Larson was the only one who had something for the Toyotas at NHMS, that something was worth one whole led lap..
4. Denny Hamlin (LW-4)- DH was a bit off at NHMS this weekend, but he has been rolling as of late so its safe to assume he keeps it going.
5. Brad Keselowski (LW-7)- BK is locked into next round with a solid regular season of bonus points and a 6th and 4th place finish in the playoffs.
6. Matt Kenseth (LW-6)- Finishing the year strong looks to be helping Kenseth on his start this year.
7. Jimmie Johnson (LW-8)- JJ has at least looked better so far in the playoffs, other drivers you're on notice.
8. Kevin Harvick (LW-5)- This is a rough fall after a nice start to the playoffs last week. "Thanks Austin!"
9. Ryan Blaney (LW-12)- So far Blaney has shaken his inconsistency of the regular season, can it last another race? Another round?
10. Chase Elliott (LW-9)- Chase overcame his practice crash and put up what was almost a top ten on Sunday. 
11. Jamie McMurray (LW-13)- JMac has a finish of 10th and 16th so far. Another top 15 and he should advance.
12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (LW-15)- Stenhouse and Dillion hold the 12th spot as of right now, but the cut line will get heated this weekend at Dover.
13. Ryan Newman (LW-11)- Newman fought back from a bad day on one of his better tracks for a quality finish, which leaves him with a chance to advance.
14. Austin Dillon (LW-16)- AD pretty much booted Harvick on Sunday, so its easy to say he isn't making friends right now.
15. Kurt Busch (LW-10)- Kurt can't find any luck. I mean, he had a small shot at the championship anyways, but bowing out this early is rough.
16. Kasey Kahne (LW-14)- It's not looking good for KK. Kasey is behind 21 points from the cut line (12th) and has two poor races in two playoff weeks.

2017 Darlington Paint Scheme Power Rankings

By Richard Tix

It's Darlington week during Labor Day weekend again. Two years ago NASCAR brought Darlington back to it's traditional Labor Day weekend and the teams brought back the retro feel by feeding us ton's of throwback paint scheme's.

Behind the Wall followed suit and gave readers a Throwback Paint Scheme Power Rankings. So, for the third straight year lets break down the Darlington Throwback schemes. Disclaimer, this is all based on opinion (like many lists are). This year we will do a top 16. One: because so many great schemes came out (because II did 16 last year) and Two: because the Chase Playoffs consists of 16 drivers.


1) Ryan Blaney - Motorcraft



Wood Brothers Racing have been doing throwback perfect all year long. If you don't believe me, just go check out their online merchandise, it's spot on. For Darlington this year they're throwing back to Kyle Petty's 1987 No. 21. It's a classic look with classic colors and lines, the only thing missing is Citgo as the sponsor, however throwing Motorcraft in it's place still does this trick on this scheme.


2) Danica Patrick - Ford Credit



RFR is throwing it back to 1999 and Dale Jarrett's No. 88 Ford Credit scheme. Sure, the number is different, but props to matching up the actual sponsor (and the 10 still works on this car). Part of this ranking is because that Jarrett 88 car is engraved as a classic look when I really was becoming a young fan, but either way you look at it this is a classic NASCAR look.


3) Matt DiBenedetto - Keen Parts



What is more NASCAR throwback classic than gold, white, red, and silver rims? Sure, it would have been great to have Miller High Life on this car, but Keen Parts has been a great partner/sponsor in NASCAR and has helped hit this throwback on the head. Honoring Bobby Allison's 1988 Daytona 500 win isn't a bad way to get into the top 3.


4) Aric Almirola - STP



RPM is going back to the tried and true of throwback with another STP scheme. This one is a tribute to Richard Petty's 200th win. The colors will always remain classic in NASCAR as will STP's sponsorship.


5) Brad Keselowski - Miller Genuine Draft



"Midnight" is back again. If it wasn't for the No. 2 running this scheme a few years ago already for a one off race at MIS it may have been higher (maybe even number one). However, this scheme is still a fan favorite that honors Rusty Wallace.


6) Chris Buescher - Cheerios



I actually think this scheme is underrated and was pulled off very well. It is a tribute to Patty Moise Xfinity scheme. What I really like about it is it was run as the No. 37 and she ran it at Darlington, oh, and THOSE NUMBERS! Man, those gold numbers pop on this scheme with clean lines and great colors. Cheerios was not the original sponsor, but it works well on this car and this should honestly be a season long livery for them when they sponsor.


7) Kasey Kahne - Great Clips



The colors, the old school lines over the hood to give the front and back different primary colors, and the number all scream throwback. This is a match to Geoff Bodine's No. 5 he drove back in the mid to late 80's ('84-'89) with only the sponsor being different.


8) AJ Allmendinger - Kroger



Want to do Darlington right? Have your throwback honor a two time winner at the track (Terry Labonte) and make it a good one at that. The classic colors (light blue, white, and red piping) bring this clean look together. Having a 4o number (47) really helps this scheme bring it back to its roots (44). The only thing dragging it down is sponsor obligations cluttering the rear of the car, but in 2017 we have to expect that.


9) Landon Cassill - Love's



Cracking the top ten is the No. 34 of Landon Cassill. This one is more of an original feel to the throwback than an actual replica of an old scheme. Love's brought back its old school colors of the 80's which really make this scheme work along with some classic script numbers. These colors scream the 1980's, so well done.


10) Dale Earnhardt Jr - Nationwide



I'll be honest, this would have worked better as a season long Nationwide scheme than a throwback. The AC Delco livery is one of NASCAR history, but this doesn't do it justice. However, it still has classic simple lines, great colors, and a history with Junior so it is still alright in my books.


11) Ricky Stenhouse Jr



This one, personally, could have been so much higher. However, I just can not take the complete color change from Darrell Waltrips 1997 scheme. I get why (to match sponsor colors), but that is my main reason for sliding it down so far. The numbers are and always will be awesome and are what have made this scheme stick out over the years.


12) Michael McDowell - WRL



The No. 95 team is honoring Alan Kulwicki by way of his rookie paint scheme (No. 35). It's as simple as it gets, but simple, especially with throwbacks, typically works.


13) Kevin Harvick - Busch



Like most No. 4 "throwbacks" lately, this one isn't a true throwback duplicate, but rather one inspired by old Busch Beer. I don't love it, but the simple lines on the side body and the colors, specifically the gold with blue, really help this one get an older feel to it.


14) Corey LaJoie - Dr. Pepper



This one probably deserves to be higher with so many uninspiring tries this year, but for some reason it fell flat to me. Maybe it's that I really wish it was Miller High Life (I know, I gave it a pass on the No. 32), or maybe it's that it was Davey Allisons Xfinity car? The biggest downfall of this look was they didn't include the gold rims....


15) Austin Dillon - E15



Part of this low ranking is that it's been done before, but most of this ranking is that it's being done twice by RCR in the same year (also on the No. 31). Heck, RCR as a whole dropped the ball this year as the No. 27 seems to have a normal scheme for Darlington. Past all the above, a Dale Earnhardt throwback is always a good thing and the colors will look great on track at Darlington.


16) Ty Dillon - Geico



It's been done before. It was done last year. It's the exact scheme as last years throwback weekend. Sigh. Well, saving this is how awesome it is, but all of those other things drag on me too much to list this back to back scheme higher.

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 24: Bristol

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Bass Pro Shops/NRA Night Race

By Richard Tix

The Week 24 NASCAR Power Rankings after Kyle Busch's win at Bristol.

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 24 (Week 23)

1. Kyle Busch (LW-2)- A weekend sweep, 53 total points on Saturday, and another 6 playoff points sure are going to help come playoff time. He's getting hot at the right time.
2. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- Truex gets a pass, heck he's run so well he can take a pass in each round of the playoffs until Homestead.
3. Denny Hamlin (LW-5)- Michigan and IMS, two larger tracks where HP and clean air are king... Those are the only two races in the last seven that Hamlin hasn't finished 4th or better.
4. Kyle Larson (LW-6)- Larson breaks up the Toyota theme at the top here, but not for long. A 9th place finish after a win at MIS wasn't what he wanted, but it wasn't terrible either.
5. Matt Kenseth (LW-8)- The top four finishers on Saturday were all Toyota, Kenseth was one of those four (4th).
6. Erik Jones (LW-9)- What a strong run. For most of the race everyone was thinking, "what if Erik wins this thing?" He's been trending up, but he will need a win to get into the playoffs and it might just happen.
7. Kevin Harvick (LW-7)- After only a top 15 and top 20 finish the two previous weeks, Harvick got back on track with an 8th place finish on Saturday.
8. Chase Elliott (LW-4)- The finish was a let down, but the 24 has been the fastest HMS car all year (week to week).
9. Ryan Newman (LW-NR)- Quietly that's back to back top ten finishes for Newman. They just need to find the consistency they had back in 2014.
10. Brad Keselowski (LW-3)- Poor qualifying effort and a poor night overall, Bristol will be forgettable.
11. Trevor Bayne (LW-NR)- Back to back top tens are a good way to forget about all the poor finished of late.
12. Kurt Busch (LW-NR)- Kurt now hoas two top tens in his last three races and three straight of 11th or better.

Dropped Out: Daniel Suarez (LW-10), Jamie McMurray (LW-11) and Chris Buescher (LW-12)

Just Missed: Ryan Blaney and Jimmie Johnson

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 23: Michigan

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Pure Michigan 400

By Richard Tix

The Week 23 NASCAR Power Rankings after Kyle Larson's win at MIS.

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 23 (Week 22)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- Great car, great run, and he added to his playoff points with a stage win. They only thing that got away was the win.
2. Kyle Busch (LW-2)- Boy, pitting while pit lane was closed was huge, but he and the 18 team bounced back.
3. Brad Keselowski (LW-4)- BK had a great car early, then got stuck in traffic and wasn't the same. A poor late restart cost him a quality finish.
4. Chase Elliott (LW-8)- Another strong day by Elliott, but still no win. He really needs to be in better position late in the race.
5. Denny Hamlin (LW-3)- A forgetful day, moving onto Bristol.
6. Kyle Larson (LW-11)- What. A. Move. 
7. Kevin Harvick (LW-7)- 14th and now 13th at MIS this year, luckily we don't go back a third time.
8. Matt Kenseth (LW-5)- A strong run all day long was ruined late in the race when MK had a tire go down and he limped it to the finish.
9. Erik Jones (LW-10)- Man was Erik fast on Sunday or what? If we raced MIS one more time this year he could contend for a win here.
10. Daniel Suarez (LW-6)- Suarez wrecked with Kahne, but not long before that was battling BK for the lead, great showing despite the wreck.
11. Jamie McMurray (LW-NR)- The 9th place finish hopefully gets him back on track.
12. Chris Buescher (LW-NR)- I think Chris might be getting overlooked here. He has two top tens in his last four and three finishes of 11th or better in that same time. He now has a career high three top tens in a season, and we still have races to go.

Dropped Out: Clint Bowyer (LW-9) and Jimmie Johnson (LW-12)

Just Missed: Trevor Bayne

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 22: Watkins Glen

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

I Love New York 355 at the Glen

By Richard Tix

The Week 22 NASCAR Power Rankings after Martin Truex Jr's win at WGI.

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 22 (Week 21)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- Truex must have heard Rowdy coming for the top spot because he put in another strong performance on Sunday at WGI. 34 playoff points before the 15 he will get for being regular season champion.
2. Kyle Busch (LW-2)- I missed the scuffle with BK (step away for ten min and miss a huge chunk of the storyline...), but from what I heard it seemed more like a racing deal. Either way, Rowdy had a winning car and let the emotion over take him (took it out on BK and his CC later for not having a plan). This is still a Championship caliber driver who could get hot going into the Playoffs.
3. Denny Hamlin (LW-6)- Past the 78 and the 18, it's a mixed bag of drivers headlined mostly by Toyota's. Hamlin has a fourth or better finish (including a win) in four of his last five races and six of his last eight.
4. Brad Keselowski (LW-4)- BK screwed himself on a late pit by (barely) going thru too many boxes, but if not for that he was setting up for a top five after leading a bunch of laps.
5. Matt Kenseth (LW-7)- Another Toyota getting it going at the right time. Kenseth has four straight top tens (three top fives) and escaped WGI without a new winner. 
6. Daniel Suarez (LW-10)- ANOTHER Toyota driver turning it on, Suarez is starting to get the hang of things as of late. He has four straight top tens and notched his first top five of his career on Sunday.
7. Kevin Harvick (LW-3)- Rough day for the No. 4 team. Not a bad car, but some poor luck.
8. Chase Elliott (LW-9)- Fast car all day, but again faded. Almost every time it has been on a mid to late race strategy call (or sometimes lack of call). They have to realize soon that Stages aren't going anywhere for awhile and they need to adjust.
9. Clint Bowyer (LW-11)- Another quality run, but this team has to find winning speed or a winning call and the way Toyota's are running it needs to be a winning call.
10. Erik Jones (LW-NR)- Throw out to wreck at Loudon and IMS and Jones has Four straight top tens... Yup, another Toyota.
11. Kyle Larson (LW-5)- It's been one heck of a slide for Larson. He was so close to first just weeks ago and now Kyle Busch has passed him in the battle to catch Truex.
12. Jimmie Johnson (LW-8)- JJ is getting one more pass because I still can't count him out of any season, but holy crap has he been struggling to find good finishes.

Dropped Out: Kasey Kahne (LW-12)

Just Missed: Ryan Blaney and Michael McDowell

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 21: Pocono

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Overton's 400

By Richard Tix

The Week 21 NASCAR Power Rankings after Kyle Busch's win at Pocono.

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 21 (Week 20)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- Rowdy in inching closer, but the number one spot is still Truex's to lose. He was strong again at Pocono after finishing third and leading 31 laps.
2. Kyle Busch (LW-3)- With the win-less monkey is finally off his back, will Rowdy start to really roll?
3. Kevin Harvick (LW-4)- It might be overlooked but Harvick is putting up some consistent runs right now and could get hot at the right time.
4. Brad Keselowski (LW-7)- For all the struggles he has gone thru, BK still is tied for the most top tens (14) and has the most top fives (11) all season (plus two wins).
5. Kyle Larson (LW-2)- I think the regular season points Championship is now gone (-85 behind Truex). The battle was fun while it lasted, now eyes on the bigger prize.
6. Denny Hamlin (LW-9)- Hamlin just keeps sticking around. Another fourth place finish at Pocono gives him a win and three top fives in his last four.
7. Matt Kenseth (LW-8)- Three straight top tens are nice, but Kenseth needs a win to get off the bubble hot seat.
8. Jimmie Johnson (LW-5)- Seeing this many poor finishes and crashes next to JJ's name is weird. Bad luck has a bunch to do with it, but will it turn around?
9. Chase Elliott (LW-6)- These guys can be fast at any given moment, well, except when that moment is closing a race during the third stage.
10. Daniel Suarez (LW-NR)-Speaking of closing, Suarez typically finds himself mid-pack until he learns a few things and eventually gets to the top ten. He now has three straight 7th or better finishes.
11. Clint Bowyer (LW-12)- Bowyer is in a win or go home situation unless Kenseth starts putting up 30+ finishes every week. Even then, nothing is guaranteed without a trip back to VL.
12. Kasey Kahne (LW-NR)- It was great to see Kahne win two weeks ago and it was just as nice to see him follow it up with a decent run at Pocono on Sunday. 

Dropped Out: Jamie McMurray (LW-10) and Joey Logano (LW-11)

Just Missed: Ryan Newman

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

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 19: NHMS

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Overton's 301

By Richard Tix

Loudon Thoughts

Late Start Times

• Is this really the issue fans want to fight? I guess this is the loud topic of the week this time... Unfortunately NASCAR hears the loud ones which means people focus on the real battle (exciting racing on the track) get overlooked all too often. I get it, the last start times are rough for many, but when you know the schedule you can at least try and plan around it. I would rather plan around a late time then always have a crappy car/race product on the track, so let's speak up for the important things and worry less about what time the race starts when it's a fight between three whole hours (noon or 3 for me in CT). Pick your battles and the one I want to win isn't the small battle..

Truex Playoff Points

• They just keep going up. Martin now has 29 playoff points and if the playoffs started today he would have 44 (meaning a race worth of points for every three race round). Meanwhile the next closest at the moment is Jimmie Johnson and his 16, and if the playoffs started today Larson and his 23 would be the closest (remember playoff points are awarded to the top 10 after the regular season). The fight for first was a lot more fun before the No. 42 got hit with a penalty, but it is still an important one to watch because Larson really could use the extra playoff points for being a regular season champion (15 points).

Fans in the Stands

• I am not one to harp on attendance on TV while sitting at home not at the track. I've long been behind the fact that the sport is in transition and right sizing from the over-sizing in the 90's at a time when HD TV and "attention spans" have taken over the sports world. However, this time some folks need to be called out.. That's right, everyone who was in such an uproar that NHMS was losing a date to Vegas, but didn't actually show up to show why NASCAR was wrong is on blast. You can not be the loud voice against something and then not actually support it to prove a point. What I saw in the stands was what NASCAR was acting on (plus the fact that they were getting money by moving to LVMS for a second date). The racing has been lagging some at NHMS for a bit now, but if you want to stand up and be that loud opinion guy on social media, then show up at the track... Shame on you.

Pit Road Power Rankings: Week 19 (Week 18)

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- Just another week for Martin win a dominate type of race that included a playoff point. This time he came up short of the win, though.
2. Kyle Larson (LW-2)- Truex is for sure 1A right now, but Kyle is a close 1B and doesn't seem to be fading (other than penalties).
3. Kyle Busch (LW-3)- 95 laps led, 41 total points, and a playoff point. Even with a rough 12th place finish the day actually went pretty well for Rowdy.
4. Kevin Harvick (LW-5)- Harvicks top fives and top tens are on par with Truex and Larson, but he is missing all of those wins (one total). If they find winning speed come playoff time the four team could upset the No. 42 and No. 78.
5. Denny Hamlin (LW-6)- After three top fours in four races, Hamlin finally broke out, held of Larson, and got win No. 1 of 2017.
6. Chase Elliott (LW-4)- The end of the race finishing position still seems to be an enigma for this No. 24 team.. They can win, but when will they finally put a whole race together?
7. Jimmie Johnson (LW-11)- JJ got back into the top ten column on Sunday with a 10th, but it still is weird to not see him contending as often (just three top fives thus far). When is the last time he only had three after 19 races?
8. Jamie McMurray (LW-7)- Sunday was a step back, but he has taken so many steps forward this year that he is still safe on points at the moment.
9. Clint Bowyer (LW-12)- In his last four he has an average finish of 6th. SHR as a whole seems to be on a bit of an uptick right now.
10. Ryan Blaney (LW-9)- The No. 21 team can be fast, but can they find consistent finishes?
11. Brad Keselowski (LW-NR)- BK is still eight in points after a horrible stretch that ended in crash after crash (all but one that wasn't his fault). His nine top fives and 12 top tens still show how good he can be when they're on the track (oh, and two wins).
12. Matt Kenseth (LW-NR)- Boy did Kenseth need that fourth place finish on Sunday. Between his great run and Joey Logano's poor run, Kenseth put some ground between them in the standings.

Dropped Out: Joey Logano (LW-8) and Erik Jones (LW-10)

Just Missed: Kurt Busch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

2017 NASCAR Pit Road Week 18: Kentucky

Weekly Review and Power Rankings

Quaker State 400

By Richard Tix

Another short and busy week on NBTW. With that in mind the intro this week will be short and sweet while I focus on the rankings below and this weekends race preview. The dog days of summer have been beating on the site, but I do appreciate everyone who still comes back to check it out when i DON'T miss a week like I did last week.

Thing's are heating up on the track just like the weather. A battle remains for the points standings and as each race goes by the number 16 spot gets tougher to achieve. If you're a driver without a win any win by another driver below you in the standings would cause a huge blow to your playoff chances so every race matters.

1. Martin Truex Jr (LW-1)- Hard to argue Truex at No. 1. He just notched his third win of 2017 and now has 28 playoff points which is getting close to a whole race worth of bonus points which will carry with him every round.
2. Kyle Larson (LW-4)- All that said above, Larson is still the regular season points leader (which comes with bonus points at the end of the regular season). However, his lead has been trimmed to one heading into this weekend.
3. Kyle Busch (LW-2)- Since Talladega Rowdy has started to turn the corner (seven top tens in nine races). He is still looking for win No. 1 in 2017, though.
4. Chase Elliott (LW-5)- He is heating up again... If we take out Daytona, Chase has five top tens and three top 5's in his last five. The No. 24 team just needs to seal the deal late in a race.
5. Kevin Harvick (LW-3)- Throwing out Daytona, Harvick ran really strong on Saturday at Kentucky (average running position of 4th). This team could be ready for s late Summer heat up.
6. Denny Hamlin (LW-8)- Hamlin is still win-less in 2017, but he (and JGR teammate Ky. Busch) seem to be getting things going as of late. In the last four races Hamlin has three 4th place finishes.
7. Jamie McMurray (LW-6)- JMac continues to show tons of consistency every week. This past weekend at Kentucky he put up 41 total points, which was the fifth most even though he finished seventh.
8. Joey Logano (LW-NR)- As it stands right now JoLo's encumbered win has him out of the playoffs. However, the No. 22 team has been putting together more solid runs week to week so things might be getting better sooner rather than later.
9. Ryan Blaney (LW-10)- They're fast most weeks, but need to find some consistency late in the race to seal the deal.
10. Erik Jones (LW-NR)- Truex maybe stealing all the spotlight, but Erik is starting to come on strong as well and shouldn't be overlooked. He has back to back top tens, which is actually the first time he has done that all year, and was close to his second top five this year (6th).
11. Jimmie Johnson (LW-7)- Six top tens in 18 races is a weird stat for JJ. No need to panic (3 wins), but he could use some more time up front.
12. Clint Bowyer (LW-NR)- Bowyers last three finishes of 2nd, 2nd, and 13th make up one of his better stretches so far of 2017. He is still teetering on the playoff bubble so a win would come in handy.

Dropped Out: Brad Keselowski (LW-9), Kurt Busch (LW-11), and Dale Earnhardt Jr (LW-12)

Just Missed: Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Darrell Wallace Jr