Shane Van Gisbergen has impressively secured victories in four straight road course races, making him a clear leader in road course performance rankings. Despite this, when considering overall past races and variety, Ryan Branny—who recently won at Watkins Glen and finished sixth—retains the top spot in the power rankings.
As the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Richmond, here are the updated power rankings:
– Dropped out: Alex Bowman (previously 10th)
– Staying steady: Bowman, Chris Buscher, Austin Cindric, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, Shane Van Gisbergen
10. Brad Keselowski (previously 9th) had a tough race at Watkins Glen but remains in the rankings thanks to seven top-10 finishes in his last 12 races.
9. Ryan Preece (previously 7th) finished 13th at Watkins Glen and maintains solid form with seven top-10 finishes in his recent 13 races.
8. Chase Elliott (previously 6th) posted finishes of 6th, 13th, 14th, and 26th at Watkins Glen; his performance at Richmond will be critical to his championship hopes.
7. Christopher Bell enters the list after finishing second at Watkins Glen, marking his third top-10 in five races and signaling a resurgence for Joe Gibbs Racing.
6. Bubba Wallace (previously 8th) secured eighth place at Watkins Glen, continuing his streak of four consecutive top-10 finishes for 23XI Racing.
5. Kyle Larson (previously 3rd) struggled with brake issues and finished 39th, although he has had some strong races amidst three finishes outside the top 28 in his last five.
4. Denny Hamlin (previously 2nd) ended 25th at Watkins Glen after a clash with Kyle Busch but has shown consistent top finishes, including two wins and multiple podiums recently.
3. Chase Briscoe (previously 5th) placed fifth at Watkins Glen, his fourth top-five finish in five races, with other results including three second-place finishes.
2. William Byron (previously 4th) came fourth at Watkins Glen and holds a comfortable lead in the regular-season title battle, edging out teammate Chase Elliott by 42 points.
1. Ryan Branny (previously 1st) dominated qualifying and led for 35 laps at Watkins Glen, finishing sixth and securing his fourth consecutive top-10 (all top-8) finishes.
Bob Pockras, a seasoned motorsports journalist covering NASCAR and INDYCAR for Fox Sports, reports these rankings.
Fan Take: This power ranking reveals exciting shifts and emerging contenders in the NASCAR Cup Series as the season progresses. Shane Van Gisbergen’s dominance on road courses coupled with Ryan Branny’s consistent performance sets the stage for thrilling competition ahead, keeping fans eagerly anticipating the battles on the track.
