Denny Hamlin has three “podium” finishes in his final three begins.
OK, so none of them really had an actual podium for a top-three end. That solely occurred at Mexico Metropolis, the place Hamlin didn’t race within the days following the delivery of his son.
However with a third-place end, a win and a second in his previous three begins, that’s adequate to launch him on the high of this listing.
Here is how the newest rankings shake out as Cup Sequence drivers enter a three-week stretch of some wild-card-type tracks, with the primary being Atlanta race this weekend — a high-banked 1.54-mile oval that now races like drafting tracks Daytona and Talladega.
Dropped out: 9. Ross Chastain (Final Week: 9).
On the verge: Alex Bowman, Chastain, Ty Gibbs, Joey Logano, John Hunter Nemechek, Tyler Reddick.
Preece completed eighth at Pocono for his fourth top-10 end within the final six races. The RFK Racing driver continues to search out his solution to race among the many leaders.
A brake rotor failure ruined Wallace’s day Sunday at Pocono, and a starter subject stymied him in qualifying. However the 23XI driver had pace, as proven within the earlier three races, the place he had a mean end of seven.3.
Briscoe’s huge victory at Pocono vaulted him into the playoffs and up a pair spots in these rankings. As a Joe Gibbs Racing driver, he ought to count on extra wins and extra weeks in these rankings.
Buescher positioned fourth at Pocono for his third consecutive top-10 end. The RFK Racing driver had the pace as he certified on the entrance row.
A strong fifth-place end for Elliott was his fifth top-five end this 12 months. The Hendrick driver is aware of operating within the high 5 usually sufficient will result in him competing for a win comparatively quickly.
Bell completed second per week earlier at Mexico Metropolis however by no means appeared to have the pace at Pocono. He certified ninth and completed seventeenth, having been concerned in a wreck within the second stage.
Blaney rebounded from qualifying twentieth to ending third at Pocono. That’s a very good day for the Penske driver, making essentially the most out of what might have been a nasty day.
Byron might need had the quickest automobile at Pocono on Saturday till he wrecked it throughout qualifying. He went for the stage factors (he nonetheless has a 54-point lead on Kyle Larson so far as the battle for the regular-season title) after which bought mired in site visitors, dropping spots to keep away from a wreck and completed twenty seventh.
Larson completed a good seventh after beginning twenty fourth at Pocono. The Hendrick driver has seven high 10s in his final 9 begins.
Hamlin takes the highest spot with three superior finishes (third, first, second) in his final three begins. The JGR driver sits third within the standings regardless of having missed a race.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports activities. He has spent many years masking motorsports, together with over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Information, NASCAR Scene journal and The (Daytona Seashore) Information-Journal. Observe him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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