Power Rankings: Indianapolis

Power

Rankings

Indianapolis:

Power Rankings returns this week, but under odd circumstances. Normally, because of an off weekend such as this coming weekend, I would wait to do Power Rankings until the Wednesday before the race, but alas, the fish are calling my name. I will be up in Canada beginning this Saturday, so just as last week, there will be a week long hiatus until I return. But that is neither here nor there at this moment in time, so after a two week absence let's see who makes the top-10 cut this week!

New This Week: Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon

Dropped Out: Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr.

Close, But No Cigar: Ryan Newman

1. Matt Kenseth (+1 from last week)

It appears as if the fact that he's leaving Roush at the end of the year hasn't deterred him, he continues to run as consistent as ever. He dominated Daytona and honestly should've beat Stewart in that race. He's never won at Indianapolis, but yeah, you guessed it, he's consistent there with five top-5 finishes. 

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (+1)

After a short dip in his consistent form this season, Earnhardt regained it with a strong run at New Hampshire, which is not one of his better tracks. He'll need to have a performance like that again at Indy, because Junior has only amassed two top-10's in eleven Indy races.

3. Jimmie Johnson (-2)

Bad luck two weeks in a row takes Johnson off of the top spot. A crash at Daytona and being caught a lap down during pit stops at New Hampshire won't slow Johnson down at Indy though, where he has three wins, including three of the last six.

4. Greg Biffle (+1)

If it weren't for a last lap crash at Daytona, Biffle would surely have netted a top-5 as the only car that was stronger all night was Kenseth. Still, Biffle bounced back for a top-10 at New Hampshire. Don't sleep on the Biff at Indy, he's quietly good there with five top-10's.

5. Clint Bowyer (-1)

Bowyer couldn't capitalize on his Sonoma win after he crashed at Daytona. He did bounce back with a 3rd at New Hampshire, but he was far from dominate. Bowyer has never shown much at Indy, so I don't have much to tell you.

6. Tony Stewart (No Change)

Yeah, he won at Daytona, but restrictor plate wins don't mean so much anymore, so I won't move him up, especially after mediocre runs at Kentucky and New Hampshire. He's always a threat to win at Indy, his home track. He already has a pair of wins there.

7. Brad Keselowski (+3)

The dude is on a tear. Kentucky: Win, Daytona: 8th, New Hampshire: 5th. He's solidified himself as a Chase participant barring a monumental collapse. Bad Brad doesn't have much to show at Indy, however, only racing there twice.

8. Denny Hamlin (No Change)

Wrecked at Daytona and shot himself in the foot at New Hampshire with the pit miscommunication. Still, he finished 2nd at New Hampshire despite having clearly the best car. Indy is an unknown for Hamlin as well, he just hasn't shown much in six career races there.

9. Kasey Kahne (+2)

Kahne, like Keselowski, has also been on a small tear. If he had maybe three more laps at Kentucky, he would've beat Keselowski as he was just flying. He was top-5 on the last lap at Daytona before being wrecked, and capped of the three race stint with his first New Hampshire win. I'm feeling a strong run coming at Indy too, he's not bad there.

10. Jeff Gordon (+1)

Gordon finally is starting to build momentum to try and vault into the Chase. He finished 5th at Kentucky, 12th at Daytona (which was good considering he was in three wrecks that race), and 6th at New Hampshire. The consistency is finally there, and the race at Indy is where Gordon could finally get that break through 2012 win, avenging his 2nd place finish there last season.