Power Rankings: Kansas

Power

Rankings

Kansas:

The now all too common fuel milage scenario played itself out again this year, happening at the Charlotte Motor Speedway this time. Clint Bowyer scored the win in a somewhat disinteresting race. But there should be a little bit of a breath of fresh air at Kansas this weekend where a new, ridiculously fast track surface has been laid down.

1. Brad Keselowski (No Change, from last week)

Keselowski holds on to his points lead and the top spot in the power rankings this week, but by the slimmest of margins. Keselowski and his crew chief, Paul Wolfe, tried their fuel strategy specialty once again, but messed up a bit this time when Keselowski ran out of fuel coming to the last pit stop. He still managed an 11th place finish, but Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin, the two drivers with a shot to beat him, finished in the top-5 and picked up some ground. He has one career win at Kansas.

2. Jimmie Johnson (No Change)

Johnson pulled off a top-5 while saving fuel, which has been hard for him in the past. He gained a bit of ground on Keselowski and heads into the race where he is the defending winner. He's not going anywhere unless something catastrophic happens.

3. Denny Hamlin (+1) 

Hamlin had a very strong showing at Charlotte and was also able to pull off the fuel strategy just as Johnson did. He already won the first race at Kansas this year, but the surface has changed now. Still, he's about to hit his best stretch of races in these final five.

4. Clint Bowyer (+2)

He played the fuel strategy better than anyone and scored his first win at Charlotte and third of the season. He kept himself alive in the standings because of it, but he's still pretty far behind despite the fact. He heads to his home track this weekend, but he's never been that great there in the past.

5. Kasey Kahne (No Change)

Kahne scored a solid top-10 at Charlotte, but missed out on a good chance to win and put himself in Bowyer's spot. He's never run that well at the remaining tracks, so he needs to find some magic and quick.

6. Jeff Gordon (-3)

He ended his crazy streak of top-5 finishes as well as his championship hopes with a mediocre run at Charlotte. Kansas has been one of his best tracks in the past, but in the last two races there he's discovered engine issues. A win there isn't out of the question though.

7. Tony Stewart (No Change)

He ran into trouble early at Charlotte and crushed his front end on the back of Keselowski's car. He still managed at top-15 though, but that just added to an average string of finishes in the Chase. He still could win a race by the end of the Chase, but definitely not the championship.

8. Martin Truex Jr. (+1)

A solid top-10 for Truex at Charlotte, but it's too little, too late for him in terms of winning the championship. He probably should've won at Kansas earlier this year before surrendering the lead late to Hamlin.

9. Greg Biffle (+3)

He finally showed some speed for the first time in the entire Chase (excluding Talladega) and led a good chunk of the race. He loves Kansas, having scored two wins there, so his speed could easily continue this weekend.

10. Kevin Harvick (No Change)

A strong run early went all-for-not in the end as Harvick faded out of the top-10 back to 16th. There's not much else to say about this sub-par season for Harvick.

11. Matt Kenseth (No Change)

The bad luck that has plagued Kenseth for most of the Chase returned at Charlotte when he spun early. He recovered for a decent top-15 finish, but there's not much else good to take away from that performance.

12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (-4)

We all hope Junior recovers quickly from the concussion bout he's dealt with over the past six weeks. It's a shame because he was having a great season. He'll miss this weeks Kansas race in addition to missing Charlotte. Time to look to next year for him.

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We all hope