Power Rankings: Texas

Power

Rankings

Texas:

1. Jimmie Johnson (+1, from last week)

There's been a changing of the guard atop the points standings as well as in the rankings this week. Johnson did what he needed to do at Martinsville, taking the win and the points lead. Problems have arose for him in the past at Texas, so it'll be interesting to see if Brad can take back the lead.

2. Brad Keselowski (-1)

Keselowski kept things extremely manageable after having a poor starting position at Martinsville. He rallied from 32nd to 6th and has now surpassed all of the tracks that gave him serious problems in the past. With Texas up next, expect some more strategy play from this team.

3. Clint Bowyer (No Change)

If it weren't for his Talladega crash, this guy might be on top of the standings. He's running just as well or even better than Johnson or Keselowski at every track, but success for Bowyer in the Chase isn't a new thing. He finished 3rd in the Chase to Johnson and Jeff Gordon in 2007. The guy just doesn't let the pressure of the Chase overwhelm him.

4. Kasey Kahne (No Change)

Kahne finished 3rd at what he calls his worst track in Martinsville. He keeps himself very much alive with three races to go and he hits his forte this weekend, racing at the 1.5 mile Texas circuit. Kahne still needs a major slip from both Johnson and Keselowski, but he's put himself in position to capitalize if they do.

5. Jeff Gordon (+2)

It looked like Gordon's race with less than fifty laps left as he was stalking Johnson closely for the lead. Than a couple of ill-timed cautions paired with him having to start in the outside lane killed Gordon's run and relegated him to 7th. Still, he could easily finish in the top-5 in points this season.

6. Denny Hamlin (-1)

He's done, but it has felt that way for a few weeks now. Too many mediocre runs coupled with his starter switch issue at his best track, Martinsville, means Denny won't be winning the championship this season.

7. Tony Stewart (-1)

Stewart was nowhere to be found all race at Martinsville. He had no major issues and still could only finish 27th in the race, a far cry from his amazing pass on Jimmie Johnson to win the race last season. It's just amazing that Stewart couldn't even come close to replicating what he did last year in the Chase this season.

8. Greg Biffle (+3)

A pretty good race at Martinsville for Biffle, finishing 10th, where he typically struggles. He's no threat to win the championship, but Biffle can make one more bright spot on his season by trying to sweep the Texas races this season if he can win on Sunday.

9. Matt Kenseth (+1)

Also a pretty decent run for Kenseth when it comes to Martinsville, finish 14th. He's slowly turning his awful Chase start into a respectable showing in the points and can continue that at Texas where he runs awfully well.

10. Martin Truex Jr. (-2)

He's never performed well at Martinsville and that didn't change last weekend with a finish back in the 20's. Good news for Martin at Texas though, when he qualifies in the top-10 there, he typically backs it up with a top-10.

11. Kevin Harvick (-2)

All I can say after another disappointing performance is that I'm not even quite sure how he's in the Chase.

12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No Change)

Junior had a good run going, staying in the top-10 almost all day once he got up there. However, a last race decision to stay out instead of pitting bit him after he fell back in traffic and got wrecked in someone else's mess. Still, it's great to have him back on the track.

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