Power Rankings: Pocono 400

Power

Rankings

In the spirit of the debut of NASCAR's new Chase format this season, I've decided to model my power rankings after that format. There will be four levels, starting with 13th-16th, and moving down to the final four each week. Basically, it's who would appear to be where in the Chase if the season ended today. With that being said, let's check out the ranks following Dover.

Level 4:

16. Clint Bowyer

Bowyer has shown glimpses of this car and team coming to life over the last few weeks, but he finally brought home the finish to match the performance last week with a 4th at Dover. Although, that finish could've been much worse had he suffered significant damage in the run-in with Kyle Busch, a fault of his spotter.

15. Ryan Newman

Newman hasn't had the best of luck in recent weeks and that continued with a transmission issue that kept him way back in the 30s for the majority of the race. The good news? He's hanging around in Chase contention, sitting 11th in points, due to the average consistency he and his RCR teammates have had this year. Speaking of that.....

14. Austin Dillon

Dillon has been the king of averagely consistent finishes so far this season, and as a rookie, that's perfectly ok. The fact that he's been able to put himself in Chase contention halfway until the cutoff is impressive, even if he's finding it hard to crack the top 10 most weeks. That trend should start reversing itself as the series returns to tracks for a second time this season.

13. Paul Menard

Rounding out the RCR contingent is Menard, who is already having a career season. He has amassed seven top-10 finishes so far this season, only two shy of his career season high. Many wondered if first year teammate Newman would be carrying the RCR banner this year, but Menard has shown he's more than willing for the task.

Level 3:

12. Brian Vickers

Vickers has been flying under the radar this season and was as high as eighth in the points until his engine failure at Dover last week. This team definitely has the potential to score a win somewhere, and if they don't, they should still be in Chase contention.

11. Carl Edwards

Edwards might be third overall in points right now, but it would be very difficult to consider this a championship caliber team right now. The cars as a whole for Roush have been inconsistent as of late. Edwards is even unsure how they won Bristol this year. And the rumors of his departure are swirling. Not a good combo of factors.

10. Kyle Larson

It's been a stellar start to Larson's inaugural Sprint Cup campaign and there's no reason to believe things will slow down soon. For the most part, his finishes have been consistent barring a few wrecks. And the edge he has over fellow rookie and Chase contender, Dillon, is that he can put his car in the top-10 and even the top-5. Will a win come this year? Possibly, but making the Chase is very realistic.

9. Denny Hamlin

Aside from his 2014 Speedweeks domination at Daytona and the win at Talladega, Hamlin has largely flown under the radar this season. A threat to strike at any time though, Pocono is a great chance for Hamlin to add another win at one of his best tracks, especially after grabbing a top-5 at one of his worst last week.

Level 2:

8. Kyle Busch

Did Kyle have the only car able to compete with Johnson last week at Dover? Unfortunately, we won't know, but Busch needs to make sure he's got his composure back for this weekend after the incident with Bowyer last week. Pocono remains one of "Rowdy's" harder to handle tracks.

7. Brad Keselowski

It's been a feast or famine year so far for Keselowski and the No. 2 team, regardless of how dominant they've been in qualifying this season. Lucky for them, the early season win at Vegas means they can try some quirky strategies, not uncommon for them anyway, especially at fuel milage prone tracks like Pocono, Michigan, and Sonoma. Oh wait, those are the next three races....

6. Kevin Harvick

Hands down, Harvick has been one of the most dominant cars every single weekend this year. Also hands down, Harvick has some of the worst luck in the series this season. If not for a wide array of issues, Harvick could easily have four or five victories already. As long as the bad luck stays away in the Chase, Harvick will be a championship contender.

5. Matt Kenseth

Kenseth assumes the points lead after another top-10 finish last week at Dover, his eighth in the last nine races. Add a win to the resume and Kenseth cracks the top-4, but alas, last season's winningest driver has yet to find victory this year. The month of June doesn't showcase Kenseth's best tracks, though he is the defending winner at Kentucky.

Level 1:

4. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Finding ways to finish well at tracks that usually give Earnhardt trouble will be his key to contending for the title. They did that last week at Dover and they'll have to do that at Pocono and Sonoma this month. June does present Junior with Michigan though, a good one in his repertoire.

3. Joey Logano

Though Logano finished top-10 at Dover, he didn't pose quite the threat he could there. No matter, his stellar 2014 season rolls into Pocono, where he has to be considered a favorite for the win. If Logano's current form can last through this summer stretch coming up, he might have to be considered a title contender as well.

2. Jeff Gordon

Gordon had one of the only cars who could stay within five seconds of Johnson, until something went awry in the car and he slipped back to finish 15th. Aside from Talladega, that is Gordon's worst finish of the season. Gordon has had incredible consistency this season and he's a threat to win at Pocono, where he's the all-time wins leader.

1. Jimmie Johnson

Oh s#@*. That's what the other drivers must be thinking. Who was the wise guy that had to question whether or not Johnson was going to win anytime soon? Well, they awoke the sleeping giant that everyone knew would wake sooner rather than later. The chance for No. 7 is as alive as ever for the No. 48 team.

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