We don’t normally put much stock in sentiment around here at Power Rankings HQ.
We’re believers in results, and big believers in trends. And Denny Hamlin hadn’t been trending upward in recent weeks.
He hadn’t been bad — he’d had a win and a runner-up in the past five weeks, for Pete’s sake! — but there was a lot of hit-and-miss, while Christopher Bell, for instance, was turning in a frontrunning effort nearly every week of late. Denny had dropped to No. 6 here as of last week, which was probably a slot or two too low, but we stubbornly stick with our rankings.
But then Hamlin added another win Sunday in Las Vegas. His sixth of the year. Sixtieth of his career. And naturally dedicated it to his dad, Dennis, who’s back in Virginia battling a health issue. Hello, sentiment, feel free to adjust our ratings.
For this week, anyway.
But since we rarely adjust these rankings after a plate-race, such as this coming weekend’s visit to Talladega, Denny will likely stay up top another week, at least.
1. Denny Hamlin
Back atop the roost, but will he stay? Goal this week at Talladega: Let the other wackos have at it.
2. Christopher Bell
Has finished between first and seventh in each of the past six races.
3. Kyle Larson
Last four finishes: 7-6-2-2. However, still 0-for-late-spring, 0-for-summer, 0-for-early-fall.
4. Chase Briscoe
Couldn’t hold the lead late, but held serve while others crapped out in Sin City.
5. Chase Elliott
Billy Clyde scrambled for a Vegas 18th after a penalty for a wayward Goodyear on pit road.
6. Joey Logano
Chances aren’t dead yet. Led brieflly at Vegas with 20-some laps to go and everyone screamed, “Here we go again!”
7. Ryan Blaney
Against up against it now after slamming against it Sunday.
8. William Byron
Didn’t see Ty Dillon’s blinker and went from just above the Round of 8 cutline to 15 below.
9. Tyler Reddick
Putting together decent weeks lately, but it’s too late. Still, a race win would salvage something from 2025.
10. Chris Buescher
Holding off Brad Keselowski in the battle for playoff outsiders “Best of the Rest.”
— Email Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com
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