Race Weekend Central

The 12: NASCAR Power Rankings AAA Texas 500 Edition

After 500 grueling miles around the 1.5-mile banked oval at Texas Motor Speedway, Kevin Harvick punched his ticket to the Championship 4 at Homestead Miami Speedway after winning the AAA Texas 500 Sunday (Nov. 3). Harvick’s Texas highlights included 119 laps led and a stage win. With momentum on his side, can the 43-year-old become NASCAR’s third oldest champion ever?

Denny Hamlin encountered a massive points swing after Texas. Hamlin lost 44 points in the Lone Star state after a tricky encounter with Texas Motor’s Speedway’s notorious grass. For the arithmetic experts, Hamlin entered Texas with a 24 point buffer above the elimination cutline but left with a 20 point deficit. With significant work to do at ISM Raceway, is there any hope for Hamlin?

Despite the absence of scuffles, punches or lackluster brawls, the feud of the week likely goes to Kyle Larson and a caution hungry Bubba Wallace. Despite an honorable mention going to NASCAR Xfinity drivers Ryan Sieg and Brandon Brown, this weekend’s most noteworthy altercation left playoff driver Larson in a significant playoff hole because of a Wallace intentional spin. As a highly debated issue, should Larson be pointing at Wallace or NASCAR?

Judging off recent performances, few would have thought that Aric Almirola would have led the second-most laps at Texas. Yet, he, along with teammates Harvick and Daniel Suarez proved to be a potent, nearly unbeatable trio. With two races to go, does Almirola have a shot to replace a goose egg with a tally in the win column?

Mounting questions remain as NASCAR heads to the Arizona desert for the Bluegreen Vacations 400 this Sunday (Nov. 10). With two championship spots left to fill, Sunday’s contest at ISM Raceway looks to be must-see TV. As six drivers vie for the remaining spots, our Frontstretch panel of experts was tasked with determining the 12 best Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers in the meantime.

How the power rankings are calculated: Following the conclusion of each Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, members of a voting panel, including Frontstretch writers and members of accredited media outlets as well as writers from other sites and social media personalities, submit their top 12 drivers for the Power Rankings.

The drivers are then given points based on their ranking by our panelists, with first place getting 12 points, and each subsequent driver getting one fewer point until the 12th-place driver, who gets a single point. Points are then added together, and the rankings are subsequently produced.

Power Rankings: AAA Texas 500 Edition

1. Kevin Harvick – 115 Points

First place votes: 6

Last week’s ranking: 3rd (+2)

Since 2017, only one driver has won the fall playoff race at Texas. Harvick’s closet must be overflowing with cowboy hats and six-shooters. Maybe that’s why he is sharing his hats with Keelan. As NASCAR transitions to ISM Raceway, the winning doesn’t stop for Harvick. Harvick has earned nine trophies at the Arizona track. Now can he just win that championship?

2. Martin Truex Jr. – 104 Points

First place votes: 4

Last week’s ranking: 1st (-1)

While Harvick ran all over the field, Truex struggled at Texas, a week after he ran all over the field at Martinsville Speedway ironically. Despite being off of the leaders’ pace, Truex rallied late to claim a sixth-place finish. However, Truex was not focused on Texas. The New Jerseyan’s focus has shifted to the contest at Homestead Miami Speedway, where Truex has the opportunity to claim his second MENCS championship in a span of just three season.

3. Kyle Busch – 95 Points

Last week’s ranking: 6th (+3)

Next year, Kyle Busch will join an illustrious list of NASCAR drivers including Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson who have competed in the prestigious twice-around-the-clock Rolex 24 sports car race at Daytona International Speedway. While Busch will foray into sports car racing, the Candyman must wrap up the 2019 MENCS season. This weekend, Busch looks to lock up a spot in the Championship 4 once again.

4. Joey Logano – 84 Points

Last week’s ranking: 5th (+1)

While Logano in a bite suit might not look very intimidating, the Connecticut native might as well be the most resilient competitor in the NASCAR Playoffs this season. Despite crashes, problems and lame fighting attempts, Logano currently sits in a position to grab the last spot in the Championship 4 and possibly defend his championship. With all the drama surrounding him, Logano might want to give the reality TV show Survivor a shot, because he has somehow survived a tumultuous postseason… so far.

5. Denny Hamlin – 71 Points

Last week’s ranking: 2nd (-3)

Hamlin became the latest victim of Texas’ menacing grass, the same culprit which ate up Noah Gragson‘s and David Starr‘s machines in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race before. This grass was also the same provocateur for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s fiery crash in 2014 and Timothy Peters‘ spectacular sidewinding flip in a 2017 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race. Who knew agriculture could do such damage? If you aren’t confused already, here is Hamlin shaking hands with a wheely robot thingy:

6. Ryan Blaney – 60 Points

Last week’s ranking: 7th (+1)

While his 2019 championship hopes might be fading, Blaney might just have some celebrating to do after his boss’ monumental purchase of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hopefully, IMS will hold off on the Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving is OVER.

7. Kyle Larson – 49 Points

Last week’s ranking: 9th (+2)

As Bubba Wallace entered into the spin cycle, Larson had just finished a pit cycle. On the heels of daylight savings time where the clocks were cycled back an hour, Larson might want to take to his bicycle and cycle away some of his frustration.

8. Aric Almirola – 31 Points

Last week’s ranking: Not Ranked

Almirola gave the bacon-mobile a heck of a run deep in the heart of Texas. Unfortunately, there is bad news for all the bacon lovers out there. The bacon-mobile will no longer be the bacon-mobile at ISM as a brand of sausage will adorn the No. 10 Stewart -Haas Racing Ford. At least it is not a turkey, or we will all be stricken from the effects of tryptophan. Thanksgiving is not for another three weeks, people. Turkey can wait.

9. Chase Elliott – 27 Points

Last week’s ranking: 10th (+1)

There is good news and bad news for the No. 9 bunch.

The bad news: The team is in a must-win situation.

The good news: The team is in a must-win situation.

Because of there points predicament, the No. 9 has one objective Sunday: win. Crew chief Alan Gufstasen’s only agenda is to capture the victory, which might be good because a crew chief with a million agendas and circumstances can be ridiculously taxing on the team leader. Just ask Rodney Childers.

10. Clint Bowyer – 26 Points

Last week’s ranking: 12th (+2)

One this week’s edition of Clint Bowyer’s social media chronicles: A Texas-sized race recap, Greg Biffle’s boat, and the perfect “pretty damn scary” Halloween costume.

11. William Byron – 25 Points

Last week’s ranking: 8th (-3)

On the note of Halloween costumes, William Byron just “wants to go fast.”

If that rings true, Byron finished last a Texas, right Ricky Bobby?

12. Daniel Suarez – 24 Points

Last week’s ranking: Not Ranked

Daniel’s Amigos were treated to quite a race in Texas. With a large fan club up in the stands, Suarez put on his best performance in recent memory for the friendly crowd. With two races to go and an unsigned contract looming, is Suarez’s seat burning hot?

OTHER DRIVERS WHO RECEIVED VOTES

THIS WEEK’S VOTING PANEL

Name Twitter Organization
Jake Baskinger @jbaskinger41 Jake Baskinger on YouTube
Bryan Davis Keith @bryandaviskeith Frontstretch
Rob Dutzar Jr @rob_dutzar Rob’s NASCAR Blog
Zach Gillispie @gillispie_zach Frontstretch
Dan Greene @librarymonk Frontstretch
Leon Hammack @captainblowdri Working on My Redneck
Godwin Kelly @godwinkelly The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Mark Kristl @markkristl Frontstretch
Kobe Lambeth @kobelambeth Kobelambeth.com
Joy Tomlinson @jt_giantsfan Frontstretch

Do you agree with our rankings? Think someone was left out, or that one of the top drivers is overrated? Let us know in the comments, and tell others what your top 12 would be.

About the author

Never at a loss for words, Zach Gillispie is a young, talented marketing professional from North Carolina who talks and writes on the side about his first love: racing! Since joining Frontstretch in 2018, Zach has served in numerous roles where he currently pens the NASCAR 101 column, a weekly piece delving into the basic nuts and bolts of the sport. Additionally, his unabashedly bold takes meshed with that trademarked dry wit of his have made Zach a fan favorite on the weekly Friday Faceoff panel. In his free time, he can be found in the great outdoors, actively involved in his church, cheering on his beloved Atlanta Braves or ruthlessly pestering his colleagues with completely useless statistics about Delma Cowart.

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timinchandler

I know all the Hillbilly housewives love little Chase. It would be fitting if he won at Phoenix and then crashed out at Homestead keeping punk a– Lagano out of the final 4. Or finished 10th and was the highest finisher, winning the title. NA$CAR 2019.

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