2023 NASCAR Preseason Power Rankings

Pete Pistone will unveil Power Rankings each week of the NASCAR season, starting with this week’s preseason Power Rankings. Listen to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) on the SXM App now, and revisit previous editions of our Power Rankings here.

1. JOEY LOGANO

The reigning champ shoots for title number three in 2023. Logano and company flexed their muscles when it mattered most last year and the No. 22 Team Penske crew remains intact for a back-to-back championship shot.

2. CHASE ELLIOTT

He led the Cup Series with five wins last year but a feeling of frustration after the Phoenix finale. Elliott and Alan Gustafson are a potent championship-winning combo that will be in the title mix again in 2023.

3. ROSS CHASTAIN

The Trackhouse Racing driver is out to prove last year wasn’t an anomaly. There is no reason to think it was and after a first-time Championship Four appearance in 2022, Chastain has his sights set on a return engagement.

4. KYLE LARSON

The 2021 champion struggled last year and by his own admission the transition to the NextGen Cup career brought with is some difficulties. But Larson was still able to find Victory Lane three times and the Hendrick Motorsports driver will be a threat for title number two.

5. CHRISTOPHER BELL

An unbelievable Playoff run that included two walk off wins and a Championship Four appearance cemented Bell as a breakout start last year. As Joe Gibbs Racing moves into a new dynamic in its driver roster, Bell has the chance to lead the way.

6. DENNY HAMLIN

An up and down season for Hamlin ended up in a disappointing Playoff run that saw the Joe Gibbs Racing driver miss the Championship Four. Eliminating those valleys of a season ago will be the main focus for Hamlin and crew chief Chris Gabehart to put together a solid year to have a shot at the crown.

7. WILLIAM BYRON

The year started out hot for Byron with an early pair of wins but then the Hendrick Motorsports driver cooled off during the middle of the schedule. Performance was improved in the Playoffs but Byron is looking to get deeper in the post-season and grab a Championship Four berth.

8. KYLE BUSCH

The high-profile driver free agent game doesn’t get much bigger than Busch leaving his long career at Joe Gibbs Racing to join Richard Childress Racing. Busch takes over a car that won three times last year with Tyler Reddick and comes to his new team with more than enough determination and talent to succeed.

9. TYLER REDDICK

The next phase of his career comes with 23XI Racing as Reddick takes the wheel from Kurt Busch in the team’s No. 45 car. Team co-owner Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan had their eyes on Reddick for a while and he’ll get his chance to fulfill that promise in 2023.

10. CHASE BRISCOE

The future of Stewart-Haas Racing is securely fastened to Briscoe after a he signed a contract extension with the team in the off-season. He scored career Cup win number one last year and made a decent run through the Playoffs laying a potential foundation in 2023 for greater success.