SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s Power Rankings

Pete Pistone will unveil Power Rankings each week of the NASCAR season. Check out this week’s edition of NASCAR Power Rankings below, and listen to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) on the SXM App now. Revisit previous editions of our Power Rankings here.

The NASCAR Cup Series ended the regular season at Daytona International Speedway. Here’s a look at the Power Rankings after the Coke Zero Sugar 400:

1. Chase Elliott

The regular season champion didn’t end the first 26 race slate with a memorable day at Daytona by any means. But Elliott is on top of the Playoff grid heading into the opener this Sunday at Darlington.

Playoff Grid: 1st
Last Week: 1st

2. Kyle Larson

You win one week and are the first car out the next. That basically sums up Larson’s last two weeks winning at Watkins Glen and finishing last with a blown engine Sunday at Daytona.

Playoff Grid: 4th
Last Week: 2nd

3. Kevin Harvick

He felt strongly that when the race was halted for what turned out to be a more than three hour red flag after rain hit following the day’s biggest accident he was the leader. He was not and it turned out to be a moot point as Harvick went to the garage after the race restarted and ended up 20th.

Playoff Grid: 9th
Last Week: 3rd

4. Joey Logano

He was as usual at superspeedway races in the mix at the front of the field for much of the Daytona race. Through a series of events he got shuffled back and Logano ultimately ended up 12th in the Coke Zero Sugar 400.

Playoff Grid: 2nd
Last Week: 4th

5. Denny Hamlin

Hamlin was outspoken about how the weather and track conditions were handled. All he can do is reset now that the regular season is in the rear view mirror and concentrate on his latest shot to finally win a NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Playoff Grid: 6th
Last Week: 5th

6. Ross Chastain

The second half of the regular season has not gone well for Chastain and Daytona was the latest example. He too was eliminated in a multi-car accident and will look to regain the performance he had earlier in the year that led to a pair of victories.

Playoff Grid: 3rd
Last Week: 6th

7. Christopher Bell

Not much to say about Bell from Daytona after his accident-induced 36th-place finish. He will try to put that frustration behind him heading into the Playoffs Sunday at Darlington.

Playoff Grid: 10th
Last Week: 7th

8. Tyler Reddick

He settled in behind his Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon and helped push him to Victory Lane. It gave RCR a 1-2 finish and Reddick along with Dillon both made the Playoffs after the Daytona effort.

Playoff Grid: 8th
Last Week: 9th

9. Kyle Busch

He raced his way back into the rankings thanks to a relatively clean day in Daytona that saw Busch wheel home his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to a tenth-place finish. It may not seem like much but for Busch on super speedways that was an accomplishment.

Playoff Grid: 11th
Last Week: NR

10. Daniel Suarez

One of numerous drivers eliminated in an accident at Daytona. Suarez was not pleased with the the wet conditions that ignited the multi-car crash he was involved in and he left Daytona credited with a 24th-place finish.

Playoff Grid: 13th
Last Week: 10th

Dropped Out: Christopher Buescher