SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s Power Rankings – April 12, 2023

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.

The NASCAR Cup Series went dirt track racing last weekend. Here’s a look at the “Power Rankings” after Sunday’s visit to Bristol Motor Speedway:

1. Christopher Bell

The dirt racing specialist had all his talent on display on his way to leading 100 laps to score victory number one of the season. Bell and the No. 20 team are on a roll and now head to Martinsville where they were victorious last fall.

Point Standings: 1st
Last Week: 6th

2.  Kyle Larson

He was in the middle of controversy a couple of times with Ryan Preece and after starting from the pole, Larson laced the field for 75 laps. But the box score says 35th for Larson after his lap 177 accident took him out of the race.

Point Standings: 4th
Last Week: 2nd

3. Tyler Reddick

Came up just one spot short of making back-to-back trips to Victory Lane following up his Richmond win the week prior. Reddick led 69 laps on his way to taking the checkered flag second on Sunday.

Point Standings: 5th
Last Week: 4th

4. Ross Chastain

The Trackhouse Racing driver’s steady climb in finishing position over the last few weeks came to a grinding halt at Bristol with a 28th-place finish.

Point Standings: 2nd
Last Week: 3rd

5. Kevin Harvick

A top-10 for Harvick in what will be his final shot at Cup racing on dirt at Bristol as he heads off to retirement at season’s end and quite frankly the veteran driver most likely isn’t sad to see it go. His solid start to the year added a ninth-place finish to the record.

Point Standings: 3rd
Last Week: 5th

6. William Byron

Not a horrible day for the two-time winner but Byron had his hands full most of Sunday’s race. A 13th-place effort for the Hendrick Motorsports driver and his No. 24 Chevrolet.

Point Standings: 14th
Last Week: 1st

7. Alex Bowman

A rough day all around for Bowman and the No. 48 Chevrolet team from Hendrick Motorsports. He was never in contention and ended up in 29th place two laps down to the leader.

Point Standings: 11th
Last Week: 5th

8. Martin Truex Jr.

A very impressive top-10 performance for Truex Jr., who is not necessarily known for his dirt race skill set. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver turned in a seventh on Sunday after taking the green flag from the 27th starting position.

Point Standings: 7th
Last Week: NR

9. Kyle Busch

The defending Bristol dirt race winner made an early departure from Sunday’s race. Busch suffered suspension damage when he made contact with the wall and left Bristol with a disappointing 32nd place finish.

Point Standings: 6th
Last Week: 9th

10. Joey Logano

A penthouse to outhouse weekend for Logano who won Saturday’s Truck Series race at Bristol only to make an early exit in Sunday’s main event after contact knocked him out of the race on lap 96 and he was credited with a last place finish.

Point Standings: 8th
Last Week: 8th

Dropped Out: Denny Hamlin