SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s Power Rankings – August 9, 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.

Rain delayed the Firekeepers Casino 400 for NASCAR unit Monday. Here’s a look at this week’s “Power Rankings” after a visit to Michigan International Speedway:

1. Chris Buescher

A back-to-back Cup winner for the first time this season as Buescher followed his Richmond victory with a second straight checkered flag Monday in Michigan. He led a race-high 52 laps and continues to show the strength of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing as the regular season winds down.

Point Standings: 11th
Last Week: 7th

2.  Denny Hamlin

His car stalled on pit road to give everyone in the No. 11 camp a scare but Hamlin recovered to finish third. In the last three races he has finished first, second and now third at Michigan.

Point Standings: 2nd
Last Week: 2nd

3. Martin Truex Jr.

Was part of a thrilling battle with Chris Buescher for the race win in the closing laps Monday at Michigan. Truex Jr. had a strong Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota led 47 laps but was forced to settle for second place.

Point Standings: 1st
Last Week: 3rd

4. William Byron

The last several weeks have been challenging for Byron and that was the case again at Michigan. Contact with the wall caused too much damage to the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and Byron exited the race after just 46 laps.

Point Standings: 3rd
Last Week: 4th

5. Kyle Larson

Big rebound for Larson from last week’s Richmond disappointment. Despite contact with Chase Briscoe, Larson kept his car relatively clean for the remainder of the race and put a top-five finish on the board at Michigan.

Point Standings: 6th
Last Week: 8th

6. Kevin Harvick

He wasn’t able to back up last year’s Michigan with with a return trip to Victory Lane. But Harvick muscled his Stewart-Haas Racing Ford from a 22nd place starting spot to cross the finish line eighth on Monday.

Point Standings: 5th
Last Week: 5th

7. Kyle Busch

Disastrous day for Busch who saw his day end after just 14 laps. His car got lose racing side-by-side and when all was said and done Busch slid into the wall and was credited with a last place finish.

Point Standings: 9th
Last Week: 2nd

8. Ryan Blaney

Started 9th and came home in the same spot in a race that included some on track and off track conversation with Corey Lajoie but in the end Blaney was able to put up a top-10 performance in Michigan.

Point Standings: 10th
Last Week: 10th

9. Joey Logano

Middle of the pack kind of day for Logano who after qualifying sixth struggled to stay in the lead pack most of the race and finally took the checkered flag 14th on Monday afternoon.

Point Standings: 12th
Last Week: 9th

10. Ross Chastain

A much-needed better outing for Chastain after a summer stretch of struggles. He qualified outside the front row and led 16 laps on his way to finishing seventh at Michigan.

Point Standings: 7th
Last Week: NR

Dropped Out: Chase Elliott