2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver Rankings: Week 22 Edition
With five races remaining until the start of the Chase for the Sprint Cup—Watkins Glen, Michigan, Bristol, Darlington and Richmond—the so-called Race to the Chase is in high gear.
Over a dozen drivers are still hoping to win one of the quintet of remaining pre-Chase races to punch their ticket into the Chase.
That group includes Jeff Gordon, Jamie McMurray, Tony Stewart, Clint Bowyer, Kasey Kahne, Danica Patrick and more.
And let’s not forget Kyle Busch, who is only 13 points away from reaching the top 30 and qualifying for the Chase.
But Sunday’s race is also a wild-card event. Look what winning it last year did for A.J. Allmendinger, as it put him in the Chase.
“We’re becoming the new anomaly in terms of who can make it into the Chase,” Watkins Glen president Michael Printup told the Leader. “I think that was very clear last year with A.J.
“I think you could have something like that, or there could be a wreck at the end and somebody just lucks out. We really are the best race before the Chase with the ‘win and you’re in’ program.
“We’re the wild card before the Chase. We don’t mind that stigma.”
10. Jeff Gordon
1 of 10
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Why he’s here
Jeff Gordon’s impressive third-place finish at Pocono was a big boost for a team that has gone through as many lows as highs this season. Sure, he finished third in a fuel-mileage race and likely would have finished sixth or seventh if others hadn’t run out of gas in front of him. But this was as close to a win as Gordon has had this season and bodes well for upcoming races.
Key 2015 moments
Despite his season-worst 42nd-place finish the week before at Indianapolis, you can see a trend in Gordon in recent weeks. He finished sixth at Daytona, seventh at Kentucky, ninth at Loudon and now third at Pocono. It’s one of the best streaks he’s had in 2015.
What’s next
As he will from here on out, Gordon will make the final start of his Sprint Cup career at Watkins Glen International this weekend. He has four wins, three poles and six top-five and nine top-10 finishes there, but has struggled significantly in five of his last seven starts there, finishing 20th or worst, including 34th last season and 36th in 2013.
9. Kyle Busch
2 of 10
Previous ranking: 10th
Why he’s here
Kyle Busch moved to within 13 points of climbing into the top 30 in the Sprint Cup standings. Despite running out of fuel on the final lap at Pocono and being relegated to a disappointing 21st-place finish, let’s not forget that he’s won three of the last four and four of the last six races.
Key 2015 moments
Busch has had nothing short of an outstanding season, even after missing the first 11 races due to injury. The biggest win to date has to be his triumph at Sonoma, where he kicked off his recent run of victories. Had he not run out of fuel Sunday, there’s a good likelihood we would be talking about how he had won four in a row and five of six.
What’s next
Busch goes for a double-up in Sunday’s race at Watkins Glen to add to his win in June at Sonoma. Watkins Glen is a much more technical and difficult track, but Busch has mastered it well: In 10 starts on the 2.45-mile road course, he has two wins, one pole and four top-five and eight top-10 finishes. He’s more than primed for another win Sunday.
8. Martin Truex Jr.
3 of 10
Previous ranking: 5th
Why he’s here
Yes, Martin Truex Jr. was one of those drivers who ran out of fuel at Pocono. He had a good run going and looked like he may have had a top-five finish in him. But instead he ended up with a 19th-place finish. Does that justify a drop of three spots in the rankings? Not necessarily, but other than his fourth-place finish last week at Indy he’s really been struggling the last five races.
Key 2015 moments
Truex had an outstanding first half of the season, being arguably the best driver in the series behind Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson. But things have been difficult for much of the last six races, including a 42nd-place finish at the other road course on the circuit, Sonoma, in June (he was involved in an early wreck).
What’s next
Truex already has one career win on a road course (Sonoma), but he has a better overall performance record at Watkins Glen, even though he’s never won there. In nine starts he has three top-five and five top-10 finishes. Don’t be surprised to see him in the running for a win on Sunday.
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7. Brad Keselowski
4 of 10
Previous ranking: 9th
Why he’s here
Even if several other drivers hadn’t run out of fuel in front of him, Brad Keselowski was still poised for a likely top-five finish, if not higher, at Pocono. But his finish is not a surprise, either: he’s finished runner-up in two of his last three starts and has four straight top-10 finishes.
Key 2015 moments
The biggest moment thus far this season for Keselowski was his win in the fifth race of the 2015 campaign, at Fontana. He also has three runner-up showings (Martinsville, Loudon and Pocono). While he’s not having the kind of season he did in 2014 when he won a series-high six races, Keselowski is maintaining consistency, which is the next best thing.
What’s next
Even though he has yet to earn a road course race in his Sprint Cup career, Keselowski has become quite the road warrior, particularly at Watkins Glen. He has three top-five finishes in five career starts there. For whatever reason, road courses seem to bring out some of the best and fiercest racing from Keselowski. It’s only a matter of time before he earns his first road course win.
6. Matt Kenseth
5 of 10
Previous ranking: 8th
Why he’s here
The impressive way Matt Kenseth bided his time and then pounced when he saw an opportunity at Pocono was the key to the win. He was patient, hung around the top five to 10 most of the race, and when the leaders began to drop like flies after running out of fuel, Kenseth was there to earn his second win of 2015. It was also his first career win at Pocono and of the very few fuel-mileage wins in his Sprint Cup career.
Key 2015 moments
It’s been a good year for Kenseth thus far. He has two wins and seven top-five and 13 top-10 finishes. He’s been on an excellent run especially of late, finishing fifth, sixth, seventh and first in his last four starts. With his win at Pocono, Kenseth could be starting to peak at the right time, which could carry him into the Chase on a roll.
What’s next
Kenseth is far from being a road course specialist. In fact, he has yet to win at Sonoma or Watkins Glen. Yes, he has five top-10 finishes in 15 career starts at Watkins Glen, including finishes of ninth (2014) and eighth (2012) in two of his last three starts there. But if Sunday’s race goes to form, Kenseth will be glad to get what he can and fly out as soon as possible afterward.
5. Kurt Busch
6 of 10
Previous ranking: 4th
Why he’s here
Kurt Busch had a rough go of it at Pocono, a track he typically does well at, finishing 37th. That showing ended a very strong run in the previous seven races that saw Busch earn a win (Michigan) and four top-five and three top-10 showings. But one of the hallmarks of Busch’s career is once a good streak ends he typically picks himself and gets right back at it the next race.
Key 2015 moments
His two wins at Richmond and Michigan have been the brightest spots of 2015 for Busch. But let’s not forget that had he not missed the first three races of the season after being suspended by NASCAR, he likely would be even higher in the standings. Even though he dropped from eighth to ninth in the Sprint Cup standings after Pocono, he is still having a great year nonetheless.
What’s next
Busch has had a marginal tenure at Watkins Glen in his career. In 14 starts, he has yet to win (although he does have one pole) and has just two top-five and six top-10 finishes. He has a much better record at Sonoma, where he does have a win. Busch is a good road course driver who doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. A win Sunday would certainly help change that.
4. Joey Logano
7 of 10
Previous ranking: 7th
Why he’s here
Sure, he ran out of fuel with three laps left at Pocono, but Joey Logano absolutely dominated that race, leading 97 laps before his tank went dry. He’s still looking for his second win of the season, but as I like to say, Logano is a win waiting to happen.
Key 2015 moments
Obviously, winning the season-opening Daytona 500 remains not only his season highlight but his Sprint Cup career highlight. One thing that really stands out is his performance of late. He’s been knocking on victory’s door so often: Prior to finishing 20th at Pocono, he had finished second at Kentucky and Indianapolis and fourth at Loudon.
What’s next
Logano has become a decent—but not great—road course racer over the past few years. He has one top-five and three top-10s in six starts at Watkins Glen, and has challenged for a win in three of his last four outings there: fifth in 2011, seventh in 2013 and sixth last season.
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
8 of 10
Previous ranking: 3rd
Why he’s here
Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a strong fourth-place run at Pocono. No surprise there, given he won both races at the Tricky Triangle last season. Earnhardt has been flying under the radar somewhat this season but is hanging tough with his competitors. It’s almost as if he just wants to get through the first 26 races and then really heat things up in the Chase.
Key 2015 moments
Obviously, Junior’s wins at Talladega and Daytona have been the highlights of his season, but the last four races have been concerning. After winning at Daytona, he finished 21st at Kentucky, fifth at Loudon, 22nd at Indianapolis and fourth at Pocono. He needs to get more consistency out of himself and his car, especially heading into the Chase.
What’s next
Road course racing has never been Earnhardt’s forte, particularly at Watkins Glen. After back-to-back top-five finishes in 2003 and 2004, he’s had a miserable showing ever since. Much like several of his peers, this is a weekend where Earnhardt likely will fly in, get the best finish he can and get the heck out of Dodge as fast as possible.
2. Kevin Harvick
9 of 10
Previous ranking: 2nd
Why he’s here
Despite the uncharacteristic engine failure he suffered at Pocono, Kevin Harvick deserves to remain in second in this week’s driver rankings. Even though he suffered his first DNF of the season, it wasn’t his fault. Look for him to come back even stronger as a result.
Key 2015 moments
Not only does he have two wins, Harvick has been the points leader from the third race of the season. The defending Sprint Cup champion has had an uncanny run of not just those two wins, but eight runner-up finishes as well.
What’s next
Harvick has become quite a good road course racer, particularly at Watkins Glen, where he has a win and two top-five and seven top-10 finishes in 14 starts. Known for his fiery temper at times, Harvick is right at home at a venue that all but encourages road rage…err, strong road course racing.
1. Jimmie Johnson
10 of 10
Previous ranking: 1st
Why he’s here
With a series-leading four wins, Jimmie Johnson maintains his stranglehold on the top spot in this week’s driver standings. Sure, he’s been kind of in the background the last few weeks, but don’t read anything into that. Johnson is the most dangerous when he’s been in a lull for a few races.
Key 2015 moments
With wins at Atlanta, Texas, Kansas and Dover, Johnson is at the front of the pack and will likely be the No. 1 seed in the Chase for the Sprint Cup when the points are reset after Richmond. This is especially good for Johnson, as he’ll revisit all of those tracks except Atlanta, which gives him a chance for a potential season sweep at all three of those tracks.
What’s next
Johnson’s next win will be the 75th of his Sprint Cup career. He’s won at every track on the circuit except for Chicago, Homestead, Kentucky and this weekend’s race host, Watkins Glen. Johnson has four top-fives and seven top-10 finishes in 13 starts at The Glen. Can he finally get that elusive first win there, not to mention his 75th overall?
Follow me on Twitter @JerryBonkowski
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