NASCAR Power Rankings: Rating the Top 20 Title Contenders After the Rule Changes
When the Daytona 500 rolls around next month, competitors in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series may be competing for a maximum of 43 points along with the chance to win the Harley J. Earl Trophy.
Under a new points system reported on by various media outlets over the past week—expected to be confirmed by NASCAR CEO Brian France and President Mike Helton in a press conference Wednesday during the annual Charlotte Media Tour—the days of bonus points for leading laps may be a thing of the past.
Additionally, winning races may become an even bigger factor in the equation for making the Chase, as the two drivers with the most wins outside of the top 10 in points may make their way into the 10-race playoff.
If the reported new points system becomes reality, who will be the top 20 drivers heading into the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season?
Criteria for Rating the Contenders
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While the top 12 on this list—last year's Chasers—will remain largely unchanged, the possibility that two spots will now be reserved based on the merits of race victories greatly affects how the other eight drivers were selected for this particular set of Power Rankings.
The first eight drivers on this slideshow were ranked based on the number of wins earned over the past few seasons. Consistency—seen from drivers like Matt Kenseth over the years—will no longer be emphasized under the proposed points system, and this list will reflect that.
20. Joey Logano
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While Logano would have likely appeared in the top 20 before the points change, a June 2009 rain-shortened win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway cements his position under the new system.
The No. 20 Toyota ended the 2010 season with top-10 finishes in five of the final six races, easily the most consistent stretch of the 20-year-old's young career. Considering Joe Gibbs Racing's recent success, it appears to be a matter of time before Logano tallies his second career win.
19. Mark Martin
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Known for his ability to log consistent finishes throughout his lengthy career, Martin drops from last season's 13th-place finish in the Sprint Cup points standings to 19th on this list.
In what appears to be his final full season behind the wheel of the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, the 52-year-old enters the 2011 season in the midst of a 45-race winless drought. While it seems unlikely that Martin will return to the Chase, a win or two certainly seems possible in 2011.
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18. Brian Vickers
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Regardless of where he finishes in the standings this season, Brian Vickers' return to the track will easily be the feel-good story of the 2011 season.
Cementing his place in the rankings based on an August 2009 win at Michigan International Speedway, Vickers will benefit immediately from the addition of Kasey Kahne as his teammate for this season. The No. 83 Toyota may have the wings to reach Victory Lane this season.
17. Kasey Kahne
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The driver of the No. 4 (formerly the No. 82) Toyota for Red Bull Racing this season, Kahne may instantly find himself in the middle of a season-long lame duck situation, as the Enumclaw, WA native will replace Martin at Hendrick Motorsports in 2012.
However, Kahne knows the way to the checkered flag, even if his last win came in September 2009 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. With crew chief Kenny Francis making the jump from Richard Petty Motorsports a few months after his longtime driver did, it seems possible that Kahne may break his own winless drought in 2011.
16. Ryan Newman
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Last season, Ryan Newman scored his first victory since the 2008 Daytona 500 in an April win at Phoenix International Raceway. However, the No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing team struggled throughout most of the 2010 slate, ending with a 15th-place finish.
15. David Reutimann
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The only driver in the Sprint Cup Series to drive a Toyota every season since the Japanese manufacturer's entry into NASCAR's premier tour in 2007, Reutimann is enjoying the benefits of continued improvement by both the driver and Michael Waltrip Racing.
After winning the rain-shortened 2009 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the No. 00 team visited Victory Lane for a second consecutive season by claiming the July race at Chicagoland Speedway last season.
14. Juan Pablo Montoya
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While Montoya and the No. 42 team failed to finish another dominating performance at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last season, the Colombian scored his first win since June 2007 by taking the event at Watkins Glen in August.
A victim of struggles throughout the early portion of the 2010 season, Montoya could earn a top 10 spot inside the Sprint Cup points standings with a consistent first 26 races.
13. Jamie McMurray
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Montoya's teammate at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, McMurray had a breakout season in 2010. After shocking the racing world by winning the Daytona 500, the Joplin, MO native won the Brickyard 400 and the October race at Charlotte.
More finishes inside the top 10 this season could result in a trip to the Chase for the No. 1 Chevrolet.
12. Jeff Burton
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Burton maintains his position on this list after making the Chase in 2010, but he'll need to win a race or two in 2011 to stay in the championship conversation.
11. Kurt Busch
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While Kurt Busch moves within the Penske Racing organization from the No. 2 to the No. 22 Dodge, the number, sponsor and paint scheme will be the only changing components for his 2011 efforts.
Under crew chief Steve Addington last season, Busch made the Chase due to wins at Atlanta and Charlotte but disappeared during the 10-race playoff.
10. Clint Bowyer
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His Chase hopes marred by crippling penalties after a victory at New Hampshire in September, Bowyer and the No. 33 team battled back to stay out of 12th place in the Chase standings, using a photo-finish win at Talladega to finish in the top 10 in points.
Bowyer will likely return to Victory Lane in 2011.
9. Jeff Gordon
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Much like Jeff Burton, four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon's place on the Power Rankings could change drastically if he doesn't win and fails to establish consistency in 2011.
However, it seems very unlikely that such a situation could happen to the No. 24 Chevrolet in 2011.
8. Kyle Busch
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Kyle Busch enters this season eighth in the Power Rankings, but the added emphasis on victories in 2011 will surely move the No. 18 Toyota higher on this list during the season.
7. Tony Stewart
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"Smoke" flew under the radar to make the Chase in 2010 despite a pair of victories.
Known for his ability to run well during the second half of the season, Stewart failed to close out last season's slate in his signature style, as four finishes outside of the top 20 during the Chase prevented him from a possible top five finish.
6. Greg Biffle
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After a string of four top 10 finishes in five races allowed Biffle to claim the 12th spot in the Chase last season, the No. 16 Ford capitalized on the opportunity during the 10-race playoff, earning one win and five top 10s.
Multiple trips to Victory Lane could be in Biffle's future.
5. Matt Kenseth
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While Matt Kenseth was able to use his normal model of consistency to finish fifth in last season's points standings, he may need to win a race or two in 2011 along with a set of solid finishes to keep his Chase hopes afloat.
4. Carl Edwards
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Edwards ended a long winless drought by winning the final two races of the 2010 season at Phoenix and Homestead. With this in mind, it seems very possible that the No. 99 Ford will be parked at the start-finish line for the driver's signature backflip multiple times in 2011.
3. Kevin Harvick
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While Harvick was the most consistent driver throughout 36 races last season—with 26 top 10s and an average finish of 8.7—it wasn't enough to stop Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson from passing him in the Chase.
Expect "Happy" to maintain his mix of consistency of wins and solid finishes in 2011, putting him in prime position to contend for the Sprint Cup title.
1. (tie) Jimmie Johnson
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As five-time defending champion, it would be borderline ridiculous to not rank Jimmie Johnson at the top of the Power Rankings.
1. (tie) Denny Hamlin
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If the new points system is going to be focused even more on wins this season, it makes sense to put the man with the most victories (eight) last season at the top of the Power Rankings.
Thoughts? Comment below.
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