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NASCAR Power Rankings: Kyle Larson delivers Bristol beatdown

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated Apr 14, 2025 3:20 PM ET

Sunday was not the most exciting Bristol race we have ever seen, but nonetheless, a new set of NASCAR Power Rankings to start the week. Kyle Larson dominated from start to finish. The No. 5 car was in another area code compared to the rest of the field. Only Denny Hamlin was remotely close to mounting a challenge.

Here is what we learned from Bristol: Once track temperatures get above 80 degrees, the tires hold up for infinity laps. 125 laps on these tires in a run, and it wasn’t even an issue for these drivers. If the temps are below that threshold, then we get the severe tire wear we saw in Spring 2024.

Doesn’t sound like a sustainable way of doing things. Bristol can’t be a crap shoot based on Mother Nature. With that said, we’re here to judge these drivers by the speed they have shown lately, particularly at Bristol this past weekend. NASCAR Power Rankings:

1. Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing (-)

I’m not ready to move on from Denny Hamlin as the top driver in the NASCAR Power Rankings. Finishes of P5, P1, P1, and P2 in the last month show me all I need to know.

It doesn’t hurt that he has propelled into second-place in the points standings. During the last four races he has won two stages as well, bolstering his points.

2. Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports (+3)

If it hadn’t been for that puzzling mess at Darlington, Kyle Larson would be on one hell of a hot streak. In the first nine races, he has only failed to finish in the top-10 three times.

When you lead 411 laps, you move up in the NASCAR Power Rankings. I won’t give him the top spot because Hamlin kept him honest by the end of the race.

3. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske (+1)

Peter Casey-Imagn Images

No, he doesn’t have a win this season, but Ryan Blaney is the third-fastest driver in the Cup Series this season. I truly believe that. The way he is able to move through traffic, even when others can’t, is very impressive.

Blaney just finished P5 at Darlington and Bristol. A good pair of races before the Easter break. Is it time for another epic Blaney win at Talladega? I think we’re overdue for one.

4. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports (-2)

The overall Cup Series points leader, but William Byron has had problems. His dominance at Darlington was ruined by green flag pit stops, but that showed me he didn’t really have the best car, just the best air all day.

Byron has been really strong overall this season, but I want to see more. We have seen this group get into slumps in the past.

5. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing (-2)

Honestly, I think that we have a very strong five drivers in the Cup Series and then there is everyone else. This week, Christopher Bell rounds out this first group of five in the NASCAR Power Rankings.

Those three straight wins were special. He was P2 at Martinsville and P3 at Darlington. Bell is going to find victory lane again, and I think he does it very soon.

6. Chase Elliott – Hendrick Motorsports (-)

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Staying put in the NASCAR Power Rankings, Chase Elliott had a decent day. P15 and the streak of top-20s is still alive. But top-20s don’t win championships.

Elliott was really the outlier among the Hendrick cars on Sunday. Alex Bowman led 39 laps and started on pole. He did DNF with an engine failure, but he had top-five speed. Byron was P6. Elliott was nowhere to really be seen most of the race.

7. Ross Chastain – Trackhouse Racing (NR)

P6, P7, and P7 in the last three weeks! Ross Chastain had the second-most-impressive race next to Kyle Larson, leading 411 laps. Chastain moved up from P35 to P7. Definitely the winner of the Hard Charger award.

This is the fifth top-10 finish of the season for Chastain. He is starting to really get comfortable this year, and hopefully, that means we will see him mixing it up for race wins soon.

8. Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing (-1)

A little disappointed in how Tyler Reddick has been performing this season. He is the defending regular-season champion, and right now, the chances of repeating seem slim.

Reddick is just ahead of his teammate in the points standing, and he’s just ahead of him this week in the NASCAR Power Rankings. Go figure.

9. Bubba Wallace – 23XI Racing (-1)

Mar 2, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) walks out onto the stage for driver introductions before the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Harms-Imagn Images

With 77 stage points this season, Bubba Wallace has been hanging in there. Even with a couple of tough weeks on the track, Wallace remains 8th in points.

Despite his rough day at Bristol, Bubba has already moved on. His son, Becks, has done a lot for his perspective on life and this sport. He should be good to go at Talladega.

10. Chase Briscoe – Joe Gibbs Racing (NR)

Three top-10 finishes in the last four races have me liking what I’m seeing from Chase Briscoe. Three times this season, he has finished P4. That has to improve at some point, right?

Briscoe is still adjusting to being at Joe Gibbs Racing. If he starts to consistently finish in the top-10 then he could be a real threat to make a deep run in the playoffs. He is the final driver in this week’s NASCAR Power Rankings.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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