NASCAR power rankings: Harvick still on top

With just three races remaining until the playoffs begin, it’s a good time to figure out where the NASCAR drivers stand.

Join us as we rank the top 16 drivers in Cup Series!

1. Kevin Harvick

NASCAR fans shouldn’t put too much stock into Harvick’s 17th-place finish on the Daytona road course, where he spun out twice.

He maintains a commanding advantage in the point standings and still leads Denny Hamlin in victories, 6-5, following his doubleheader sweep at Michigan.

2. Denny Hamlin

Hamlin posted his third runner-up finish in a four-race span when he took second at the Daytona road course Sunday.

It has been a terrific season for the No. 11 team, as they’ve found victory lane five times.

3. Brad Keselowski

Keselowski will try to get back into form at Dover this weekend, following a 13th at Daytona and a 39th (accident) at Michigan.

4. Chase Elliott

Elliott joined 2020’s multi-win club (Harvick, Hamlin, Keselowski, and Joey Logano) at Sunday’s Go Bowling 235. 

He has won the last three road races on NASCAR’s schedule.

5. Martin Truex Jr.

Truex continued a bizarre trend Sunday, when he finished third for the fifth straight race.

He’ll gladly take the points, but he is hoping for some better racing luck and a win sooner rather than later.

6. Ryan Blaney

It’s been a rough last few races for Blaney, who has finished outside the top five in four of his last five starts.

His average finishing position at Dover is 21.25 (eight races), so it might be tough for him to turn things around this weekend.

7. Joey Logano

In the six races since the All-Star Race, Logano has five top 10 finishes, but he is still searching for his first win since March.

8. Kyle Busch

It was another disastrous day for Busch at the Daytona road course, and his grip on a playoff spot continues to erode, following a 37th-place finish.

9. Aric Almirola

After his streak of nine straight top 10s was snapped at Michigan, Almirola finished a non-threatening 24th at Daytona on Sunday.

Barring a surprise winner or two over the next three races, Almirola should make the postseason.

10. Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch has seldom threatened for wins this year but is fourth in average finishing position (11.3, (minimum five races).

11. Clint Bowyer

Bowyer has the hit the top 20 in 10 straight races — including his sixth-place effort at Daytona — to keep his playoff hopes afloat.

12. Cole Custer

Since he won at Kentucky on July 12, Custer has an average finishing position of 22.5 over his last six races.

But there is hope for him at Dover, where his average finishing position in the Xfinity Series was 5.33 in a six-race sample size.

13. Alex Bowman

Bowman, who finished 12th at the Daytona road course, should be happy to have a weekend doubleheader at Dover. He finished second and third in his last two races there.

14. Austin Dillon

Dillon missed Sunday’s race because he tested positive for COVID-19.

An earlier win at Texas secured his playoff spot, but he obviously has bigger things to worry about right now.

15. Matt DiBenedetto

With an average finishing of 10.75 over his last four races, Matt DiBenedetto remains on the right side of the playoff bubble, just ahead of William Byron.

16. William Byron

Byron is holding onto the 16th and final playoff spot, thanks to some strong efforts over his last five races. He is averaging an 11th-place finish in that span. 

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