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Following the first short-track race of the season, it’s no surprise to see drivers like Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott move up in the power rankings. They have been among the top drivers at short tracks over the last several years and their results Sunday showed why.
Christopher Bell? He’s been consistent on all styles of tracks. And he’s back at No. 1 after his second-place finish at Martinsville, where Hamlin won, followed by Bell, Bubba Wallace and Elliott across the finish line.
Here are this week’s rankings heading into throwback weekend at Darlington:
Dropped out: Josh Berry (Last Week: 10)
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On the verge: Josh Berry, Chase Briscoe, Chris Buescher, Joey Logano, Michael McDowell, Ryan Preece
10. Ross Chastain (Last Week: Not Ranked)
Chastain is back in the top 10. He methodically went from starting 17th to a solid sixth-place finish. The Trackhouse Racing driver is 13th in the standings.
9. Tyler Reddick (LW: 7)
Reddick finished 14th at Martinsville after a not-so-impressive day. A few more of those and there could be some cause for concern for the 23XI Racing team.
8. Bubba Wallace (LW: 9)
Wallace was fastest in practice, started in eighth and finished third. He was frustrated that he didn’t win, but running in the top five consistently (he was third last week, too) will likely result in a win soon.
7. Ryan Blaney (LW: 5)
An 11th-place finish probably wasn’t all that satisfying, but after starting 32nd, Blaney probably couldn’t complain too much.
6. Chase Elliott (LW: 8)
Elliott led 42 laps, was seventh in the first stage and second in the second stage. He said after the race that they need more than solid days. As far as the results, that’s true, but solid days are better than mediocre ones.
5. William Byron (LW: 4)
The strategy to split the final stage into thirds was foiled by an untimely caution and resulted in the loss of track position for Byron. He ended up 22nd, the last car on the lead lap. The Hendrick driver and defending race winner certainly expected more.
4. Alex Bowman (LW: 3)
A pit-road miscue was the start of a long afternoon for Bowman, who finished second in the first stage but ended up one lap down in 27th. He started third and had speed, so the Hendrick driver knows he had something for the leaders.
3. Denny Hamlin (LW: 6)
Hamlin got the big win at Martinsville. He led 274 of the final 275 laps, which vaulted the Joe Gibbs Racing driver back into the conversation of those you need to beat on a weekly basis. It was huge for this JGR team and new crew chief Chris Gayle.
2. Kyle Larson (LW: 1)
Larson finished top 10 in both stages and finished fifth at Martinsville. He didn’t do anything to lose the top spot in these rankings; Bell was just stronger over the final 100 laps than anyone not named Hamlin, so he moved up a spot.
1. Christopher Bell (LW: 2)
Bell is back atop these rankings after winning the pole and finishing second at Martinsville. He has had a few rough weeks this year, and the JGR driver sits 32 points behind series points leader William Byron.
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
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