NASCAR Power Rankings: 2014 Week 13

Welcome to the Inside Track's NASCAR Power Rankings. Each week of the Sprint Cup season, the Gazette's Jeremiah Davis will rank the series' top 10 drivers.

Think the list should be different? Tweet him at @jeremiahdavis10, or comment in the comments section.

New this week: Kyle Larson

Dropped out: Kurt Busch

RANK

+/-

NAME

WINS

THOUGHTS

1

+2

Jimmie Johnson

2

Remember two weeks ago when the entire racing world was all, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH JIMMIE?" Yeah, I think they have their answer. As pointed out other places, he and Matt Kenseth had slower starts to the season because they spent the end of last year focusing on the present, not 2014. Safe to say they're caught up.

2

-1

Kevin Harvick

2

He and Brad Keselowski were the only real threats to Johnson past halfway on Sunday at Dover, and he was once again done-in by a problem out of his hands. Pit road mistakes are as frustrating as it gets for drivers, especially ones with cars as fast as his. They'll make a change on the pit crew and get the ship righted.

3

-1

Jeff Gordon

1

The back spasms have renewed and intensified the retirement talks in the last two weeks. Personally, no way is he stepping out of the car if he's got a chance at titles. Chase Elliott may be in waiting, but Gordon is as much Hendrick Motorsports as Rick Hendrick, and he'll have his ride as long as he wants it.

4

+2

Matt Kenseth

It was mentioned above, but bears repeating: it may have taken a few months to catch up, but who has been running for wins the last two weeks? Johnson and this guy. He leads the traditional points standings, doing what he's done his whole career - top-10 and top-five everyone to death. The lack of wins are just noticed more nowadays.

5

-1

Joey Logano

2

Rolling into Pocono this weekend, guys like Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson will be favored. But don't look past Logano, who has a solid chance of becoming the first three-time winner this season. He won from the pole at Pocono two years ago, and should've won another, but was spun by Kevin Harvick.

6

-1

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

1

Nice rebound from the mysterious engine vibration at Charlotte, running in the top five for much of the race Sunday before settling for ninth at the finish.  Junior has high expectations for top-fives and maybe wins at four of the next five races (minus Sonoma), with Michigan and Daytona chief among them.

Nice rebound from the mysterious engine vibration at Charlotte, running in the top five for much of the race Sunday before settling for ninth at the finish.  Junior has high expectations for top-fives and maybe wins at four of the next five races (minus Sonoma), with Michigan and Daytona chief among them.

7

+1

Brad Keselowski

1

Set a blistering track record and ran near the front the whole race, despite leading only one lap. He and his teammate are easily the best Fords in the field at the moment, and will likely carry that banner for a long time, given the upheaval happening at Roush Fenway. We'll hear from him over the summer, I'd imagine.

8

-1

Kyle Busch

1

He had a right to be upset after the Clint Bowyer incident on Sunday, and smartly listened to the pleas of crew chief Dave Rogers over the radio when he started to go after Bowyer post-wreck. This type of situation seems to follow Busch in his Cup endeavors, and is what keeps him from seriously contending for titles.

9

--

Carl Edwards

1

Ho-hum day at Dover, as has been the story for much of his season. For that matter, it's been the story of every car at Roush Fenway this season, and the better part of the last four - save for Edwards championship run in 2011. It's why Kenseth left after 2012, and why Edwards is likely gone after this season.

10

N/R

Kyle Larson

We're halfway to the Chase cutoff, and who's been the Rookie of the Year (hands-down) so far? This kid. He's got five top-10s and just barely missed out on a sixth on Sunday, tying him for sixth most in the Cup Series. He's Chase qualified now, at 10th in points, and is a very good bet to get a Cup win before the Chase.

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@sourcemedia.net