NASCAR Power Rankings: 2014 Week 16

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: Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne

Dropped out: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin

RANK

+/-

NAME

WINS

THOUGHTS

1

--

Jimmie Johnson

3

While the rankings were away, he won his first race at Michigan, making it three wins in four races after everyone wondered why he couldn't win. Had a solid day at Sonoma, finishing seventh, as well. In case anyone had any lingering doubt, the championship still goes through this guy. 

2

--

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2

Michigan may have ended up a disappointment by his standards there, but it's safe to say Sonoma was essentially a win without the trophy for Dale Jr - even with the Matt Kenseth incident. And even further, had he gotten a caution at the end, he was sitting pretty for a victory considering he was the fastest on the track.

3

+2

Jeff Gordon

1

One more lap and it's Gordon who's locked into the Chase and not Carl Edwards. If we're in the pre-Chase era, he's having an old school Gordon championship year. We'll see if he can keep this up as the Chase gets closer. Regardless, it's been fun to see him rejuvenated this season.

4

-1

Kevin Harvick

2

This is getting a little ridiculous. What did he or Rodney Childers do in a past life to deserve this kind of awful luck? He should probably have five or six wins already this season, and instead the frustration is mounting. Sure, Harvick has matured a lot, but that will absolutely rear it's head if this continues.

5

-2

Brad Keselowski

1

As good as Keselowski is at Watkins Glen, you'd think he'd be solid at Sonoma. But the technical skill it takes at Sonoma compared to the banzai speed at the Glen apparently doesn't translate. Sonoma aside, he's been very solid lately, and could easily get win No. 2 at Kentucky this weekend.

6

--

Joey Logano

2

Expected a little more of him at Michigan, but still was solidly top 10 all race. Like his teammate, Sonoma was forgettable, as it is with many drivers in the Sprint Cup garage. And also like his teammate, Kentucky should be a place where he can add to his win total. Penske has carried the Ford banner all year.

Expected a little more of him at Michigan, but still was solidly top 10 all race. Like his teammate, Sonoma was forgettable, as it is with many drivers in the Sprint Cup garage. And also like his teammate, Kentucky should be a place where he can add to his win total. Penske has carried the Ford banner all year.

7

--

Matt Kenseth

That's about as hard as a car can hit at Sonoma, where speeds generally don't get super high because of the course layout. Have to wonder, too, how he reacted to the incident, considering it was a good friend in Dale Jr. who took him out. Kenseth isn't usually one to hold grudges or get worked up.

8

N/R

Carl Edwards

2

Hey Carl, are you a Camry or Tundra kinda guy? Asking for a friend... He was an unexpected winner, no doubt, but like we expected, he was mum on his still-to-be-announced 2015 plans. What was telling was his lack of touting Ford and their fuel mileage, something he normally falls over himself to do.

9

N/R

Kasey Kahne

Could he finally be out of the miserable luck streak he started this season with? Came back from near disaster two week in a row at Michigan and Sonoma, with fifth and sixth place finishes. All this garbage about replacing him with Chase Elliott needs to stop, because the guy can wheel a racecar as good as anyone.

10

-2

Kyle Busch

1

Speaking of wheelmen, here's one who has had a rough late spring/early summer. An awful Michigan was followed by an equally awful Sonoma, where he has a win. The light at the end of that misery tunnel could be Kentucky, where Busch won the inaugural Cup race. He's a top candidate to stop the recent Hendrick dominance.

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