2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Power Rankings: Week 17: Fresh off a rain-shortened race at Michigan, the Cup Series will head into a rare off weekend. While the drivers and teams take a chance to regroup, it is time to take a closer look at the top contenders for the 2015 Sprint Cup.
- Kevin Harvick: He joined Jeff Gordon as just the second driver in history to lead at least 1,200 laps in the first 15 races of the season, and in addition to his two wins, he also has eight second-place finishes. Harvick is sitting atop the point standings, and he leads the series in just about every scoring loop category. The defending champ looks poised for a potential repeat.
- Jimmie Johnson: His nine top-five finishes are the second most in the series, and more importantly, Johnson leads all drivers with four victories. While he hasn’t had the most dominant car on a week-to-week basis, but he does rank in the top five in both laps led and fastest laps run. Meanwhile, he and crew chief Chad Knaus seem to have the best combination of speed and strategy most weeks.
- Martin Truex Jr.: Truex clinched a spot in the Chase with his win at Pocono, and he sits second in the point standings thanks to a series-leading 14 top-10s in 15 races. He also seems to be getting stronger as the year goes on, and he has led the most laps in four of the last five races. Truex owns the third best driver rating in the series, and he ranks in the top five in laps led and fastest laps run, as well.
- Kurt Busch: Although he missed the first three races of the year because of a suspension, he has more than made up for lost time. He just picked up his second win last weekend at Michigan, and he ranks second in laps led and fastest laps run despite missing time. The 2004 champ is showing championship-caliber speed.
- Joey Logano: He won the Daytona 500 to open the year, and Logano has remained rock solid since. He ranks third in the series in top-five finishes and top-10s, and he also ranks fourth in laps led. Logano was one of the four finalists for the title last season, and he looks strong again in 2015.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Junior’s Chase spot is secured thanks to a win at Talladega, and he has been one of the better drivers throughout the year. He is tied for third with eight top-five finishes, and he also owns the fourth best driver rating and the fourth best green flag speed.
- Brad Keselowski: Since reeling off three straight top-five finishes, including a win, in late March, Keselowski hasn’t shown his typical muscle. Yes, he has remained solid, and his nine top-10s are tied for fifth overall. However, he will need to recapture his early season magic to be a real threat come playoff time.
- Matt Kenseth: He has been his typically consistent self this year, ranking fourth in average running position and third in laps in the top 15. On the flip side, he ranks in the bottom half of the top 10 in several scoring loop categories, and he hasn’t shown the consistent high-end speed that he will need to win a title under the current elimination format.
- Denny Hamlin: In many ways, Hamlin has been the reverse of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Matt Kenseth. In addition to his win at Martinsville, he ranks sixth in laps led and seventh in fastest laps run, but his 17.2 average finish highlights his week-to-week inconsistencies. Speed is nice, but Hamlin won’t be able to survive so many poor outings come playoff time.
- Jamie McMurray: McMurray rounds out the top 10 on the strength of three straight seventh-place finishes, and he quietly sits seventh in the standings. McMurray is the highest ranking driver without a win, and while he is certainly a dark horse, he is showing the type of consistency that Ryan Newman showed last year prior to making a serious run at the title.
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