2015 Sprint Cup Series Predictions – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Power Rankings: Week 25

2015 Sprint Cup Series Predictions – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Power Rankings: Week 25: The Sprint Cup Series is heading into its final off week of the 2015 season, and with just two races remaining in the regular season, it is time to take a closer look at the drivers that look poised to make a deep run in the Chase for the Sprint Cup and compete for the championship in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

1. Kevin Harvick: Although he hasn’t won since the fourth race of the season, Harvick’s consistency is on another level right now. He has scored 43 more points than any other driver, and in 24 starts, he has logged a series-leading 17 top-five finishes and series-leading 21 top-10s. He has also finished second an incredible 10 times, and he has led 598 more laps than any other driver. The defending champ should at least be in the mix to defend his crown in the series finale.

2. Joey Logano: He has won two of the last three races, and he currently ranks second in the series in average finish, top-five finishes, top-10s and laps led. Logano seems to be hitting his stride just in time for the playoffs to begin, and he looks like a safe bet to be fighting for the title in the finale for the second year in a row.

3. Kyle Busch: Busch isn’t getting nearly enough credit for his performance this season. Despite missing the first 11 races of the year with a broken leg, he is tied for the series lead with four wins, and he ranks fourth in laps led. Busch seems to have a car capable of winning whenever he gets behind the wheel, which will pay big dividends in the Chase, and his impressive comeback campaign could end with a title.

4. Kurt Busch: He was suspended for the first three races of the year, but he has climbed back to eighth in points, picking up a pair of wins and leading the third-most laps in the series. Busch also owns the fourth-best average finish of any driver. With his ability to run up front and compete for wins and deliver consistent finishes, Busch has a great chance to advance to the final round of the Chase.

5. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth has been coming on strong in recent weeks, and after a dominating performance at Michigan, he now owns three wins. Normally known for his consistency, Kenseth could be a major player in the Chase if he can continue to contend for wins the rest of the way.

6. Jimmie Johnson: Although he is currently tied for the series lead with four wins, Johnson has just one top-five finish in the last seven races. The six-time champ could catch fire at any minute, but for now, it appears that Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and the Joe Gibbs Racing drivers are trending up while Johnson and the Hendrick Motorsports drivers are behind a bit.

7. Martin Truex Jr.: After a scorching hot start, Truex has cooled off in recent weeks. On the plus side, he is in the Chase thanks to his win at Pocono in June, and he still showed plenty of muscle at Indianapolis and Michigan, and those bigger ovals make up a big portion of the Chase. Truex has a puncher’s chance, but it is still hard to see a driver from a single-car team winning the championship.

8. Brad Keselowski: He quietly sits fourth in points, but Keselowski hasn’t won since the first month of the season, and he has just five top-five finishes. Consistency is nice, but unless the 2012 champ can start to run in the top five on a consistent basis, he isn’t going to win the championship.

9. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Junior has been rock solid all season, and while he currently sits third in points with two wins, it is worth noting that both of his wins have come at restrictor plate tracks and there is only one plate track in the Chase. He has also fallen victim to the mini slump of Hendrick Motorsports, and Junior is one bad finish away from being in serious trouble in the playoffs.

10. Denny Hamlin: He picked up a win early in the year, but Hamlin has been coming on strong again in recent weeks, reeling off five top-five finishes in his last eight starts. He still tends to be more inconsistent than most of the other big names, but Hamlin caught fire last year and made it into the final four, and he could be headed for another deep Chase run.

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