NASCAR Power Rankings Week 10: Top 5 Drivers to Win the Nationwide Series Championship: The Nationwide Series season is only nine races old, but the list of title contenders has already been narrowed. Unlike the Cup Series where the Chase system resets the standings in the final 10 races, the Nationwide Series uses a more traditional point system which does allow a drive or two to separate from the rest of the field. Throw in the fact that there are a very limited number of competitive teams that are eligible for the championship, and it’s not overly surprising that a handful of contenders have already emerged.
2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series Power Rankings – Week 10
1. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: After winning the series title last season, Stenhouse is making it very clear that he wants to make it back-to-back championships. He has built up a 23-point lead thanks to a series-leading six top-five finishes and eight top 10s. Stenhouse also has a pair of wins already, and his 5.0 average finish is tops among title-eligible drivers. One of the keys to his success has been his performance in qualifying. Stenhouse has started in the top 10 in all nine races in 2012. He is looking every bit the best driver in the Nationwide Series these days, and the only thing that might stop him from winning a handful of titles is his inevitable move to the Cup Series.
2. Austin Dillon: Dillon isn’t sitting atop the point standings, but he has been by far the most impressive driver in 2012. The 22-year old rookie has wasted little time establishing himself as a future star. He ranks second in the series with seven top-10s and five top-five finishes, and he hasn’t finished worse than 17th all year. To top it off, he has been incredible in qualifying, starting ninth or better in every race, including seven starts from the top five. The only thing missing from Dillon’s resume is a win, and it probably won’t be long before he gets that monkey off his back, as well. The grandson of car owner Richard Childress is only going to get better as he gains experience, and in a couple of years, he will likely be driving for his grandfather at the Cup level.
3. Elliott Sadler: He came up just short of a championship last season, and Sadler is once again in position to make a title run. He has four top-five finishes and seven top-10s through nine starts, and unlike last year when he went winless, Sadler has already made a pair of trips to Victory Lane. His two biggest strengths are his experience and his consistency. Sadler won’t make any major mistakes that kill his title chances, and he should be within striking distance all season long.
4. Sam Hornish Jr.: A couple of years ago, the Cup Series washout appeared headed back to open-wheel racing. Now, he is sitting in the top five in the Nationwide Series standings. Hornish seemed to gain a ton of confidence following his victory at Phoenix last fall, and the momentum has carried over into 2012. Since finishing 20th in the season open at Daytona, he has reeled off eight straight finishes of 13th or better. More importantly, Hornish is getting stronger as the year goes on. Both of his top-five finishes have come in his last three starts. NASCAR fans that remember Hornish’s struggles in the Cup Series will have a tough time buying into him as a legitimate contender, but at least at the Nationwide level, he has figured out stock car racing.
5. Cole Whitt: The JR Motorsports driver has been flying under the radar, but he has climbed to fifth in points and appears to be hitting his stride. He has a pair of top-five finishes and four top-10s in nine start this season, including finishes of fourth and 10th in his last two starts. Thanks in part to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s always-top notch restrictor-plate equipment, Whitt’s two top-five finishes have come at Daytona and Talladega. How his 10th-place run at Darlington showcased his upside. Whitt started 40th at one of the toughest tracks on the schedule and methodically worked his way forward. The best is yet to come for Whitt.
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