NASCAR Cup Series The Chase Power Rankings Ahead of St. Louis

Here’s my updated look at the 16 drivers in The Chase after Darlington and heading into St. Louis. Rankings are based on momentum and actual chances to win the NASCAR Cup Series Championship, not just the current points standings. One race in, and the field is already starting to take shape.

1. Denny Hamlin – 2,135 points

Not a great night at Darlington with an 18th-place finish, but they salvaged a bad day and still held onto the points lead. Hamlin remains the most complete package in the field. Until someone consistently beats him, this is still his championship to lose.

2. Ryan Blaney – -16

A fourth-place finish is nothing to complain about, and he closed the gap on the lead. St. Louis sits right in Penske’s wheelhouse, so this is a big opportunity for them to make a real statement. Blaney still feels like one of the few drivers who can actually win it all.

3. Christopher Bell – -12 (+4 from previous week)

The win at Darlington finally got the monkey off his back after all those second-place finishes. The race-winning speed showed up when it mattered. If Bell can keep converting strong runs into victories, he’s right back in the title fight.

4. Tyler Reddick – -24 (-1 from previous week)

Back-to-back third-place finishes show the No. 45 team has stabilized after a rough stretch. The speed that produced five wins earlier this season is still there. Reddick hasn’t gone away, and he remains a legitimate contender.

5. Ty Gibbs – -39 (+1)

He had a real shot to win at Darlington and just got beat by his teammate. The next two weeks at St. Louis and Bristol are some of his better tracks. Gibbs needs big performances here if he wants to close the gap and prove he’s more than just consistent.

6. Chase Briscoe – -37 (-1)

A sixth-place finish isn’t bad, but Darlington has been one of his stronger tracks and the car had speed. It feels a little like a missed opportunity. The talent is there for Briscoe — they just need to start cashing in.

7. Joey Logano – -72 (-3)

A ninth-place run only netted 28 points. Logano’s recent form had him climbing, but he needs a win in the next couple weeks at St. Louis or Bristol to stay in the true championship conversation. The window is still open, just not for long.

8. Kyle Larson – -49 (+1)

Top-five finish and a tire call that nearly paid off. For the first time in a while the No. 5 team showed real race-winning speed. Has Larson’s group turned a corner? You still can’t fully count out the defending champion.

9. Chase Elliott – -72 (-1)

A 14th-place finish isn’t a disaster, but it doesn’t help him gain ground either. Elliott needs a string of top-fives to start making up points. He’s still Hendrick’s best shot, but the clock is ticking.

10. Bubba Wallace – -81 (+5)

Solid eighth-place finish for Wallace, with some laps led. The next few weeks are about stacking good points days before Kansas, which is a must-win type of track for him if he wants to enter the real title picture.

11. Ryan Preece – -104 (+3)

Another top-10 at Darlington after the walk-off win at Daytona. That first career victory doesn’t look like a fluke. He’s trending the right way, but there’s still a lot of ground to make up.

12. Carson Hocevar – -89

An 11th-place finish keeps him afloat, but getting tangled up with Brad Keselowski is a dangerous game. Keselowski doesn’t forget, and other drivers will be happy to make life difficult for Hocevar if he starts becoming a real threat.

13. Daniel Suárez – -94 (-2)

A 21st-place run isn’t going to cut it. Making The Chase and winning the Coke 600 already made the season a success for this team. Everything from here is gravy.

14. Chris Buescher – -88 (+1)

Twentieth at Darlington continues a quiet stretch for Buescher. Nothing particularly special is happening with this group right now, and that has to change soon if they want to stay relevant.

15. Austin Cindric – -102 (+1)

A 13th-place finish is respectable for Cindric, especially at a tough track like Darlington. Like his Penske teammates, these next two short-track style races are critical if he wants to climb into any kind of championship discussion.

16. William Byron – -114 (-6)

DNFs are the fastest way to end a title run before it starts. A 37th-place finish at Darlington puts Byron in a deep hole. His championship chances are already on life support.

That’s where things stand after the Southern 500. St. Louis and Bristol are going to start thinning this field out in a hurry. The drivers who can stack strong runs and find Victory Lane over the next couple weeks will separate themselves. Everyone else is going to be playing catch-up fast.