2023 NASCAR Power Rankings: Resurgent Truex Jr. leads the field

Another year of parity in the Cup Series sees many contenders for the 2023 championship

In 2022, the NASCAR Cup Series championship came down to the wire in a battle between Joey Logano, Ross Chastain, and Christopher Bell. That was somewhat surprising given that the three drivers combined for just five wins during the NASCAR regular season. The 2023 season’s been similarly close among many drivers, including some different names at the top. With just one month left in the regular season, here’s a look at the 2023 NASCAR Power Rankings.

1. Martin Truex Jr.

The 2017 Cup Series champion started off relatively slow in 2023, taking just two top-10 finishes through Bristol. But he turned things around starting in Martinsville. Third in that race preceded his first win of the season in Dover. That marked his first win since the fall Richmond race in 2021. He’s notched eight top-five finishes this year, beginning with that result in Martinsville. He had down performances in Chicago and Atlanta but rebounded with a dominant win in Loudon and third in Pocono to stay atop the NASCAR standings.

2. William Byron

Byron had two wins in all of last season. He matched that total in the first four races of 2023. Victories in Las Vegas and Phoenix remain the only consecutive wins for a Cup Series driver this season. Byron’s four wins are the most of anyone on the grid. His up-and-down start to the year, when those wins were bookended by 34th-, 25th-, and 32nd-place finishes, has evened out. He’s finished outside of the top 15 just once since Martinsville.

3. Denny Hamlin

Hamlin’s record seventh win in Pocono put a stamp on what’s been arguably the most consistent season in the Cup Series field. Pocono was his second win of the year, but Hamlin’s finished at the bottom of the order just twice as well. He’s 55 points back from Truex Jr. thanks to consistently being near the front race in and race out.

4. Kyle Larson

If Larson hadn’t had bad luck in 2023, he wouldn’t have any luck. Through the first half of the regular season, the 2021 Cup Series champion could have had 11 wins. Crashes by other drivers took him out of contention in Daytona and the Atlanta spring race. Lousy luck kept him out of the win for Phoenix and Fontana. But he has a Cup Series-best nine top-five finishes this season. He’s been steadily rising up the order and could’ve won in Pocono. A month from now, he’ll likely be higher than seventh to start the playoffs, thanks to some more solid NASCAR results.

5. Christopher Bell

Joe Gibbs Racing’s NASCAR starting lineup in the Cup Series has been stellar this year. Bell’s been outshined by teammates Truex Jr. and Hamlin, with just one win to his name (Bristol). But he’s been just as consistent as Hamlin has in 2023. He’s finished in the top 10 in half of the races so far this season. Come September, he’ll likely be battling his teammates for results.

6. Kyle Busch

The two-time champion is enjoying a bounce-back season after his move to Richard Childress Racing. After totaling four wins in the last three years, Busch has three victories with a month left in the regular season. Wins in Fontana, Talladega and a dominant win from pole in Gateway have him sixth in the championship. If the season were to end today, that’d be his best result since his last title in 2019.

7. Chase Elliott

This may be a season of what might’ve been for the 2020 Cup Series champion. Elliott missed six races in the first part of the season due to a leg injury and then was suspended for Gateway due to his actions in Charlotte. He’s running out of time to qualify for the playoffs, but he’s been very consistent in his limited action this year. Fourteen races have yielded eight top-10 results. All he needs is a win to turn things around from 21st in the standings potentially.

8. Ross Chastain

Chastain led the Cup Series standings for much of the season thanks to consistent results in the first few months. Through Kansas, he had five top-five finishes, the best total of anyone on the grid. But he’s tumbled down the 2023 NASCAR Power Rankings due to results since then. A win in Nashville, his only of the year, was a bright spot in what’s been a down second half of the year. He has just two top-10 results in the last nine NASCAR races. He’ll make the playoffs but needs to find a groove before then.

9. Joey Logano

The defending champion started strong with second place in the Daytona 500 and a win from pole in the Atlanta spring race. But it’s been tough going since then. He’s managed just four top-five results since that win in Atlanta. Thanks to his consistent results in stages, he’ll make the playoffs and be in contention.

10. Ryan Blaney

It’s close between Blaney and Kevin Harvick for the final spot on the 2023 NASCAR Power Rankings. But we went with Blaney thanks to his win in Charlotte and edge in stage points. Wrecks have kept Blaney back from more consistent results. Can he turn it around enough to get momentum heading into the playoffs? We think so.

For NASCAR betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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