NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 10 drivers after Coca-Cola 600. Kyle Larson spins off top spot
Twice.
In Kyle's world, one bad day (and night) constitutes a slump. Generally, we're a forgiving bunch at the Rankings Ranch, and one bad Sunday doesn't normally have us grabbing the hook. But this "one bad Sunday" came with a glaring spotlight.
Advertisement
And it came during a weekend in which Billy the Kid — William Byron — was giving a master class in how to race an automobile at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Consider his dominance over the course of about 30 hours.
Byron not only won Saturday's Xfinity Series race, he swept all three stages. Sunday night, he won all three stages again, but this time, there was a fourth stage, thanks to the 600 miles that make up the Coke 600. Late in Stage 4, his tires began to go night-night, allowing Ross "The Boss" Chastain to pass for the win.
It was very similar to what happened to Willy B last month at Darlington.
Advertisement
Not that he'll care, but Byron's near-sweep at Charlotte did bump him to first place in our weekly power rankings. He'll surely sleep better knowing that.
1. William Byron
A near Charlotte sweep has him atop our heap.
2. Christopher Bell
He just doesn't have bad weeks. Sunday's eighth-place finish was about as bad as it gets.
3. Kyle Larson
May ends soon and we turn to June. Bet he can't wait.
4. Ross Chastain
Win a race, smash a watermelon, scoop up watermelon, eat some. Maybe not appetizing to some, but Ross likes it.
That watermelon was getting ripe.
5. Joey Logano
Won last year's race at Nashville. Might mean something, might not.
6. Chase Elliott
Just filling his points basket. Ex-Hendrick champ Terry Labonte would be proud.
7. Ryan Blaney
Mixes in too many crashes. Has four finishes of 35th or worse.
8. Denny Hamlin
Got back in the mix Sunday before an unfulfilling pit stop.
9. Chase Briscoe
Snuck out a third at Charlotte. Continues to run well most weeks.
10. Alex Bowman
Came down to him or Tyler Reddick for 10th. It's the Showman. For now.
Advertisement
— Email Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Kyle Larson spins from top of NASCAR Power Rankings. Who's No. 1 now?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Lionel Messi's bodyguard suspended in latest controversy
Lionel Messi's bodyguard is once again embroiled in controversy. Yassine Cheuko will be suspended from all technical areas for the remainder of the Leagues Cup after an incident during Inter Miami's game against Atlas on Wednesday night. 'After the July 30 Inter Miami CF vs. Club Atlas match, a member of Inter Miami's club delegation displayed improper conduct by entering restricted areas without an official event credential,' the Leagues Cup disciplinary committee said in a press release. Advertisement Yassine Cheuko before an Inter Miami match on June 23. FIFA via Getty Images 'In accordance with the Leagues Cup 2025 Tournament Regulations, the Disciplinary Committee has suspended the individual involved from all technical areas for the remainder of Leagues Cup 2025 and issued an undisclosed fine to Inter Miami CF.' The individual was reported to be Cheuko by ESPN. Advertisement Cheuko, an ex-MMA fighter who has been Messi's personal bodyguard since the megastar's time at Paris Saint-Germain, went onto the field after Wednesday's match to break up a discussion between players from the two teams. Afterward, Atlas player Matheus Doria said the bodyguard's actions were uncalled for. Lionel Messi during Inter Miami's Leagues Cup match against Atlas on Wednesday. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect 'We already know that our board works very well and will take care of the issue. I understand that Messi's bodyguard is there to protect Messi from a possible entry by a fan, I don't know, but between players, he doesn't have that permission,' Doria said. Advertisement 'It's not up to us to say much or give our opinion on the matter, but the board and those in charge of the Leagues Cup have already seen it and will take charge of what can and can't be done because as long as it protects not only Messi but the other players, and the physical integrity of the players who are there, that's fine. But if it's for other issues, no one will agree, but it's not up to me to do anything.' In April, Cheuko was banned by Inter Miami from being on the sidelines during MLS matches, although he remained a member of the club's security team.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Crazy Iowa finish: Carl Edwards vs. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. from 2011
Relive this classic moment from Iowa Speedway that saw Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Carl Edwards crash at the finish of the 2011 Xfinity Series race.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Luke Rockhold rails on 'dumbass sport' bareknuckle boxing, suggests bareknuckle kickboxing
Luke Rockhold is not sold on bare-knuckle boxing as a sport. The former UFC middleweight champion tried his hand at bare-knuckle boxing when he fought Mike Perry at BKFC 41 in April 2023. Rockhold broke his teeth in a second-round TKO loss. "Bare-knuckle boxing is not a fight," Rockhold told MMA Fighting. "I realized going in there, I'm not losing my f*cking teeth without using everything I've worked for my whole life. People are f*cking dumb. That's a dumbass sport. Metal (ropes) that you just hit, and they throw you back into the brawl. There's no way to gauge that distance, and it's like who's willing to lose their face first for f*cking nothing." Rockhold says he would consider bare-knuckle boxing if they added one more element to the ruleset. "One thing that I would do that I think is way more badass, and not so f*cking stupid, because you can't gauge distance in bare-knuckle boxing," Rockhold said. "I would do bare-knuckle kickboxing. I would f*cking rematch Mike Perry and put him to sleep. I don't think he wants that. "There's no way to gauge distance in bare-knuckle boxing, and they've got metal ropes, you're just bouncing in and out. Bare-knuckle kickboxing, I think there would be actually some technique to it, and I think that would be badass. That would be a real, real fight, and that would be fun. I'd f*ck somebody up in that." Rockhold will try his hand at boxing when he takes on fellow ex-UFC fighter Darren TIll in the Misfits Boxing 22: Ring of Thrones main event on Aug. 30 at AO Arena from Manchester, England.
