Where does one begin with the NASCAR Cup Series power rankings after Watkins Glen? Do we discuss Shane van Gisbergen once again reminding everyone that he owns road courses, or do we shine a light on Bubba Wallace turning up the heat on his playoff campaign? Either way, it’s time to shuffle the NASCAR deck and break down who’s crushing it and who’s just limping toward the playoffs.
1. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports
The crown prince of consistency. Sure, he only has two wins, but when you lead 910 laps and own the regular season standings by a mile, you’ve earned your spot at the top. Byron is driving around NASCAR pretending he’s Colin McRae, just with fewer donuts and more points. With two races left before the playoffs, expect him to glue himself to the leaderboard. If he loses the regular-season title now?
2. Chase Briscoe – Joe Gibbs Racing
Briscoe has finally figured out that finishing well is just as crucial as starting strong. Who knew? After being criticized for stellar qualifying runs that seemingly led to a black hole of average finish positions, the guy has turned the corner. Six top 7 finishes in nine races. That’s trophy-case material. His current pace would make even non-fans admit he’s locking down playoff momentum flawlessly.
3. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske
Blaney keeps giving us flashes of brilliance, like that pole at Watkins Glen, only to hit us with iffy final runs. This guy’s been collecting stage wins and piling on points, so it’s not shocking to see him at number three in power rankings. Yet, seven DNFs make you wonder if the universe is playing games with him. Fix the inconsistency, and he’s a serious title contender. Keep the errors, and he’s a perpetual “close, but not quite.”
4. Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing
Can someone get Hamlin a GPS for road courses? He has dominated on ovals with four wins this season, yet he treats road courses as if he has a personal vendetta against them. Watching him take a 25th at Watkins Glen was borderline painful to watch. But hey, when it comes to tracks with left-hand turns, put some respect on his name. There’s no doubt he’ll be in the mix in the Championship 4 if he can stop driving like he’s blindfolded on road circuits.
5. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing
Just when you think Bell’s season is spiraling down harder than a torn-up lottery ticket, he goes and pulls a second-place banger at Watkins Glen. The No. 20 team went MIA for a while during the summer, but it seems they’ve found their GPS just in time to cruise toward the playoffs. He might not be the flashiest driver right now, but he’ll sneak up and steal your lunch if you’re not paying attention.
6. Shane van Gisbergen – Trackhouse Racing
SVG’s idea of “rookie hazing” is just casually winning four times in his debut season, including obliterating the field at Watkins Glen. That said, it’s pretty clear he and ovals are having a rocky relationship. But, as the best road course racer of his generation, the playoffs might just fall into his favor with some oval-learning sprinkled in. So, it’s no surprise that his name made onto this power ranking list. His oval learning curve might be steeper than his downhill cornering skills, but hey, the man is still a walking highlight reel.
7. Bubba Wallace – 23XI Racing
Forget what you thought about Wallace last season because the man has been cooking in 2025. A win at the Brickyard followed by strong finishes at Iowa and Watkins Glen? Momentum is finally breaking down Wallace’s door, but can he keep it rolling? Two playoff-friendly tracks are up next, so if he makes magic happen there, you’re looking at your underdog hero of the playoffs.
8. Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports
Remember when Larson was the guy to beat? Between mechanical gremlins and being stuck in the NASCAR version of quicksand, Larson’s 2025 season is reading more like a cautionary tale than a success story. But hey, talent like his doesn’t just fade away. Can he recover from Watkins Glen?
9. Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing
Reddick hasn’t won this year, but somehow, he feels like that guy who’s just waiting in the wings, ready to burst onto the scene. He’s consistent, mainly because he avoids costly errors. Word of advice? If Reddick can catch some luck, you may just see him throw that zero-win season into the smoke.
10. Chris Buescher – RFK Racing
Buescher is doing just enough. He’s come dangerously close to falling off the playoff cliff, but keeps clawing his way back. While SVG stomped on everyone’s dreams at Watkins Glen, Buescher quietly strengthened his top-16 grip.
Final Thoughts
This year’s NASCAR Power Rankings post-Watkins Glen are shaping up to be something special. From road-course kings to oval juggernauts, the mix of talent and chaos has us on the edge of our seats. If your driver’s name isn’t here, well, better luck next season or maybe it was just an off week. The playoffs loom big, and the next few weeks will be a proving ground for everyone on this list. Stay tuned because it’s about to get wild.
