While NASCAR enjoys its first off-weekend of the season, we here at NASCAR Talk thought it would be a good time to analyze how the top 30 drivers have fared in the first five races.
Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski and Austin Dillon make up the top 10 drivers we’ll feature today.
We’ll feature drivers ranked 11th through 20th on Saturday and wrap things up on Sunday with drivers ranked 21st through 30th.
Here’s how the top 10 have fared thus far in 2016:
Kevin Harvick
Points position: 1
Best finish: 1st (Phoenix)
Worst finish: 7th (Las Vegas)
Laps led: 413
Nate Ryan’s analysis: Just as good as he has been since joining Stewart-Haas Racing, but the inability to close dominant performances is becoming a headache. That will loom larger the longer Harvick’s contract future remains cloudy.
Dustin Long’s analysis: Can he beat Jimmie Johnson head-to-head? In the last nine times they’ve finished first and second, Johnson won. Good news is this team has plenty of time to work toward rectifying that.
Jimmie Johnson
Points position: 2nd (-11 points behind Harvick)
Best finish: 1st (Atlanta, Auto Club)
Worst finish: 16th (Daytona)
Laps led: 171
Nate Ryan’s analysis: This is the best the No. 48 Chevrolet has performed since its sixth championship. The downforce reduction suits Johnson, and crew chief Chad Knaus seems more comfortable with strategy than in years.
Dustin Long’s analysis: That Chad Knaus said last weekend he doesn’t feel the team is running as strong as what they need and already has two wins could be a scary proposition for foes. This is the fourth time Johnson has had two wins in the first five races. He won the title the other three times.
Carl Edwards
Points position: 3rd (-24 points)
Best finish: 2nd (Phoenix)
Worst finish: 18th (Las Vegas)
Laps led: 75
Nate Ryan’s analysis: He has improved with new crew chief Dave Rogers, but the sting from the runner-up finish at Phoenix will linger. Edwards still seems to be trying too hard in his second season with Joe Gibbs Racing, causing unforced errors.
Dustin Long’s analysis: Just missed making the final round last year in Miami, but is showing signs that the belongs there this year and doing it with a new crew chief.
Denny Hamlin
Points position: 4th (-25 points)
Best finish: 1st (Daytona 500)
Worst finish: 19th (Las Vegas)
Laps led: 107
Nate Ryan’s analysis: He seems back on his game after a two-race blip following his Daytona 500 breakthrough victory. New crew chief Mike Wheeler, whom Hamlin immensely reveres, has a six-month jump on the playoffs.
Dustin Long’s analysis: Scored back-to-back third-place finishes heading into next weekend’s race at Martinsville Speedway, one of his best tracks. Could be the start of something big.
Kyle Busch
Points position: 5th (-25 points)
Best finish: 3rd (Daytona, Atlanta)
Worst finish: 25th (Auto Club)
Laps led: 134
Nate Ryan’s analysis: Aside from finding victory lane, the defending series champion hasn’t lost a beat from last season. He actually seems faster, and he will enter Martinsville Speedway overdue for a win on a short track where he excels.
Dustin Long’s analysis: Which Kyle is this, I forget? New Kyle? Old Kyle? New old Kyle? Old old Kyle? However you define him, he’s fast. Just like last year.
Joey Logano
Points position: 6th (-30 points)
Best finish: 2nd (Las Vegas)
Worst finish: 18th (Phoenix)
Laps led: 77
Nate Ryan’s analysis: All he needs is a win to start looking ahead to the playoffs with crew chief Todd Gordon. The speed of the No. 22 Ford is there, and Logano remains at the top of his game, even if he is angering his rivals.
Dustin Long’s analysis: Teammate Brad Keselowski showed one doesn’t have to have many friends to win a championship. Maybe this is the year for Logano to follow that.
Kurt Busch
Points position: 7th (-47 points)
Best finish: 4th (Atlanta)
Worst finish: 30th (Auto Club)
Laps led: 93
Nate Ryan’s analysis: The 30th at Fontana was unusually disappointing (just ask Dustin, who boldly predicted the No. 41 to win). Is it a portentous sign … or just a slight stumble after opening 2016 with two poles and four consecutive top 10s?
Dustin Long’s analysis: Yes, was shocked at his Fontana flameout. Have liked the speed of this car – at least until Fontana.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Points position: 8th (-50 points)
Best finish: 2nd (Atlanta)
Worst finish: 36th (Daytona)
Laps led: 49
Nate Ryan’s analysis: Remove the Daytona 500 crash, and this is one of the strongest starts yet for NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver. He still needs another gear to reach teammate Jimmie Johnson’s level, but so do most drivers on the circuit.
Dustin Long’s analysis: Run through the field from the back at Phoenix was impressive and shows how well the car is handling. Qualifying performance is confounding. He’s failed failed to advance beyond the first round the past two events.
Brad Keselowski
Points position: 9th (-53 points)
Best finish: 1st (Las Vegas)
Worst finish: 29th (Phoenix)
Laps led: 25
Nate Ryan’s analysis: The fire is back for the 2012 champion, who is aggressive on the track and outspoken away from it. That’s good for buttoned-up Team Penske, which needs Keselowski to embrace his wild child despite the contrast.
Dustin Long’s analysis: One area this team needs to improve is qualifying. Has started 14th or better just once in the first five races.
Austin Dillon
Points position: 10th (-56 points)
Best finish: 5th (Las Vegas)
Worst finish: 24th (Auto Club)
Laps led: 3
Nate Ryan’s analysis: The pole position at Fontana validated the progress for this third-year team, which opened the season with four finishes of 11th or better. With this consistency, Dillon could qualify for championship eligibility on points.
Dustin Long’s analysis: Showing speed. Now he and team have to keep up with the car’s performance and avoid mistakes to get the results they deserve each week.
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