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Analyzing Sprint Cup’s 21st to 30th ranked drivers after first 5 races of 2016 season

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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.

Friday, we gave you the top 10 drivers.

Saturday, we gave you drivers ranked from 11th through 20th.

Today, we wrap things up by featuring drivers ranked from 21st through 30th.

Here’s how those ranked 21st through 30th have fared thus far in 2016:

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 - Practice

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Trevor Bayne, driver of the #6 AdvoCare Ford, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

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Trevor Bayne

Points position: 21st (-100 points)

Best finish: 17th (Las Vegas)

Worst finish: 28th (Daytona)

Laps led: 0

Nate Ryan’s analysis: There have been glimpses of improvement in qualifying, but the Roush Fenway Racing driver is being outrun by teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on a weekly basis. Bayne needs to prove he can finish in the top 15 with regularity.

Dustin Long’s analysis: Still has plenty of work to do for this team to become more competitive. Best finish this season of 17th is best result he’s had in his last 13 races.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway -  Kobalt 400 Qualifying

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 04: Paul Menard, driver of the #27 Dutch Boy / Menards Chevrolet, stands on pit row during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 4, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)

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Paul Menard

Points position: 22nd (-104 points)

Best finish: 15th (Las Vegas, Auto Club)

Worst finish: 38th (Phoenix)

Laps led: 0

Nate Ryan’s analysis: Even though he made the Chase for the first time last year, Menard actually regressed in top fives, top 10s and laps led. The downward slide is continuing in 2016, and it’s brought into sharper contrast by Austin Dillon’s results.

Dustin Long’s analysis: Has shown little more than being slightly better than a mid-pack car at this point.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 - Qualifying

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Regan Smith, driver of the #7 Nikko RC/Golden Corral Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Regan Smith

Points position: 23rd (-107 points)

Best finish: 8th (Daytona)

Worst finish: 34th (Atlanta)

Laps led: 1

Nate Ryan’s analysis: Since an eighth in the Daytona 500, the results have regressed to what would be expected from this caliber of team. But if Smith can maintain, it’ll be considered a decent building block for a driver hastily added in the preseason.

Dustin Long’s analysis: About what was expected from this team. Key for this group is finishes in superspeedway races.

Auto Club Speedway - Auto Club 400 practice

FONTANA, CA - MARCH 18: Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, addresses the media during a press conference for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on March 18, 2016 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images)

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Kyle Larson

Points position: 24th (-108 points)

Best finish: 7th (Daytona)

Worst finish: 39th (Auto Club)

Laps led: 0

Nate Ryan’s analysis: The sophomore slump has stretched into the third season, which is stunning given how close he was to winning so many times as a rookie. The turnaround might not be entirely within his power, though, with Chip Ganassi Racing lacking speed.

Dustin Long’s analysis: This break comes at the right time for Larson and his team. Gives them a chance to regroup after a disappointing start of the season.

Daytona 500 - Practice

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 19: Brian Scott, driver of the #44 Albertsons Co./Shore Lodge Ford, climbs into his car during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

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Brian Scott

Points position: 25th (-110 points)

Best finish: 12th (Auto Club)

Worst finish: 31st (Atlanta)

Laps led: 1

Nate Ryan’s analysis: The No. 44 Ford isn’t setting the world on fire, but it’s marginally better than its previous incarnation with Sam Hornish Jr. behind the wheel. Fontana proved that Scott can deliver a top-15 finish on a tough track.

Dustin Long’s analysis: The second car at Richard Petty Motorsports hasn’t had much success in recent years. Scott looks to turn that around, but it will take time.

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during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona.

Daniel Shirey

Casey Mears

Points position: 26th (-111 points)

Best finish: 14th (Atlanta)

Worst finish: 35th (Phoenix)

Laps led: 0

Nate Ryan’s analysis: In the first three races, Mears finished within one spot of where he started each time – indicating the team can maintain its spot. But having qualified in the top 20 only once, Mears will need to improve his starting positions.

Dustin Long’s analysis: Not been the best start for this team with two finishes of 30th or worse. Let’s see what this group can do in the upcoming short track events.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 - Qualifying

AVONDALE, AZ - MARCH 11: Greg Biffle, driver of the #16 Cheez-It Ford, walks on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on March 11, 2016 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)

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Greg Biffle

Points position: 27th (-115 points)

Best finish: 13th (Atlanta)

Worst finish: 37th (Auto Club)

Laps led: 0

Nate Ryan’s analysis: Biffle surprisingly has been the weakest performer in the tiny glimmers of Roush Fenway Racing’s reclamation project. Atlanta was a solid start, but it’s been trending in the wrong direction since then for the 46-year-old.

Dustin Long’s analysis: One of the more disappointing teams. Maybe it is just taking a bit more time with Biffle’s pairing with new crew chief Brian Pattie, but this team has struggled.

NASCAR XFINITY Series Virginia529 College Savings 250 - Qualifying

RICHMOND, VA - SEPTEMBER 11: Landon Cassill, driver of the #01 Valvoline Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR XFINITY Series Virginia529 College Savings 250 at Richmond International Raceway on September 11, 2015 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)

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Landon Cassill

Points position: 28th (-118 points)

Best finish: 16th (Auto Club)

Worst finish: 36th (Atlanta)

Laps led: 0

Nate Ryan’s analysis: Veterans have spoken glowingly of Cassill’s performance in second-tier cars the past three seasons. The 26-year-old has been steady in his first season with Front Row Motorsports, producing roughly the results expected.

Dustin Long’s analysis: Three top-25 finishes in the first five races isn’t something many teams would crow about, but it’s steps like these that may lead to better results later in the season.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway - Day 1

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 04: Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 Nature’s Bakery Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 4, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)

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Danica Patrick

Points position: 29th (-123 points)

Best finish: 19th (Phoenix)

Worst finish: 38th (Auto Club)

Laps led: 0

Nate Ryan’s analysis: Subtract the crashes at Daytona and Fontana (which wasn’t her fault), and Patrick probably would be averaging a 20th-place finish in 2016. Far from impressive but still a slight improvement from her first three seasons.

Dustin Long’s analysis: Has better finishes in two races compared to the first five last year and maybe could have made it three had it not been for the contact with Kasey Kahne at Auto Club Speedway. Still, she has not had a top-15 finish this season.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 - Practice

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 20: David Ragan, driver of the #23 Dr Pepper Toyota, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 20, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

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David Ragan

Points position: 30th (-128 points)

Best finish: 22nd (Auto Club)

Worst finish: 32nd (Atlanta, Las Vegas)

Laps led: 1

Nate Ryan’s analysis: This is a career reboot for Ragan, whose objectives are measured and realistic. A 30th-place points ranking isn’t great for a 10-year veteran, but it hasn’t exactly been a disastrous start with BK Racing, either.

Dustin Long’s analysis: Two top-25 finishes in the past two weeks is along the lines for what this team is capable as it seeks to build.

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