SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s Power Rankings

The NASCAR Cup Series crowned a champion on Sunday. Here’s a look at the Power Rankings after the NASCAR Cup Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway.

by:
Pete Pistone
November 8, 2022

AVONDALE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 06: NASCAR President Steve Phelps presents the Bill France NASCAR Cup Series Championship trophy to Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, in victory lane after winning the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on November 06, 2022 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Pete Pistone will unveil Power Rankings each week of the NASCAR season. Check out this week’s edition of NASCAR Power Rankings below, and listen to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) on the SXM App now. Revisit previous editions of our Power Rankings here.

The NASCAR Cup Series crowned a champion on Sunday. Here’s a look at the Power Rankings after the NASCAR Cup Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway.

1. Joey Logano

He’s a two-time Cup Series champion after flexing his muscles in a big way on Sunday to win the race and the title in Phoenix. Logano led five times for 187 laps and sealed the deal with a strong last run once he got the lead to separate himself from the field. He started the year with a win in the Busch Clash at the Coliseum and ended it in Victory Lane hoisting another Cup Series championship trophy.

Playoff Grid: 1st
Last Week: 3rd

2. Ross Chastain

The talk of the week after his wild ride around the Martinsville wall to race his way into the Championship Four. But Chastain couldn’t complete the Cinderella story and finish third in Phoenix, but still good enough to finish second in the final standings.

Playoff Grid: 2nd
Last Week: 1st

3. Christopher Bell

There was a lot of momentum for Bell and company coming into the Phoenix finale after scoring the walk-off win to get to the Championship Four the week prior at Martinsville. But despite having a fast car and mishap on a late pit stop cost Bell precious time and all he could do is race back to a tenth place finish.

Playoff Grid: 3rd
Last Week: 2nd

4. Kyle Larson

He came into Phoenix after finishing first and second the previous two races and with a shot to win the Owners Championship for Hendrick Motorsports. It wasn’t to be as Larson’s top-10 finish wasn’t enough to bring home the hardware.

Playoff Grid: 7th
Last Week: 4th

5. Chase Elliott

His chance at becoming a two-time champion ended after contact with Ross Chastain racing for position and Elliott’s Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was never the same afterward. The season ended with a 28th-place Phoenix finish.

Playoff Grid: 4th
Last Week: 5th

6. Ryan Blaney

He went winless in 2022 in a season that did see Blaney make the Playoffs and add an All-Star Race win to his resume. Sunday’s performance was a strong one for the No. 12 Team Penske Ford as Blaney led 109 laps and finished in the runner-up position.

Playoff Grid: 8th
Last Week: 7th

7. Chase Briscoe

Phoenix turned out to be a pretty good track this season for Briscoe as he scored career Cup win number one at the track back in the spring. He had another good race car in the season finale and ended the campaign with a strong fourth-place finish.

Playoff Grid: 9th
Last Week: 8th

8. Denny Hamlin

He missed out on having a shot at the title when Hamlin failed to qualify for the Championship 4. After starting 21st, Hamlin did move through the field to post an eighth-place finish when the checkered flag flew at Phoenix.

Playoff Grid: 5th
Last Week: 6th

9. William Byron

Decent outing for Byron who had a season that started out incredibly well before hitting the doldrums in the middle portion of the campaign. He ended heading in a better direction and his last outing of 2022 ended with a top-10 Phoenix performance.

Playoff Grid: 6th
Last Week: 9th

10. Tyler Reddick

A disappointing end to his tenure at Richard Childress Racing in a year that did see Reddick make multiple trips to Victory Lane. His challenges Sunday at Phoenix added up to just a 23rd place finish and a lap down to the field.

Playoff Grid: 14th
Last Week: 10th

Dropped Out: None


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