No changes at the top this week, but there’s quite a tweak at the bottom of our Top 10.
We’ve put the Boys in Research to the task, but they’ve yet to find another occasion when we’ve included a part-time driver on our list. You might suspect it would take something special to make that happen.
How’s this for special: Two wins in the past three starts, one on a street course and the other on a giant, unrestricted oval. That’s how Corey Heim earned his spot this week, and while he might not stay, given the scarcity of his starts the rest of the season (just four of ’em), I’m gonna go on a limb and say he’ll return someday in the future.
Meanwhile, Joey Logano gained yet another spot here while Ryan Blaney lost one and Tyler Reddick lost two more. Let’s go to the grid …
1. Denny Hamlin
Seven wins as a car owner this year but now 0-for-18 as a driver at the Brickyard.
2. Chase Briscoe
Up front nearly every week nowadays, and now on our front row here.
3. Ryan Blaney
It’s too easy to lose a million bucks, but he had to work hard to lose it to Todd Gilliland.
4. Ty Gibbs
Keeps piling up points while another win seems destined for him in August.
5. Christopher Bell
“Mr. Bridesmaid” now has a 6-pack of runner-up finishes this season.
6. Carson Hocevar
As he learned at Indy, you can’t win if you can’t pass.
7. Tyler Reddick
One of three with 15 top-10s this year.
8. Chase Elliott
One top-10 in last 11 starts and dangerously close to getting bumped from our little gathering here.
9. Joey Logano
Seems to have found his eighth cylinder.
10. Corey Heim
Hey, why not? Who else has won two of the last three races?
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR Top 10 driver rankings updated. Look who crashed the party
Reporting by Ken Willis, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ken Willis, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
