Ryan Blaney breaks through for first win of 2025

Music City brought the action this weekend. Let’s get into the NASCAR Power Rankings and who is the best of the best this week. There has been a bit of movement lately. A few teams that were really strong early on this year and then fell back in recent weeks found speed again.

There were issues with passing. However, that was a consistent theme throughout the week, not just a Sunday night thing. Corey Heim lamented that passing was too difficult at the front of the field to fully make a move on Rajah Caruth for the win. Connor Zilisch said much of the same about chasing Justin Allgaier in the Xfinity Series.

The NASCAR Power Rankings have changed, and we are ready to crown a new leader after this week. I’m sure you know who I’m talking about.

1. Ryan Blaney – Team Penske (+3)

Ryan Blaney had a great night at Nashville. He won a stage, led the most laps, and ended up winning the race. Jonathan Hassler called a great race from the pit box, and it paid off in the end. Blaney is the top driver in the NASCAR Power Rankings as a result.

Team Penske has all four cars, including Josh Berry, in the winner’s column this season. As a result, they could be the favorites to win the championship for a fourth straight season.

2. William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports (-)

I really liked what I saw from William Byron and his ability to bounce back after the disappointment of Charlotte a week ago. He finished P5 by the end of the race, but was really fast all night long.

Byron needed a few things to go differently on pit road and on the track in order to contend for the win. However, his battle with Blaney and Denny Hamlin in Stage 2 was really fun to watch and made the race

3. Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing (-2)

After getting into the wall, Christopher Bell rallied to a P10 finish. He was determined to drive back through the field and did just that.

Four straight top-10 finishes and seven in the last eight races. Bell is on the verge of winning another race very soon. Bell drops from the top spot in the NASCAR Power Rankings, but he will likely be back.

4. Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports (-1)

A terribly slow car in qualifying, Kyle Larson had to fight back all day. He dropped down to like 36th at one point and it looked like he was going to be a non-factor all day.

Avoiding getting lapped in Stage 1 definitely helped him rally back. P8 on the day, but he drops for being too slow in qualifying and again, almost getting lapped.

5. Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing (+2)

Finally, a race where Denny Hamlin puts it all together again. P3 and a stage win, as well as his third fastest lap award of the season. I believe he leads the series in that stat at this point in the season.

Hamlin is expecting a baby boy any day now. He had Ryan Truex on standby this weekend in case he needed to leave for the birth of his child. Still, he stayed focused and put up his best run since Bristol.

6. Ross Chastain – Trackhouse Racing (-1)

This weekend, Ross Chastain was better in qualifying. However, he faded late in the Nashville race and out of the top-10. That’s why he drops one spot in the NASCAR Power Rankings.

Trackhouse Racing is giving him faster cars on Saturdays. That will only help him to win in the future as we enter the second half of the regular season.

7. Chase Elliott – Hendrick Motorsports (-1)

I really do think we are seeing major issues with Chase Elliott, but his consistent top-20 finishes are hiding it. Elliott faded to P15 this week and while it is great that he held onto that streak, what good is it if he can’t win races?

I’m not sure if Elliott can get more out of the cars that he is being given or if Alan Gustafson has to do something differently. Either way, without a points win this year, this team isn’t going to compete for a championship.

8. Joey Logano – Team Penske (+1)

Whenever Joey Logano is happy after a race he didn’t win, you have to be wondering what he is hiding. Logano was all smiles after his P4 finish. He’s really starting to ride this momentum after the win at Texas.

Keep an eye on Logano, he was really strong on Sunday, but almost quietly so. He didn’t defend his Nashville win from a year ago, but walks away with another top-five finish.

9. Chase Briscoe – Joe Gibbs Racing (-1)

I really like what Chase Briscoe is doing lately. While he faded back to P17 on Sunday, he won his second straight pole award of the year. He leads the Cup Series in poles, meaning the speed is there.

Briscoe has to start finishing these races better. He is another driver that I won’t be shocked to see in Victory Lane in the next month or so.

10. Carson Hocevar – Spire Motorsports (NR)

After pissing off Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and finishing P2 for the second time this season, I have to put Carson Hocevar in the NASCAR Power Rankings. Spire Motorsports has a star on their hands.

Hocevar was not going to apologize for his actions on Sunday. Will that come back to bite him? Maybe.