NASCAR Power Rankings: It’s Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, then everyone else

Has the power rankings better reflected the current state of NASCAR than now with Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick firmly positioned on the top? The answer is no, as the past two Sprint Cup champions have combined to win six of 13 races this season, with Johnson collecting the most recent checkered flag Sunday at Dover International Speedway.

And who finished runner-up to Johnson in the FedEx 400? Of course it was Harvick, which has become commonplace as he’s been second in each of Johnson’s past six victories dating to last season. On Sunday, Harvick offered a key assist in Johnson grabbing his series-best fourth win as Harvick gave Johnson a tap on the deciding green-white-checkered-restart pushing him past Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne and into a lead he wouldn’t relinquish.

“It was really about getting down the front stretch on the restarts, getting up through the gears well,” Johnson said. “In that last restart Harvick hammered me in the back and shot me out in front of (Kahne), and once I had the racetrack to myself, we were in control then.”

NASCAR Power Rankings

1. Jimmie Johnson (Last week: 2)

Though others may be faster, no one has more wins than Johnson, who used strategy and track position to secure the victory Sunday and further add to an already Hall of Fame worthy resumè. And with four victories through 13 races, he is on pace to eclipse his previous season-best of 10 wins set in 2007.

2. Kevin Harvick (LW: 1)

Another week means another runner-up finish for Harvick, who now has seven on the season -- including four to Johnson. Add that to a pair of wins, only one result outside the top 10 and that gives Harvick an impressive 6.1 average finish in 13 races.

3. Martin Truex Jr. (LW: 4)

For three straight point races Martin Truex Jr. has driven the same car and for three straight races he led the most laps. And yet, like in Kansas and Charlotte, victory once again escaped him at Dover. He had a shot with two laps to go, as he was lined up fifth. But when Kahne threw a block Truex’s momentum was stunted and he slid into sixth. Furniture Row Racing will be providing Truex with a new chassis this weekend at Pocono Raceway.

4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (LW: 3)

When you have to start at the rear of the field due to a pre-race rules infraction, and then incur another penalty for speeding on pit road, it’s hard to salvage a strong finish no matter how fast a car you may have. That was Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s day at Dover. He passed a lot of drivers and probably would’ve factored into the outcome, but never got the chance, finishing 14th.

5. Kurt Busch (LW: 5)

Kurt Busch wasn’t going to win Sunday, but would’ve finished somewhere in the top 10 had Denny Hamlin not came careening back up the track and into his path 13 laps from the checkered flag. As it were, Busch finished 31st.

6. Joey Logano (LW: 6)

For really the first time all season, the No. 22 car just wasn’t very good. Even then, Joey Logano still netted an 11th-place finish -- though, that came in part because he got the “lucky dog” during the final caution to setup the green-white-checkered finish.

7. Matt Kenseth (LW: 7)

A strong run was negated due to a broken suspension part that became so pronounced Matt Kenseth eventually told his team he just needed to park it. A sage decision because with a victory already this season there’s no need to limp around for a measly few points.

8. Denny Hamlin (LW: 11)

Dover was a tale of two races for Hamlin, who started on the pole and led for 118 of the opening 258 laps. But struggling with a poor handling car he faded to the back-half of the top-10. And when it looked like he might stage a rally, a nudge from Clint Bowyer sent Hamlin spinning and crashing into Busch. Bowyer immediately apologized for roughing Hamlin up, who understood it wasn’t deliberate.

9. Brad Keselowski (LW: 8)

While no slump, it’s fair to say the No. 2 team is definitely not performing to its customary level. In the past six races Brad Keselowski has just two top-10 finishes and hasn’t placed better than seventh. More emblematic, he’s not leading many laps and doesn’t have the necessary speed to challenge for wins. And it’s not an issue related only to Keselowski’s team, as the same problems are also hindering Team Penske teammate Logano.

10. Jeff Gordon (LW: 9)

The box score indicates Jeff Gordon finished 10th at Dover, a result that has to be considered a disappointment in light of him rolling to victory there last fall, but also because it was the second consecutive weekend where the No. 24 car was off pace the entire weekend.

11. Ryan Newman (LW: 10)

Dover represented Ryan Newman’s first clunker since crew chief Luke Lambert began serving a six-week suspension for manipulating tires three races ago. Newman finished 18th Sunday, his worst result since March.

12. Jamie McMurray (LW: Unranked)

Provided he doesn’t fall into a prolonged slump or a profusion of new winners don’t popup over the next 13 races, Jamie McMurray, sitting seventh in points at the halfway point of the season, is in good shape to earn a first ever Chase for the Sprint Cup berth.