Sports The preseason Conflict at Bowman Gray is within the books, and whereas NASCAR doesn’t possess any points races on quarter-mile ovals, the Conflict did give a search for into how teams may well make this year.
Bowman Gray Stadium was aloof a fast tune, and it was much like Martinsville. As a matter of truth, drivers feeble the identical tire as Martinsville.
Right here’s this week NASCAR’s energy rankings, according to a mix of performance at Bowman Gray and the contrivance a driver must aloof make this year.
1. Ryan Blaney (Final Week: 3)
He didn’t safe the Conflict, however his flee may well also need been primarily the most impressive, as he went from last (twenty third) to 2nd over the 200-lap flee. And the Penske driver did it with out making enemies.
2. Scamper Elliott (LW: 6)
The sport’s preferred driver opened 2025 by delighting his fans with the victory at Bowman Gray. The Hendrick driver wasn’t pleasing correct within the major match; he was correct in discover, qualifying and the warmth flee, too.
3. Joey Logano (LW: 7)
Logano carried out fourth on the Conflict, which was a discover originate to defending his title. All three Penske autos carried out within the tip seven, and affiliate car Josh Berry positioned thirteenth, a demonstration this tune fell within the Penske wheelhouse.
4. Christopher Bell (LW: 1)
On the quite quite lots of facet of the spectrum, finest one Joe Gibbs Racing driver carried out within the tip 10. Bell carried out 2nd in his heat however ended up 12th within the major match.
5. Kyle Larson (LW: 2)
Larson was impressive in successful the last-chance qualifier, a flee he presumably didn’t seek information from to flee however was relegated to after a trot in his heat. The foremost match was a venture, as Larson was 17th, in part due to the his Hendrick car was turned with 85 laps last.
6. Denny Hamlin (LW: 10)
Hamlin was awful on the originate of the weekend and improved in some unspecified time in the future of to total third. Making these beneficial properties in each place in the flee weekend is often a signal that the crew chief change at JGR won’t hinder his performance.
7. Tyler Reddick (LW: 5)
Reddick won his heat and appeared solid early within the major match sooner than losing the contend with of his car and settling for eighth. No longer a unsightly discontinue, however more was expected bearing in solutions the 23XI Racing driver’s solid originate to the weekend.
8. William Byron (LW: 4)
Byron had a fairly forgettable weekend. He started 11th, obtained turned with 85 laps to switch (the identical time as his HMS teammate Larson) and by no formulation recovered to total 18th. Now he heads to Daytona, where he’s the defending Daytona 500 winner.
9. Brad Keselowski (LW: 8)
Keselowski carried out 2nd in his heat and was having a discover flee except being turned with 80 laps last. That turned out to be the last warning of the day. The RFK Racing driver by no formulation obtained help on the lead lap and carried out Twenty first.
10. Bubba Wallace (LW: NR)
A more than reliable fifth-build discontinue for Wallace in his first match with original 23XI Racing crew chief Charles Denike. For initiating where he did at 14th, Wallace may well leave Bowman Gray with a smile.
Dropped out: Alex Bowman (LW: 9)
On the verge: Alex Bowman, Scamper Briscoe, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric
Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades retaining motorsports, along side over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting Info, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Seaside) Info-Journal. Apply him on Twitter @ bobpockrass .
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