NASCAR Top 10 driver rankings updated with a new kid in class ahead of Daytona race

NASCAR Cup Series drivers run Dollar Tree 301 race at New Hampshire

One guy spun forward, another spun back, and one guy decided to introduce himself to our little weekly gathering of the top 10 NASCAR drivers.

Nothing has changed up front , in spite of Denny Hamlin being more than two months removed from his most recent win. That's nothin', Kyle Larson is still on our list and he hasn't won since ... since ... who knows? We quit counting months ago.

Looking ahead just a tad, you're unlikely to see any changes after this weekend's race at Daytona — the Coke Zero Sugar But At Least One Big One 400. This is what some of us still call a "plate race," harkening back to when carburetor restrictor plates sucked away horsepower.

And a plate race is no race upon which to judge racing and racers. Everyone is basically running the same reduced speed and hoping for the best.

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Nothing to lose or gain at Daytona since he's clinched the top Chase spot and those 25 bonus points.

Best of the rest, for now. Can he do a repeat-repeat and win again at Daytona the way he repeated at New Hampshire? Sure he can. Or maybe he'll wreck.

Back on the top-10 train with a decent run last week.

Recent roll slightly interrupted last week, but barring trouble, you'll have to pass him to get to the front Saturday night.

In a battle for fifth in the standings. Not sure he won't start gathering trophies again beginning in September.

Nearly went a lap at damp New Hampshire (New Damp shire?) before spinning, but recovered well and posted a second straight decent finish.

Muddling along and it's weird because you sometimes forget he's still around.

It's been a rough August. He spun more than a DJ last week.

Hey, look who showed up after yet another great run. How's his staying power?

Email Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com

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