Blaney rises in NASCAR rankings after New Hampshire win

Ryan Blaney has moved up in the NASCAR power rankings following his third victory of the season at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The result places him in a strong position ahead of the regular-season finale, which is scheduled for Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

Denny Hamlin, who also faced issues on pit road during the New Hampshire event, overcame those challenges to clinch the regular-season title. By securing the top seed for The Chase, Hamlin enters the final regular-season race with a degree of strategic freedom, having already locked in his position at the top of the standings.

The updated rankings reflect a shift in momentum, with Blaney’s win prompting a significant rise in his standing. Meanwhile, William Byron has dropped out of the top rankings after previously sitting in seventh place. Several other drivers, including Chris Buescher, Austin Cindric, Chase Elliott, Ryan Preece, and Zane Smith, are currently on the verge of entering the list.

Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell are identified as the primary championship threats among drivers who have not yet recorded a win this season. Larson finished fifth at New Hampshire, marking his second consecutive top-six finish, while Bell placed fourth, extending his run of top-five results in recent races.

Ty Gibbs continues to carry momentum from his victory at Iowa, recording his sixth top-10 finish in his last eight races. Josh Berry also extended his streak of four consecutive finishes of eighth or better with a third-place result at New Hampshire, a notable performance for a driver still seeking a ride for the 2027 season.

Other notable results include Joey Logano finishing 14th after becoming involved in a skirmish between Carson Hocevar and Connor Zilisch, and Austin Cindric placing 26th after a two-tire stop strategy failed to gain track position. These outcomes underscore the competitive tightness of the field as the series approaches its regular-season conclusion.