Teammates Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon sit 1-2-3 in this week’s rankings.
As if there needed to be any more validation, Hendrick Motorsports is firmly established as the dominant organization this season. Following Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s victory Sunday at Pocono Raceway, the team has now rolled off four consecutive victories, spread amongst three of its four drivers. (Only Kasey Kahne remains winless, and his track-record indicates he'll win sometime before the summer is out.)
But it's not just the continued tally of wins that makes Hendrick so imposing; it's the consistency demonstrated by Jeff Gordon, Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson. The trio sits first, third and fourth in the standings, and any discussion of who should be considered a championship contender would certainly include all three on the shortlist.
All of which makes it no surprise Hendrick drivers also flexed their superiority in this week's power rankings.
1. Jimmie Johnson (Last week: 1)
A pit road collision isn't the kind of gaffe you see the 48 team make, but give crew chief Chad Knaus credit for owning up to his mistake. But just as much as Knaus is to blame, he also deserves praise for spearheading the repair efforts and crafting a strategy to recoup the lost track position. And were it not for a bad set of tires at the end, Johnson very well could have been celebrating his third victory in as many weeks.
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (LW: 5)
What's the more mind-blowing stat: A) With Sunday's victory Earnhardt now has multiple wins in a season for the first time since 2004; or B) He has as many wins in 2014 as he has had in the past seven years combined? There is no wrong choice, with both illustrating the magical season NASCAR's most popular driver is enjoying.
3. Jeff Gordon (LW: 3)
Although not much of a factor since the Kansas win, Gordon is still running well enough to recapture the points lead on the strength of an eighth at Pocono.
4. Brad Keselowski (LW: 7)
What kept Keselowski out of the Chase a year ago was that he didn't win as many races as he should have, too often failing to capitalize on presented opportunities. That trend has carried over to this season, as the 2012 champion could easily have a handful of victories were it not for a variety of factors -- both in and out of his control. Sunday was just another example to an ever increasing list, this time due to trash on the grille creating a situation culminating with Keselowski making his fateful decision to use Danica Patrick's slower car as a vacuum.
5. Kevin Harvick (LW: 2)
The only thing left to assume at this point is that Harvick walked underneath a ladder in the presence of a black cat and then stumbled on a crack and broke a mirror. Because how else do you explain the awful luck he's been dealt in 2014, which includes a multitude of part and tire failures, ill-timed mistakes on pit road and just about everything in between?
6. Matt Kenseth (LW: 4)
Pocono has never been one of Kenseth's better tracks, and he did himself no favors when he rear-ended Jamie McMurray, causing significant damage to the nose of the No. 20 Toyota. Extensive repairs would put Kenseth back on the lead lap, but all he could do was finish 25th and alas, the points lead he grabbed a week ago was conceded back to Gordon.
7. Joey Logano (LW: 6)
You know it's not your day when your engine expires while under caution. The failure cost Logano a likely top-five finish and continues the downward trend the 22 team has experienced in recent weeks. On the bright side is a trip to Michigan where Logano won from the pole last August.
8. Denny Hamlin (LW: 12)
A solid fourth will have to suffice, as Hamlin couldn't keep his streak intact of winning from the pole at Pocono. Nonetheless, back-to-back top fives is significant, as it is something the 11 team had done this season before Sunday. And that the momentum should carryover to Michigan, where Hamlin's won twice previously.
9. Kyle Larson (LW: 11)
Without any experience at Pocono and his shifting skills such that his team required him to drive a manual-speed Camaro at home to better equate himself, expectations weren't high for Larson this past weekend. But as the rookie as done all season he impressed, recording a fifth-place finish. That breakthrough victory is likely any race now, which would surprise absolutely no one.
10. Jamie McMurray (LW: 10)
With three straight finishes of 13th or better, the consistency that McMurray was missing earlier has been seemingly found. But because of his early season struggles, the only path to the playoffs is via Victory Lane. Which as shown in the non-points All-Star Race, McMurray is fully capable of pulling off.
11. Kyle Busch (LW: 9)
An underwhelming few weeks, and as evident by the radio conversation Sunday, the frustration is building within the No. 18 team. Busch and crew chief Dave Rogers sniped back and forth to the point Joe Gibbs had to interject and remind his driver to use better language on the radio. Busch's response: "If I had faster cars I could be a happier person."
12. Carl Edwards (LW: 8)
When Busch broadsided Kasey Kahne it left Edwards a victim of circumstance, as there was little he could do to avoid slamming into the back of the 5 car. At the very least it will give Busch and Edwards something to talk about when they're teammates next season at Joe Gibbs Racing.
13. Tony Stewart (LW: Unranked)
Pocono was the best Stewart's looked all season after his return from a broken leg. Unfortunately for him any chance of winning was squandered when he obliterated the pit road speed limit. And in a year where the consistency hasn't been there for any of the four Stewart-Haas Racing cars, Sunday might be the race that costs Stewart a Chase berth.
14. Clint Bowyer (LW: Unranked)
After a tepid start to the season Bowyer is showing signs of life with a fourth at Dover and an 11th at Pocono. But key is whether the recent upswing can continue and manifest itself into something more noteworthy -- such as a win, something Bowyer hasn't done in nearly 18 months.
15. Brian Vickers (LW: 13)
Just two weeks ago Vickers was in the midst of one of those sneaky, under-the-radar seasons that seemed to be leading to an unlikely spot in the Chase. Those good vibes have now vanished thanks to a blown engine at Dover, and a nondescript 19th at Pocono. Now it's on to Michigan, which has the feel of being a crossroads race for Vickers and his team.