NASCAR Power Rankings shake up after Denny Hamlin's third win of 2025 

Denny Hamlin blasted past William Byron with four laps remaining to win Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan. It marked the third win of the 2025 campaign for the driver of the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Like most weeks, Hamlin's victory made for a shakeup in this week's power rankings. With the Cup Series circuit headed to Mexico for the inaugural race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, let's take a look at who's going into the weekend strong.

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NASCAR Power Rankings after Denny Hamlin's third win of 2025

5. Bubba Wallace

Syndication: The Tennessean - Source: Imagn

Don't look now, but Bubba Wallace has strung some quality finishes together in recent weeks. Aside from a 35th-place finish at Charlotte, the driver of the #23 has posted three top 10s in the last four races and currently sits 10th in the points standings.

Coming off a strong sixth-place run at Nashville, Wallace backed that up on Sunday with a fourth-place run at Michigan. With 11 races remaining in the regular season, Wallace is sitting pretty with a 61-point advantage above the playoff cut line.

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4. Ross Chastain

Syndication: The Tennessean - Source: Imagn

In the last three weeks, Ross Chastain has established himself as a contender in 2025. Following his triumphant Coca-Cola 600 victory, the driver of the #1 has followed up with an 11th place at Nashville and a sixth place this past Sunday at Michigan.

With a guaranteed spot in the playoffs following his Charlotte win, Chastain is looking for more. He won his first career Cup race on a road course back in 2022 at CoTA. With Mexico coming up, Chastain's momentum and road course resume could carry him to another win.

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3. Kyle Larson

Syndication: The Tennessean - Source: Imagn

While it wasn't perfect, Kyle Larson has posted back-to-back top 10s the last two weeks at Nashville and Michigan. However, the driver of the #5 will look to get back to his winning ways soon, as he's failed to show much of that in recent weeks.

Despite the recent subpar performances, Larson still has three wins on the year and is a regular contender for victories. With Mexico on the horizon, Larson is sure to have speed. The 2021 Cup champion most recently won two road-course races last year at Sonoma and the Charlotte Roval. On Sunday, he'll look to tack on his first road course victory of 2025.

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2. Denny Hamlin

NASCAR: NASCAR Cup Series Race at Michigan - Source: Imagn

Denny Hamlin was running fifth in the late laps on Sunday and methodically moved his way up through to earn his third win of the season. It marked the Joe Gibbs Racing driver's first Michigan win since 2011.

Hamlin finished third the week prior at Nashville. With back-to-back top fives, including the Michigan win, the driver of the #11 leaps up to second in this week's power rankings. Sitting third in the points standings with three wins and seven top fives, Hamlin is making a solid case that 2025 is his year to win the NASCAR Cup Series title.

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1. William Byron

NASCAR: NASCAR Cup Series Race at Nashville - Source: Imagn

Despite running out of gas in the final laps, William Byron was in contention to win again on Sunday. The driver of the #24 led a race-high 98 of 200 laps but was ultimately passed by Denny Hamlin for the victory at Michigan. Still, Byron's strong runs continue to put him atop the power rankings.

While the current Cup points leader has only won one race this season, Byron has been one of the fastest guys in the field. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has seven top fives, nine top 10s, and has led over 700 laps in 2025. With the speed Byron has, it's only a matter of time before he collects his second win of the season.