NASCAR Power Rankings shift as Shane van Gisbergen locks playoff spot with Mexico win

Shane van Gisbergen entered Sunday's race in Mexico City 33rd in the points standings, but left all but guaranteed of a spot in the NASCAR playoffs with a dominant victory. In the wake of the Trackhouse Racing driver's victory, there was a shakeup in this week's NASCAR power rankings.

With 10 races remaining in the regular season, who's looking the strongest? Let's take a look.

5. Chase Elliott

NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 - Source: Getty

Chase Elliott recorded his best finish of the 2025 season on Sunday with a third-place finish. It's been a year of consistency for the driver of the #9 as he ranks fourth in the points standings and jumps into the top five in this week's NASCAR power rankings.

Elliott has posted four top fives and has an average finish of 11.2 after 16 races. While he hasn't shown a ton of winning speed, the 2020 Cup champion has managed to bring home solid finishes on a weekly basis. Elliott won at Pocono back in 2022, so maybe a strong third-place run at Mexico could be the spark he needs to win this weekend.

4. Kyle Larson

NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 - Source: Getty

It's been a story of inconsistency for Kyle Larson in recent weeks. In the last four races, the driver of the #5 has bagged two top-10 finishes but also two finishes outside the top-30. After getting collected in an early-race crash with Kyle Busch on Sunday, Larson was out of the race early and registered a 36th-place effort.

Still, the 2021 Cup Series champion ranks high in the NASCAR power rankings. With three victories, nine top fives, and eight stage wins, Larson has proven to be one of the fastest drivers in the field. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has finished second twice at Pocono, but will aim to grab his first win at the Pennsylvania track and rebound this Sunday.

3. Denny Hamlin

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

In the wake of the birth of his third child, Denny Hamlin sat out this past Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race in Mexico. However, there's no short-term memory loss when it comes to the power rankings as the driver of the #11 won at Michigan two races ago.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is sure to come back strong this weekend at Pocono. Hamlin is the all-time winningest driver at Pocono with seven victories. The Chesterfield, Virginia native has posted three wins and seven top-fives in 2025. Expect Hamlin to make his presence felt this weekend at Pocono when he gets back behind the wheel.

2. Christopher Bell

NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 - Source: Getty

It was an incredible drive to the front by Christopher Bell on Sunday in Mexico. The driver of the #20 started from the 31st position and climbed his way to the front, ultimately securing a second-place finish. The effort by the Oklahoma native pushes him up in this week's NASCAR power rankings.

Bell went on a tear early in the season by winning three straight races at Atlanta, CoTA, and Phoenix. Since then, the Joe Gibbs Racing has totaled seven top fives and currently sits third in the points standings. While he hasn't won since March, Bell has proven to be one of the quickest guys in the field.

1. William Byron

NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 - Practice - Source: Getty

It wasn't the best run of the season for William Byron in Mexico, but he still delivered a solid finish. The driver of the #24 recorded a ninth-place finish and retained the Cup Series points lead once again. The Hendrick Motorsports driver continues to top the NASCAR power rankings.

Byron has registered one win this season, in the season-opening Daytona 500. Since then, he's accumulated seven top-fives and six stage wins. Byron has already led nearly 1,000 laps in 2025 and has proven to be arguably the most consistent driver in the field. As Byron continues to bring fast cars to the track, win number two is no doubt around the corner.