AJ Allmendinger gives 130 mph tour of Daytona International Speedway
Before The NASCAR Foundation’s License to Drive Track Laps event July 23, AJ Allmendinger took us around Daytona twice in a Chevy Blazer pace car.
- Bubba Wallace won the Brickyard 400, securing a playoff spot and ending a long winless streak.
- Hamlin remains at the top of the power rankings after his Indy performance.
A lot happened over the Brickyard 400 weekend at Indianapolis.
Bubba Wallace snapped a long winless streak and simultaneously clinched a 2025 playoff berth.
Ty Gibbs won a million bucks by capturing NASCAR’s first in-season bracket challenge. Ironically, he won it with his worst finish (21st) of the five-week tournament.
And Denny Hamlin finally won at Indy.
As a team owner, not a driver. But as a driver, he finished third Sunday, in a backup car, after crashing heavily during Saturday’s qualifying.
That’s pretty good when you consider he started dead last in the field and was driving the second-best car his team brought to the Brickyard.
It’s certainly enough to keep him atop our power rankings. Especially when you consider no one else appears ready to make a serious move to overtake him.
1. Denny Hamlin
What a weekend at Indy. Hit a wall one day, kiss a brick the next.
2. Chase Elliott
Finished third at inaugural Iowa race last year.
3. Alex Bowman
Continues to keep leads within sniffing distance, but hasn’t pounced in while.
4. Ryan Blaney
Only Cup winner in Iowa Speedway history.
5. Kyle Larson
Made Bubba work for that Indy win. When in doubt, blame “dirty air.”
6. Chase Briscoe
Mr. Saturday will tell you, two Saturday night races will end the regular season in late August.
7. Christopher Bell
Checked out long ago, but it’s near time to check back in.
8. Chris Buescher
This guy is pretty good, and he didn’t lead a lap in all of July. Bring on August!
9. Bubba Wallace
Pops the playoff bubble, ends 100-race skid, and more importantly returns to our top 10!
10. Ty Gibbs
Highest-paying 21st-place finish in NASCAR history.
