Martinsville shakes NASCAR power rankings

The final short track race of the season reshuffles the weekly NASCAR power rankings.

Frayed nerves, crumpled fenders and playoff fortunes quickly turning sour, yeah, it was just another fall race at Martinsville Speedway. And as it typically does each visit, NASCAR's shortest track jostled the weekly power rankings

1. Joey Logano (Last week: 2)

While other contenders got sidetracked with speeding penalties, parts breaking and swept up into the chaos that is often Martinsville, all Logano did was produce a fifth-place finish. But it's been that kind of season and playoff run for the Team Penske driver. While others keep stealing the headlines, he just quietly and effectively goes about his business with a worst Chase result of 11th and an average finish of 4.28.

2. Jeff Gordon (LW: 4)

If Gordon was conflicted post-race it's more than understandable. In a race where had he won, would have punched his ticket to the championship round, Gordon finished a close second to an already eliminated teammate. On the other hand, with all the history Hendrick Motorsports has at Martinsville, bringing home a 1-2 finish is something special, and not to be discounted.

3. Brad Keselowski (LW: 1)

The reprieve earned at Talladega lasted all of a week, thanks to a broken transmission. Which means once again Keselowski's back is against the wall and he'll need a win to prevent his Chase ending prematurely. And it's worth noting that of the eight Chasers, Keselowski is the only one without a victory at any of the three remaining tracks.

4. Ryan Newman (LW: 10)

Besides Earnhardt himself, Newman was the biggest benefactor of how Martinsville played out. With Earnhardt winning, it's assured two of the four drivers advancing to the championship final will be via points. That is a significant advantage for Newman, who is easily among the most consistent drivers this season and throughout the Chase.

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (LW: 11)

Maybe it's because he went so long between victories or that this is his last year with Steve Letarte, there is no denying just how much Earnhardt has savored winning this season. Whether it was Daytona or Pocono (twice) or Martinsville, you would have thought Earnhardt, with his unbridled enthusiasm and appreciation, had never won a race before.

6. Kevin Harvick (LW: 3)

Off all the maladies that has hindered Harvick this season, a mistake by Matt Kenseth was not on the list of reasons why he may not win a championship. And yet that is the reality facing Harvick, who overcame a subpar qualifying effort to claw into the top 10 only for Kenseth to effectively end Harvick's race and possibly his season when Kenseth curb hopped Turn 1.

7. Denny Hamlin (LW: 7)

Two ways to view Hamlin's eight-place run: 1) He gutted out a solid result on a track where trouble continually lurks or, 2) Considering how Martinsville has been Hamlin's personal playground at times, he let a prime opportunity to win slip away, which may come back to haunt him depending on what happens at Texas and Phoenix.

8. Matt Kenseth (LW: 8)

Few were surprised when Kenseth readily admitted he made a mistake and that Harvick had every right to be upset with him. That aside, Kenseth rebounded nicely and what could have been a devastating finish was instead a sixth.

9. Kyle Busch (LW: 13)

Busch has led all of 453 laps this season, a stat which says everything about the forgettable season he's experienced in 2014 and would be his lowest total since his 2005 rookie year (362).

10. Kyle Larson (LW: 9)

As noted in this space a week ago, rookies typically don't fare well at Martinsville. A point underscored by Larson's crash-induced 30thfinish and 27thin the spring race.

11. Clint Bowyer (LW: 15)

Back-to-back top 10s gives credence that the No. 15 team has found something to end the year on a positive. Except Talladega nor Martinsville aren't aero sensitive tracks whereas Texas and Phoenix are, meaning don't expect Bowyer's mini-streak to continue.

12. Jimmie Johnson (LW: 6)

Entering the weekend Johnson owned a stellar average finish of 3.95 in his past 24 Martinsville starts. Naturally, because his 2014 Chase has been a dumpster fire, he finished 36th Sunday. If that isn't cause to go home pour a stiff drink and listen to "Dust in the Wind" on repeat then what is.

13. Carl Edwards (LW: 12)

A win was expecting a lot, but finishing 20th isn't going to get it done either; especially with five Chasers placing eighth or better. Any other year Edwards could overcome the deficit he now finds himself in with a strong run at Texas or Phoenix, two of his better tracks. This season, however, is the exception with Roush Fenway Racing performing far below its usual level of performance.

14. Jamie McMurray (LW: 14)

After starting on the pole and leading a bunch of laps early, McMurray looked like the non-Chaser who might crash the playoff party. That honor instead went to Earnhardt as McMurray faded to 16th, playing no factor in the outcome.

15. AJ Allmendinger (LW: Unranked)

Unlike Aric Almirola, Kurt Busch and Greg Biffle, all of whom were also bounced in Round, Allmendinger hasn't completely vanished posting finishes of 12th or better in three of four weeks.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/nascar/2014/10/29/7088675/nascar-2014-martinsville-power-rankings-dale-earnhardt-jr