Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Fox Sports releases latest power rankings after Denny Hamlin’s win at Pocono

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Dustin Schutte | Last updated 7/25/23

Things are getting intense on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit. With only five races remaining in the 2023 regular season, drivers are doing everything in their power to get into the playoff picture. We had another exciting race from Pocono on Sunday, resulting in a win for Denny Hamlin.

Hamlin’s win on Sunday, his second of the season, shook some things up in the power rankings this week. FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass listed out his top-10 as we prepare for the final five events of the regular season.

Martin Truex Jr. still sits atop the current standings, but Hamlin climbed several spots following the weekend victory. Here’s a complete look at the top-10 from FOX:

Martin Truex Jr.
Kyle Larson
Denny Hamlin
William Byron
Christopher Bell
Kyle Busch
Ross Chastain
Kevin Harvick
Tyler Reddick
Brad Keselowski

How does Pockrass’ top-10 compare to the current points standings? Here’s how that race looks with five races to go:

Martin Truex Jr. — 711 points
William Byron — 681 points
Denny Hamlin — 656 points
Christopher Bell — 636 points
Ross Chastain — 613 points
Kyle Busch — 609 points
Kyle Larson — 601 points
Kevin Harvick — 601 points
Ryan Blaney — 591 points
Joey Logano — 575 points

It makes for some interesting racing down the final stretch of the regular season.

Denny Hamlin booed after 50th NASCAR win

Usually, a 50th victory is celebrated among fans in the world of NASCAR. Instead, Hamlin was showered with boos following Sunday’s victory in the HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono Raceway.

Hamlin took home the checkered flag under caution Sunday, marking his 50th career victory on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit. But not many were celebrating the remarkable accomplishment.

Instead, Hamlin was greeted with jeers from the crowd, many frustrated with Hamlin’s antics on the track. Late in the race, the No. 11 car pushed Kyle Larson up the track in a corner, forcing him into a wall.

When Hamlin crossed the finish line first, the boos were audible on the broadcast:

Denny Hamlin wins his 50th race and gets BOOED! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/NHv4EAKYsU
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 23, 2023

So, it wasn’t exactly the best reception to getting win No. 50. Then again, it didn’t sound like Hamlin really minded all that much.

“Well, both guys wrecked themselves,” Hamlin said. “There was a lane — he missed the corner, first. And, evidently, he didn’t have his right-side tires clean and when he gassed up, he just kept going again.

“You have an option in those positions to either hold it wide open and hit the fence or lift and race it out.”

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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