Random Power Rankings: New Hampshire (redo)

1: No. 55, Gray Gaulding (+1)
Gray Gaulding has plenty of experience at New Hampshire, but has gone 17 races without a win — most among all active drivers. However, he’s been close lately with four of his last seven resulting in runner-up finishes.

2: No. 10, Danica Patrick (+3)
Danica Patrick was seventh in this race at New Hampshire last year — as a non-playoff driver. With more on the line, she could rise to the occasion at a time when Stewart-Haas Racing is known to turn on the jets, albeit normally with a particular two-time champ.

3: No. 48, Jimmie Johnson (+3)
And almost like it was written in a movie about Hendrick Motorsports, Jimmie Johnson’s teammate, Kasey Kahne, is the defending New Hampshire winner. The duo (and the associated Dale Earnhardt Jr.) should have a solid weekend ahead of them.

4: No. 77, Erik Jones (+1)
For two straight races, Erik Jones’s finish has gotten worse. Two of those finishes were still top-four, so no need to worry.

5: No. 3, Austin Dillon (--)
After another runner-up finish — and almost breaking through for his first Bristol win — Austin Dillon is showing he should be in the title picture, as well. One of the handful of New Hampshire winners in the field, Austin Dillon last won there in 2017.

6: No. 66, Timmy Hill (+2)
Timmy Hill, fresh off a feel-good, unpredictable win at Charlotte, could conceivably make it two in a row at New Hampshire. He’s one of just six drivers with multiple wins there.

7: No. 4, Kevin Harvick (--)
Kevin Harvick just nabbed his second top-10 of the season, and his one career win came on a similar track. More magic to come this weekend?

8: No. 33, Jeffrey Earnhardt (+3)
Plenty of attention will be on Jeffrey Earnhardt at New Hampshire, the track perhaps most associated with him, in his tenth-to-last race there. If there ever were a time to turn his season around, it’s this weekend.

9: No. 37, Chris Buescher (+2)
Look for Chris Buescher to get back on track at New Hampshire this weekend. He had an 6.4 average finish in the two races preceding Texas, where he swallowed his gum.

10: No. 88, Dale Earnhardt Jr. (-3)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is among the underdog crowd of the playoffs field, and his New Hampshire stats don’t appear like they’ll help him shed that title. The Hendrick Motorsports driver is one of three championship-eligible drivers with no laps led at New Hampshire, and has an average finish of 9.3.

11: No. 17, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (+3)
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has logged an insane amount of laps at New Hampshire (good for 8,6 miles) and comes into the race the defending winner with rumors where he’ll be driving next year swirling around him. he’s obviously one to watch this weekend.

12: No. 27, Paul Menard (-5)
Paul Menard won his fifth race at New Hampshire (the track’s 30th race ever) after notching the pole in his first race there in 1998. He has not added either to his resume since.

13: No. 13, Ty Dillon (-5)
Ty Dillon is beginning to put the pieces back together as the playoffs loom, and he has a great shot to put together a 14th-straight solid race. The Germain Racing driver has five straight top-five finishes at New Hampshire.

14: No. 21, Ryan Blaney (+1)
Ryan Blaney is tied with Martin Truex Jr. for the most wins at New Hampshire with three — the first three races there, in fact, in 2017 and 2015 — and has the most top fives with five.

15: No. 24, Chase Elliott (+2)
Chase Elliott has plenty of experience at New Hampshire, but has gone 18 races without a win — most among all active drivers. However, he’s been close lately with three of his last four resulting in runner-up finishes.

16: No. 2, Brad Keselowski (--)
Brad Keselowski was 12th in this race at New Hampshire last year — as a non-playoff driver. With more on the line, he could rise to the occasion at a time when Team Penske is known to turn on the jets, albeit normally with a particular three-time champ.

17: No. 34, Landon Cassill (+1)
Landon Cassill seems to be adopting Kyle Busch’s penchant for finding a way to lose with the most dominant car — and that’s what happened to him at Daytona earlier this year. The Front Row Motorsports driver earned the pole and led 27 of 221 laps before fading to a 17th-place finish.

18: No. 14, Clint Bowyer (-3)
Clint Bowyer is beginning to put the pieces back together as the playoffs loom, and he has a great shot to put together a fourth-straight solid race. The Stewart-Haas Racing driver has two straight top-five finishes at New Hampshire.

19: No. 95, Michael McDowell (-2)
Michael McDowell is beginning to put the pieces back together as the playoffs loom, and he has a great shot to put together a 12th-straight solid race. The Leavine Family Racing driver has four straight top-five finishes at New Hampshire.

20: No. 32, Matt DiBenedetto (--)
Matt DiBenedetto continues to have a tenuous grip on a playoff spot, despite being 18th in the overall standings. New Hampshire presents a challenge, as Matt DiBenedetto’s never finished in the top five and has just one top 10 finish in his last five starts overall.