2013 Nationwide Series Power Rankings: Top Championship Contenders

2013 Nationwide Series Power Rankings: Nationwide Series Championship Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers – With the Nationwide Series heading into an off week, it is the perfect time to take a look at how the championship contenders are stacking up in the early going. One of the nice things about the Nationwide Series is that new drivers are constantly coming along and contending, and there are always one or two drivers that weren’t on the radar at the start of the year that end up working their way into the conversation of potential championship threats. This year is no exception, and while there is no debating who belongs in the top spot of the Power Rankings just five races into the 2013 season, it gets crowded in a hurry after. Only time will sort out the pecking order, but in the meantime, here is a closer look at how the top Nationwide Series title contenders.

1.      Sam Hornish Jr.: Hornish has opened up a sizeable 28-point lead in the early going, posting five top-10s and four top-five finishes in the first five races. He has a 3.2 average finish during the stretch, and more importantly, he is the only series regular that has been to Victory Lane. Hornish is the driver’s seat for now.

2.      Regan Smith: Smith has steadily been finding his groove, and he ranks second in the standings thanks to top-15 finishes in five races. More importantly, he has improved his finishing position in every race this year, logging three straight top-10s and a season-best third-place run last weekend. You have to like the direction he is heading.

3.      Elliott Sadler: An engine issue at Bristol has him eighth in the standings, but Sadler has finished in the top 15 in his other four starts this year and has finished seventh or better three times. Don’t forget that this is the same driver that has finished second in the championship standings in each of the last two years, and he is picking right back up where he left off and stringing together solid finishes week after week.

4.      Austin Dillon: Last year’s rookie sensation is back for more, and Dillon has four straight finishes of 11th or better since a wreck in the opener at Daytona. He has finished sixth or better in three of his starts during the stretch, vaulting him to fifth in the standings. Dillon appears to be every bit the same driver that led the series in top-10 finishes a year ago. He should be in the championship conversation all year.

5.      Brian Vickers: Mechanical problems have him sitting 11th in the standings, but Vickers has shown serious muscle in every start this year. He has a pair of third-place finishes to show for his efforts, and he would have a couple of more top-five finishes if not for the aforementioned equipment issues. It is going to take top-five finishes and wins to claim the championship, and Vickers has shown he is able to do that on a routine basis.

6.      Trevor Bayne: Bayne has recovered nicely after a wreck at Daytona, ripping off four straight top-12 finishes to climb to sixth in the standings. He has three top-10s under his belt and a pair of fourth-place runs, and after waiting for his chance to get a full-time ride in the series, Bayne appears ready to make the most of the opportunity. Keep in mind that he is taking over as the driver for a team that has won back-to-back series titles so he has a strong supporting cast.

7.      Brian Scott: No driver has made a bigger turnaround from last year to this year than Scott. After consistently underwhelming as a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2012, he is overachieving for Richard Childress racing in 2013. Scott is third in points, and he is one of just two drivers to finish in the top 10 in all five races this season. The only cause for concern is the fact that he has yet to crack the top five. Over the long haul, it is going to take top-five finishes in order to win the title.

8.      Kyle Larson: He has been touted as the next big thing in NASCAR, and Larson hasn’t disappointed since landing a full-time Nationwide ride. He has four top-15 finishes in five starts, including a pair of sixth-place finishes. Perhaps most importantly, Larson showed no fear in nearly outdueling Kyle Busch for a win at Bristol a few weeks ago. This kid literally raced his way into a quality ride by driving for any owner in any series, and he is determined to succeed.

9.      Justin Allgaier: Allgaier closed last year on a solid stretch, and he has continued to run well this year. He has finished in the top 15 in all five races this year, compiling an 8.8 average finish. On the flip side, he has just a single top-five finish thus far, and history says Allgaier isn’t a driver that will pile up a lot of elite finishes. It is going to take more than a slow and steady pace to win the Nationwide title.

10.  Parker Kligerman: The former ARCA sensation has bounced around to different teams, but he seems to have found a home with Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Nationwide Series. He is tied for eighth in points this year and has three top-10s and two top-five finishes through five starts. KBM has improved a lot since debuting in the series last year, and given Kligerman’s flashes of talent, the combination could end up being one of the surprises of 2013.

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