It’s time for a new edition of SPEED SPORT Power Rankings. Who will be on top this week?
1. David GravelÂ
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series point leader David Gravel earned his sixth victory of the season last week at Pennsylvania’s Lincoln Speedway. Gravel has won three of the last four races the series has contested. Last Week: 3
2. Jett Lawrence
Jett Lawrence wrapped up his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross championship with a conservative seventh-place finish in the season finale at Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium. Lawrence won eight of the 17 races en route to the series title. Last Week: 1
3. Ricky Thornton Jr.
Lucas Oil Late Model Series point leader Ricky Thornton Jr. got back on the fast track with a $25,800 triumph at Illinois’ Farmer City Raceway. He finished second the following night at Fairbury (Ill.) Speedway. Thornton has six Lucas late model triumphs and nine overall victories this season. Last Week: 8
4. Brad Sweet
Brad Sweet solidified his point lead in the High Limit Racing sprint car series with his fifth series victory. He’s also won a World of Outlaws feature this season. Last Week: 2
5. Max Verstappen
Reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen remains fifth in the power rankings after an off week. Verstappen will be chasing his fifth victory of the season when the world championship resumes with the Italian Grand Prix. Last Week: 5
6. Alex Palou
Two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou produced a dazzling performance in winning the Sonsio Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the second consecutive season. Palou has command of the standings entering events leading up to the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500. Last Week: Not Ranked
7. Denny Hamlin
A fourth-place finish at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway keeps Denny Hamlin solidly inside the power rankings. The Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota driver has won three Cup Series races and has five top-five results in 13 races this season. Last Week: 7.
8. Kyle Larson
It was a difficult week for Kyle Larson with crashes in Sunday’s Cup Series race at Darlington and in Monday’s High Limit sprint car event at Kokomo Speedway. Still, he’s won two Cup Series races, an Xfinity Series event and a High Limit race. Last Week: 4.
9. Greg Anderson
Five-time NHRA Pro Stock champion Greg Anderson is clearly a contender to win his sixth championship. The first driver in the class to win twice this year, Anderson returns to action this weekend at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill. Last Week: 9.
10. Logan Seavey
Logan Seavey grabbed his third USAC sprint car victory of the season Friday at Bloomington (Ill.) Speedway. Seavey, who won the Chili Bowl for the second time in January, has been active in five different dirt-track classes this spring. Last Week: Not Ranked
On The Rise: David Gravel, Ricky Thornton Jr. and Alex Palou all took big steps forward in the power rankings this week with significant victories in their respective series.
Free Falling: Pennsylvania sprint car racer Anthony Macri and two-time USAC Silver Crown winner Kody Swanson fell from the top 10.
One To Watch: Having shown a penchant for making speed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, two-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou may be poised to win the pole and the Indianapolis 500.