NASCAR: Driver Rankings For The 2023 NOCO 400 at Martinsville Speedway

Crash NASCAR journalist Chad Smith goes through the field to hand out driver ratings for the NOCO 400 at Martinsville Speedway.
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports at Martinsville
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports at Martinsville

Kyle Larson: 9

The decision♛ to take two tires on their final pit stop paid off. Larson was fast enough, but he was far from the best car on track today.

Joey Logano: 9

It was an outstanding result for Logano, who started the race at the back of the field and was quickly down a lap to🐻 the l𒈔eaders. Their gamble to not pit at all on the final sequence was the right call.

Martin Truex Jr: 9

Another strong run for Truex, who always perforꩵms well here. You can’t spell Martinsville without Ma✅rtin.

Denny Hamlin: 9

Much l෴ike his teammate, he was strong all day and one of the cars capable of winning the racꦯe.

Chase Briscoe: 8

Briscoe had the best finishing result of the SHR cars, which clearly had the best pace all week💮end.

2023 Martinsville NOCO 400 Driver Ratings

Aric Almirola: 7

Opportuniti🎃es were there for the taking, but Almirola was unable to capitalize.

Ryan Blaney: 7

Considering wh♛ere he started and how his afternoon w♍ent, a 7th place finish was far better than this team envisioned.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr: 7

Much like Blaney, the late-race shuffle in the field certainly put them in a go꧋od spot.

Bubba Wallace: 8

Count Bubba as one of the drive🍌rs that was legitimately fast all day, but couldn’t overcome the 🗹gamblers late in the race.

Chase Elliott: 9

A top-ten finish after being out of the car for the last six weekဣs recovering from surgery is quite impressꦬive.

Alex Bowman: 7

Another average finish by the most average♏ of drivers.

Austin Dillon: 6

There were flashes of speed but it just never click🙈ed fo♎r Dillon.

Ross Chastain: 6

Chastain couldn’t use the wall this time, but he still had a solid run through the field after starting in the back. It could have been ⛎much be𒁏tter had he qualified better on Saturday.

Chris Buescher: 6

Most of the afternoon went wel🍰l, but he faded late in the race.

Ryan Preece: 7

Preece qualified on pole and led the first 136 laps but his domination ended 🔥there, as a speeding penalty on pit lane ruined his weekend. It was a kick in the gut, and one of those th💧ings that will weigh heavy on his mind over the coming weeks.

Christopher Bell: 5

It was an o🍬dd weekend altogetꦆher for Bell, who many expected to be much better here.

Daniel Suarez: 5

He started on thꦗe front row and faded quickly. Another poor result for Suarez, who has been struggling this season.

Ty Gibbs: 5

Not his b𒈔est effort, but just a mediocre r🧸un for the rookie.

Kevin Harvick: 8

He won the second stage and led a lot of laps, 🦹but a loose lug nut ruined his chances of winning.

2023 Martinsville NOCO 400 Driver Ratings

Kyle Busch: 6

Another pit road penalty cost him a good finish. 🍸Rinse and repeat.

Tyler Reddick: 7

A strong d🔯ay turned south as the race progressed, but Reddick certainly had the speed to run up front.

William Byron: 7

Byron couldn’t catch a brea🌱k today, and his result was a clear reflect🍷ion of that.

Brad Keselowski: 6

It wa💎s a rough race for Keselowski, who was stu꧋ck in traffic all afternoon.

AJ Allmendinger: 4

His name was🏅 never mentܫioned during the race, which is never a good thing.

Erik Jones: 3

The rough season🏅 for Legacy Motor Club continued today, with two more poor fin♏ishes.

Austin Cindric: 3

It was a day to forget for Cindric, who had nothing po🐷sitive to take away from this race.

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