NASCAR All-Star Race Report Cards
Nearly a third of the 2015 NASCAR season is completed. Some drivers have exceeded expectations and others have floundered. Find out what grade drivers have earned for their performances on the track this season.
Kevin Harvick – A++
Kevin Harvick isn’t having a championship hangover. In 8 of the 11 races this season he’s finished in the top 2. In this era of perceived parity he’s been historically strong. He unloads fast and enters nearly every weekend as the favorite.
Martin Truex Jr. – A+
Martin Truex Jr. currently sits second in points and has finished in the top ten in every race except Bristol. Nobody could’ve seen this coming from the 78 team before the season began.
Jimmie Johnson – A+
Johnson has been king of 1.5 mile tracks this season. He’s won three of the four races and in the one race he didn’t win he was leading at the time he had his problem. Entering All-Star Weekend Johnson has 5 straight top 3 finishes.
Joey Logano – A
Joey Logano won the Daytona 500 but he hasn’t been much of a threat to win since. In 9 of the 11 races this season he’s finished in the top ten.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. – A
This season at tracks longer than a mile Earnhardt Jr. has a 2.8 average finish. At the shorter tracks he needs to avoid problems and find more speed.
Brad Keselowski – B+
Brad Kesleowski has been good this season, but he hasn’t been as fast as he was last year. In over a third of the races in 2015 he’s finished outside the top 17.
Matt Kenseth – B
Matt Kenseth reached victory lane after a winless 2014 but he’s been lacking consistency. In nearly half the races this year he’s finished outside the top fifteen.
Jamie McMurray – B
McMurray wasn’t the best at the start of the season but he’s been coming on strong. Since Martinsville he has a 9.6 average finish.
Jeff Gordon – B
Jeff Gordon has been good this season but not as strong as he was in 2014. He’s had a couple solid chances at winning but races haven’t played out favorably for him at the end.
Kasey Kahne – B-
Kasey Kahne has been under performing this season. In only 4 of the 11 races has he finished in the top ten.
Aric Almirola – A-
The bar isn’t set to high for Almirola and he’s quietly been having a good season sitting 11th in points. Since Auto Club he’s finished in the top twenty every race and has a 14.2 average finish.
Paul Menard – B+
Paul Menard has run well this season. He’s 12th in points and has typically been low teens good performance wise.
Ryan Newman – B+
Ryan Newman’s strength this season has been his consistency. Outside of Daytona and Martinsville he’s finished in the top twelve every week.
Kurt Busch – A-
Since returning from his suspension he’s been to victory lane, is up to 14th in points and has a 9th place average finish.
Denny Hamlin – B-
Denny Hamlin won at Martinsville but he’s had some serious consistency issues. In only 4 races this season has he finished in the top ten. In five races this season he’s finished 22nd or worse.
Clint Bowyer – C
Now that we’re through the friendly portion of the schedule for Bowyer things are looking down again. Looking at the schedule he might not have another good race until Sonoma.
Danica Patrick – B-
She’s 17th in points and has improved over last year. In two races this season she’s finished in the top ten and in the other nine she’s finished 16th or worse.
Carl Edwards – C
Carl Edwards only has one top ten this season and that was a 10th at Texas. Since his top ten his average finish is 23.75. Changes need to be made with this team soon because there’s not much reason to believe they’re trending in the right direction.
AJ Allmendinger – B
AJ Allmendinger now has job security so he’s set until 2020. In over half the races this season he’s finished in the top 17.
Greg Biffle – C-
Roush Fenway Racing is down on speed but after Kansas it’s looking like improvement might be on the horizon. In only 3 of the 11 races has he finished in the top fifteen.
Kyle Larson – C
Perhaps sophomore slumps are real? In six of the ten races this season he’s finished outside the top fifteen. Expectations were set high and he’s underachieved.
David Ragan – C
Ragan was only mediocre at best in the 18. The 55 car isn’t as fast so tough times are likely ahead for Ragan.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – C-
Stenhouse Jr. has been pretty bad. He showed some promise in the middle of this young season but the bookends have been pretty bad.
Austin Dillon – C
Austin Dillon hasn’t had a great season. He only has one top ten in 2015 and a typical incident free race usually results in a finish between 15th and 20th.
Trevor Bayne – D-
This year has been a disaster for him. His best finish is 18th and in 7 of the 11 races he’s finished 28th or worse.
Tony Stewart – D-
Stewart was pretty bad last year but he’s taken it up a whole new notch of bad in 2015. In more than half the races this season he’s finished 30th or worse.
