Ridiculously early 2019 NASCAR power rankings: Who's the '19 favorite?

Ridiculously early 2019 NASCAR power rankings: Who’s the favorite for next season?

HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, races Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Bass Pro Shops/5-hour ENERGY Toyota, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) /

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HOMESTEAD, FL – NOVEMBER 18: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M’s Toyota, is introduced during pre-race ceremonies for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /

1. Kyle Busch

One off night, for both the car and the crew, can’t tarnish the season Busch and the 18 team turned in. Eight victories, coming at a variety of tracks, and a number of others where Rowdy was a threat to win as well. For a big chunk of the campaign, if Kevin Harvick wasn’t showing the way, Busch was.

Many NASCAR observers believe Busch has the most natural talent of any driver in the Cup Series garage, and Joe Gibbs Racing is, at worst, the second-best team. There’s no new Toyota to befuddle the 18 bunch, and the aero package will be the same obstacle for everyone.

Oh, and crew chief Adam Stevens probably doesn’t get enough credit for what he brings to the table.

So Busch is the leader in our super early power rankings, for what it’s worth, which is admittedly nothing. Unless the standings at the end of 2019 look exactly like this, in which case we won’t even say we told you so.

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