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 17: Ryan Blaney waits in his garage for the first NASCAR Monster Energy Series practice of the day on November 17, 2018 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, FL. (Photo by Michael Bush/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

9. Ryan Blaney

It would be silly not to think Blaney will be in the playoffs in 2019, as he won his way into them in each of the last two Cup Series seasons. Those victories came at Pocono and the Charlotte Roval, both tricky places to get around (though the latter win was as fortuitous as they come), so he’s earned everything to date.

Like Jones, Blaney will have the comfort of knowing he’s with the same team for the second straight year, and continuity definitely matters. There’s no doubt about whether he has the speed to run up front because he led plenty of laps in 2018 and he’s driving the same Team Penske equipment as the new champ.

So what is Blaney misssing? Consistency, but that comes with reps, as they say in any sport. For the driver who is arguably the most outgoing and affable personality among NASCAR’s youth movement, those reps should serve him well when the new season rolls around.

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