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: Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford, and wife DeLana Harvick take part in pre-race ceremonies for during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

2. Kevin Harvick

Considering that Harvick’s ‘Happy’ nickname is actually meant to be ironic, he was in pretty good spirits after coming up short at Homestead. And he had a point when he asked rhetorically if he shouldn’t be happy for a season where he won eight times and also was right in the thick of the championship race until the end.

The 4 just didn’t have it in the very last sprint to the finish. It happens. That doesn’t erase the fact that Harvick not only racked up all those wins, he was more dominant than anyone else on days where he had the fastest car. The driver himself is aging like a fine wine, and he’s almost a shoe-in to be right back slugging it out for the Cup Series crown in 2018.

Add in the fact that Stewart-Haas Racing is the strongest team, top to bottom, in NASCAR, and there’s a good argument to be made that Harvick should actually be one spot higher in these power rankings. There’s the new Mustang to consider, though, and that’s barely enough to allow one driver to nip him for the No. 1 honors.

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