Week 27 GFT NASCAR AI Driver Rankings: Larson Wins at The Glen and jumps to P2, Elliott holds P1

21 August 2022
By Bob Francis, Managing Editor
Go Full Throttle Racing News

WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK — Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race on the high-speed road course at Watkins Glen started late due to rain, and ended in late afternoon sun with defending Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson taking the checker flag. Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott had what looked to be the strongest car, but an epic restart with 5 laps remaining saw Larson take the lead and hold off AJ Allmendinger for the win.

Credit: WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK — AUGUST 21: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 21, 2022 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Larson, who also won Saturday’s Xfinity series race, finished .882 seconds ahead of Kaulig Racing’s Allmendinger. It’s Larson’s 18th career win and second of the 2022 season. Team Penske’s Logano finished third just ahead of Elliott, who secured the 2022 Regular Season Championship — his first — at the end of Stage 1.

Results at “The Glen” impact GFT NASCAR AI Driver Rankings
Top 5 finishers:
P1 Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
P2 AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing, Chevrolet
P3 Joey Logano, Team Penske, Ford
P4 Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet
P5 Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet

Week 27 of the NASCAR GFT Top 25 AI Driver Rankings following the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 21, 2022 (Image: GFT Digital / gofullthrottle.net)

The Big Movers
With the win, Larson moves up to P2. Joey Logano moves up 2 spots from P5 to P3 while Ross Chastain’s 21st place finish resulted in a drop of 2 spots in the rankings from P2 down to P4. Ryan Blaney, who is trying to hold onto Playoff eligibility without a win, fell to P5. It was a rough day for the Toyota teams as the best finish they could post was Christopher Bell in 8th. Denny Hamlin finished P20, Martin Truex Jr P23, Ty Gibbs (filling in for Kurt Busch) P26, and Kyle Busch a troubling P32.

Credit: WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK — AUGUST 21: Todd Gilliland, driver of the #38 MDStrucking.com Ford, Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, and Ty Dillon, driver of the #42 Allegiant Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 21, 2022 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Go Full Throttle Box Scores

Week 27 GFT NASCAR CUP Box Scores (Image: GFT Digital / gofullthrottle.net)

Manufacturers Box Score:
Chevrolet = 15 wins
Ford = 10 wins
Toyota = 5 wins
Hendrick Motorsports leads all teams with 9 wins.

Who will get into the playoffs?
With one race remaining, will we see a new race winner? Does Blaney hold on to a spot on points? Or will the chaos of Daytona and Superspeedway racing deliver another repeat winner? The regular season finally is Saturday night and then we will know who the 16 drivers competing for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Championship will be.