Big Blow for Hendrick Motorsports Duo Kyle Larson & William Bryon as Kyle Busch Knocks Ex-Joe Gibbs Racing Teammate Off His Perch

The Grant Park 220 was an exhilarating adventure with 37 sturdy machines roaring by the wet city streets of Chicago at breakneck speeds. With drama unfolding in each lap, the spectators watched awestruck as the debutant Shane van Gisbergen took the checkered. While the rain-soaked street surface intimidated many, SVG brought Trackhouse Racing their second back-to-back win, trumping the in-form HMS combo of William Byron and Kyle Larson. But there was more to the race than just the Supercar champ claiming the win.

The race had just begun. It was the second lap and Tyler Reddick had already snatched the lead from his boss, the polesitter, Denny Hamlin. Kyle Busch was looking in control till he slid head-on into the tire barriers at Turn 6.

He was stuck and the caution came out.

Despite the early setback, Busch put on a blistering pace, clawing his way through the field from being 36th to finish the race in the top-5. With this exceptional performance, Rowdy Busch is at the top of the Power Rankings, edging out his former JGR teammate, Martin Truex Jr.

Kyle Busch seizes the crown as he climbs to the #1 spot in Power Rankings

The wet surface and the narrow sections of the course were indeed a bugger. Many including Busch slipped off into the barrier, missing Turn 6. The #8 Chevy was almost stuck in the tires with the rainwater bearing its weight down on the car until the safety crew arrived and directed the car back on course.

But this did not faze Rowdy. With the #8 team’s backing and his tenacity, Busch climbed to the #1 rank in CBS Sport’s Power Rankings, trumping his former teammate, Martin Truex Jr. Truex Jr’s Chicago run was a bleak outing. While he was in on the hunt for the most part, things started to tumble in later stages and the Joe Gibbs Racing driver could only finish the race 32nd.

READ MORE: Chicago Hero Shane Van Gisbergen Doesn?t Necessarily Agree or Disagree With Kyle Busch?s Outrageous Claim

Busch’s clinical performance surprised the community. Being stuck in the barriers in the 2nd lap, rammed into the barriers, and finishing the race 5th certainly highlighted the bad boy’s resolve as a driver.

Kyle Busch’s rise in Power Rankings is bad news for the HMS duo

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While Busch’s former teammate finished 32nd, his KBM prodigy, William Byron, struggled as the extreme conditions startled the young driver to some extent. The #24 driver still finished at a decent 13th spot while his teammate Kyle Larson finished ahead of Busch at 4th.

As a result of the tumultuous race, Kyle Larson drops down to the 5th position in the Power Rankings. Often lauded as a once-in-a-generation driver, a win could not have seemed more out of reach to Larson during the final laps, as he helplessly saw van Gisbergen maneuver through the traffic like a fish. In points standings, he is in the 8th berth, three spots below Busch at 5th.

WATCH THIS STORY: “They got it half the way right” – Kyle Larson discusses the big pile-up in Chicago and how NASCAR avoid it in the future

Amidst the #91 Chevy chasing down one car after another with perfection, the rowdy nation was more than satisfied watching him finish in the top 5. They will now be closely eyeing Busch’s next venture.