Who's Up

Who's Down

Biggest Gain This Week:

Denny Hamlin: 9th to 7th

Biggest Drop This Week:

Carl Edwards: 7th to 10th

Rank: 1st

• Jimmie Johnson #48
• Last Week: 1
  Change: 0
• Driver Page | Articles

Jimmie Johnson- Locked in the Chase

This is the best team in NASCAR (loyal readers are probably getting tired of hearing this), but loyal readers also probably remember my earlier rants about how the 48 keeps shooting themselves in the foot. They certainly can't do this in the Chase.

Rank: 2nd

• Mark Martin #5
• Last Week: 2
  Change: 0
• Driver Page | Articles

Mark Martin- 69 Points ahead of 13th

Power Rankings are about how well a team is performing not where they are in the point standings. Martin's team is strong but unfortunately for them they're a bubble team that will (most likely) either be 1st in the points at New Hampshire or 13th.

Rank: 3rd

• Jeff Gordon #24
• Last Week: 4
  Change: +1
• Driver Page | Articles

Jeff Gordon- Locked in the Chase

Part of me is saying that the "Drive for 5" might just be alive. With the 48 having problems so frequently the door for the Championship will be open for someone. Will Gordon open it?

Rank: 4th

• Tony Stewart #14
• Last Week: 3
  Change: -1
• Driver Page | Articles

Tony Stewart- Locked in the Chase

This team has really been off their game since Pocono (when you take Watkins Glen out) despite what their finishes indicate. They have been squeaking by but that won't cut it in the Chase.

Rank: 5th

• Juan Pablo Montoya #42
• Last Week: 6
  Change: +1
• Driver Page | Articles

Juan Pablo Montoya- 88 Points ahead of 13th

This is probably the best team in NASCAR history that only has two top fives. The 42 has been strong everywhere for months and if things go right for this team in the Chase then I wouldn't be surprised if Montoya finishes in the top 5.

Rank: 6th

• Kurt Busch #22
• Last Week: 5
  Change: -1
• Driver Page | Articles

Kurt Busch- 95 Points ahead of 13th

This team is a championship contender, but man where they bad at Atlanta. They dominated the spring race at Atlanta but were junk Sunday.This team has been strong at recent similar tracks so I don't expect any problems for them at Richmond.

Rank: 7th

• Denny Hamlin #11
• Last Week: 9
  Change: +2
• Driver Page | Articles

Denny Hamlin- Locked in the Chase

With a 6th place finish Denny Hamlin became just the 4th driver to lock himself into the Chase. Richmond is a track that fits Hamlin's strengths perfectly so he might just enter the Chase with 20 bonus points.

Rank: 8th

• Brian Vickers #83
• Last Week: 8
  Change: 0
• Driver Page | Articles

Brian Vickers- 21 Points out of the Chase

Brian Vickers really needed to score more points at Atlanta. If you're a Vickers fan and you look at his Richmond stats you'll feel sick to your stomach. His average finish is 29.1 and he spends 18.4% of his laps in the top 15.

Rank: 9th

• Kasey Kahne #4
• Last Week: 10
  Change: +1
• Driver Page | Articles

Kasey Kahne- 96 Points ahead of 13th

Kahne did everything he could possibly do at Atlanta to assure himself a Chase appearance but the job isn't done yet. Kahne needs to finish 21st or better to clinch a Chase spot. With his win Kahne moved up 5 positions in the points.

Rank: 10th

• Carl Edwards #99
• Last Week: 7
  Change: -3
• Driver Page | Articles

Carl Edwards- 105 Points ahead of 13th

Some teams will enter the Chase running good and others will enter the Chase limping. To my amazement Edwards could competitively drive a car with a broken foot. I expect his right foot to get more of a test at Richmond then it did at Atlanta.

Rank: 11th

• Greg Biffle #16
• Last Week: 11
  Change: 0
• Driver Page | Articles

Greg Biffle- 68 Points ahead of 13th

Biffle built up his points buffer zone at Atlanta, but not by much. In order for Biffle to make the Chase all that he needs to do is finish 11th. It certainly sounds easy enough but my gut tells me Biffle might be in trouble.

Rank: 12th

• Kyle Busch #18
• Last Week: 12
  Change: 0
• Driver Page | Articles

Kyle Busch- 37 Points out of the Chase

There are hypothetical scenarios where Kyle Busch will race his way into the Chase but I'll make it real easy for you. He won't. The only way Kyle will make the Chase is if some driver between 5th through 12th has problems.