Who's Up
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Who's Down
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Biggest Gain This Week:
No moves up this week.
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Biggest Drop This Week:
No moves down this week.
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No new drivers this week.
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No drivers dropped out this week.
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Rank: 1st
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Jimmie Johnson- 7 Wins, 24 Top TensThe seasons over, the right man won, and all is right with the world again. If your not a fan of Jimmie Johnson then by about 2015 his dynasty will probably be in decline. Chad Knaus plans on being the 48 crew chief for at least 5 more years. |
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Rank: 2nd
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Mark Martin- 5 Wins, 21 Top TensMark Martin isn't done yet and the never ending "Salute to you tour" will be going strong through 2011. He had a great season that far exceeded probably anyone's expectations. |
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Rank: 3rd
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Kurt Busch- 2 Win, 21 Top TensKurt Busch almost stopped the Hendrick 1,2,3 standing domination but the 2 team fumbled in the decision making department late at Homestead. Kurt was definitely the the rebound driver of the year. |
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Rank: 4th
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Jeff Gordon- 1 Win, 25 Top TensBy finishing 6th at Homestead Jeff Gordon wrapped up the top 3 spots for Hendrick Motors Sports. Gordon finished the season with the most top tens (25), but at this point that was last season. |
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Rank: 5th
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Denny Hamlin- 4 Wins, 20 Top TensI've seriously heard people speculate that Denny Hamlin would be the person who would stop Jimmie Johnson's dominance. Hamlin even said it himself. I know it sounds humorous considering he thinks he paid Keselowski back. |
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Rank: 6th
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Tony Stewart- 4 Wins, 23 Top TensI told people all season long that the 14 team wasn't a real championship threat. They were just the most consistent team in the series. After Watkins Glen this team's performances plummeted. |
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Rank: 7th
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Juan Pablo Montoya- 7 Top Fives, 18 Top TensI have no clue how NASCAR fans can't like Montoya. He sticks up for himself on the track and is passionate about what he does. What NASCAR needs is 1) be more consistent (2 lap penalty?) and 2) 42 more Montoya's on the track. |
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Rank: 8th
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Greg Biffle- 10 Top Fives, 16 Top TensIt was a down year for Roush and Biffle completed the first full season of his career that he was win less. NASCAR is a cyclical sport so I wouldn't be surprised if he bounces back to multiple victories next year. |
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Rank: 9th
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Kasey Kahne- 2 Wins, 14 Top TensKahne had a nice season that never materialized in the Chase. The problem here is that no team is entering the off season with more question marks then Kahne. 2010 will be a contract year for Kahne so things will either go really good or really bad. |
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Rank: 10th
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Ryan Newman- 5 Top Fives, 15 Top TensRyan Newman returned to the Chase in 2009 but he didn't return to victory lane. If Ryan Newman could just improve on the intermediate tracks then he would have potential to challenge for the championship. |
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Rank: 11th
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Carl Edwards- 7 Top Fives, 14 Top TensAfter California in the Chase this team just fell apart. In the off season when people talk about the disappointment of the year Carl Edwards should certainly be talked about in that debate. |
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Rank: 12th
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Brian Vickers- 1 Win, 13 Top TensBrian Vickers should be a NASCAR spokesman for why the Chase only needs 10 drivers. Brian Vickers didn't have a single top ten, never led a lap, and had a 59.7 driver rating over the course of the Chase. |
Who's Up
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Who's Down
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Biggest Gain This Week:
Denny Hamlin: 7th to 5th
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Biggest Drop This Week:
Jeff Gordon: 3rd to 4th
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No new drivers this week.
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No drivers dropped out this week.
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Rank: 1st
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Jimmie Johnson- 7 Wins, 23 Top TensJimmie Johnson had a statement victory at Phoenix but don't think he's immune to problems at Homestead. The last time Jimmie Johnson didn't win the championship he had a blown tire at Homestead that ruined his day and his championship hopes (2005). |
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Rank: 2nd
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Mark Martin - 5 Wins, 21 Top TensFinishing second must almost be like a tradition for Mark Martin fans. Michael Jordon stopped many of his competitors from winning championships and Jimmie Johnson is doing the exact same thing. MJ took his sport to the next level and so will JJ. |
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Rank: 3rd
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Kurt Busch - 2 Win, 20 Top TensKurt Busch was poised to be one of Jimmie Johnson's biggest competitors at Phoenix but the 2 team lost the handle of their car mid race. I'm sure Roger Penske wishes that he could have made Pat Tryson a counter offer to stay. |
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Rank: 4th
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Jeff Gordon- 1 Win, 24 Top TensEarnhardt and Petty have their 7 by 7 club and soon Jeff Gordon will be able to start his own 4 by 4 club with Jimmie Johnson. Or even better yet he could do it by himself with his 4 driver championships and 4 owner championships. |
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Rank: 5th
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Denny Hamlin - 3 Wins, 19 Top TensFor anyone who ever goes to my fantasy chats then you'll know that my default Denny Hamlin advice works. "If its flat or short pick Hamlin". If Hamlin ever wants to win the championship then he really needs to win at an intermediate track. |
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Rank: 6th
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Tony Stewart - 4 Wins, 23 Top TensUnder the old system Stewart would only be 8 points back. That systems dead so this shouldn't even be news. The real news that Stewart created for the week was over his radio. Stewart called Jr a "no driving talent sob". Yikes. |
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Rank: 7th
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Juan Pablo Montoya - 7 Top Fives, 18 Top TensJuan Pablo Montoya's rise is certainly one of the best stories of the season but no one possibly thought he might finish in the top 5 in points. Montoya's magic Homestead number is 5 points, that's how many points he needs to gain on Tony Stewart. |
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Rank: 8th
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Greg Biffle - 10 Top Fives, 16 Top TensHistorically Homestead is a very good place for Biffle with his 3 career wins at the track. Don't buy into that hype this weekend because those wins all were with the old car. The best he's finished with the COT is 13th. |
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Rank: 9th
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Kasey Kahne - 2 Wins, 14 Top TensKahne started his NASCAR driving career with Ford and after Homestead he'll once again be in a Ford. I don't know if I should be happy or sad for him. I guess we'll all find out next season. |
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Rank: 10th
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Ryan Newman - 5 Top Fives, 15 Top TensNewman returned to the Chase in 2009 but once he made it there really wasn't anything to brag about. He finished 7th twice but what's so great about that? |
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Rank: 11th
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Carl Edwards - 7 Top Fives, 13 Top TensEdwards was good in the spring but ever since then it's all been downhill. If I were Carl I wouldn't be expecting a very good seat at the Las Vegas awards banquet this year. |
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Rank: 12th
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Brian Vickers - 1 Win, 13 Top TensBelieve it or not Vickers is improving. His Chase average finish right now is 23. Last year over the same segment of races his average finish was 25.1. Next year he might be able to get it down to around 20. |
Who's Up
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Who's Down
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Biggest Gain This Week:
Mark Martin: 3rd to 2nd
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Biggest Drop This Week:
Juan Pablo Montoya: 4th to 6th
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No new drivers this week.
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No drivers dropped out this week.
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Rank: 1st
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Jimmie Johnson- 6 Wins, 22 Top TensJimmie Johnson has been Superman in the Chase this year but Sam "Kryptonite" Hornish Jr proved to us that Johnson isn't invincible. The only effect of the Johnson crash will be seen at Homestead when he's points racing for the fourth year in a row. |
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Rank: 2nd
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Mark Martin - 5 Wins, 20 Top TensMark Martin got the job done at Texas. Martin didn't win or even lead a lap but he renewed his championships chances by finishing 4th. At Phoenix where Martin won earlier this year he needs to further reduce his points deficit to Johnson. |
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Rank: 3rd
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Jeff Gordon- 1 Win, 23 Top TensJeff Gordon started on the pole at Texas but if I were to grade his race I would give him a D. Gordon needed a top five day at worst, and the 24 team had perhaps their worst intermediate track performance of the year. |
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Rank: 4th
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Kurt Busch - 2 Win, 19 Top TensAfter the way the 2 car performed at Texas it's to bad Pat Tryson will be leaving this team soon. I know if I were a crew chief I wouldn't want to leave Kurt Busch for Martin Treux Jr. |
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Rank: 5th
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Tony Stewart - 4 Wins, 23 Top TensTony Stewart is a still a full race behind Johnson in the point standings. Their main goal this season was to make the Chase, but Talladega is what officially killed this teams chances. |
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Rank: 6th
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Juan Pablo Montoya - 7 Top Fives, 17 Top TensMontoya spent much of the Chase racing inside the top 5 but unfortunately it's starting to look inevitable that he won't finish there. I can't find any fault for a team that came virtually out of nowhere and was a legitimate threat. |
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Rank: 7th
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Denny Hamlin - 3 Wins, 18 Top TensHamlin had a big day at Texas and moved up three positions up to 8th in the points. At Phoenix Hamlin should be able to lock himself inside the top 10 in points. |
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Rank: 8th
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Greg Biffle - 10 Top Fives, 16 Top TensOther then Kansas and Talladega I don't remember seeing Biffle at all in the Chase. Their performances haven't really been that great, but they have managed to avoid DNF's which is a key aspect of the Chase. |
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Rank: 9th
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Kasey Kahne - 2 Wins, 14 Top TensAfter a failing motor at Texas Kahne now is sitting tenth in the points only 41 points ahead of Carl Edwards. I don't expect much out of either of these drivers at Phoenix so Homestead will be the key as to who goes to Las Vegas. |
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Rank: 10th
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Ryan Newman - 5 Top Fives, 15 Top TensIf Ryan Newman is going to finish inside the top ten this season then he must avoid his 22.9 average finish at Phoenix. Newman's only had 1 top ten at Phoenix since 2005. |
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Rank: 11th
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Carl Edwards - 7 Top Fives, 13 Top TensCarl Edwards may have been the biggest loser at Texas. Now Carl sits 11th in the points after his Texas wreck. If Carl doesn't finish in the top ten then he can forget about recognition at the 2009 awards banquet in Las Vegas. |
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Rank: 12th
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Brian Vickers - 1 Win, 13 Top TensI think this team will be impacted tremendously in 2010 by their Chase disaster. Even at their very best they barely made the Chase. With Kenseth, Earnhardt Jr (yes him), and RCR teams improving forget Vickers chances of making the Chase next year. |
Who's Up
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Who's Down
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Biggest Gain This Week:
Carl Edwards: 12th to 10th
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Biggest Drop This Week:
Ryan Newman: 9th to 11th
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No new drivers this week.
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No drivers dropped out this week.
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Rank: 1st
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Mark Martin- 5 Wins, 17 Top TensWouldn't it be ironic if the guy who finally dethrones Jimmie Johnson is Mark Martin!! When you look at the schedule I think he may actually be able to get it done. |
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Rank: 2nd
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Jimmie Johnson- 4 Wins, 18 Top TensThis team was way over cautious at Kansas with their pit strategy. The 48 had this problem in the Chase last year. At Talladega in 2008 this team was so over cautious they raced their way to a lap down all on their own. |
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Rank: 3rd
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Juan Pablo Montoya- 5 Top Fives, 15 Top TensJuan Pablo Montoya is the only non-Hendrick team (or affiliate) that is able to race with the big boys. If he would like another first name I think David would be appropriate because he's the only driver who is even in position to slay the Goliath's. |
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Rank: 4th
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Kurt Busch- 1 Win, 16 Top TensKansas was the first race in the Chase Kurt failed to finish in the top 10. Kurt's now 91 points out of the lead but California is a good track for this team. Expect him to get back into his top ten ways there. |
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Rank: 5th
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Tony Stewart- 4 Wins, 20 Top TensIt looks like the 14 car finally snapped out of their long, long, long slump. In order for Stewart to remain in contention the next few races will crucial for the 14 team. I'm not convinced their on par with the 5 and the 48 on intermediate tracks. |
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Rank: 6th
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Jeff Gordon- 1 Win, 20 Top TensAll the previous tracks that I consider similar to California (Michigan, Chicago, Kansas & prior California race) Jeff Gordon has finished second every time. Another second place finish or a win would go a long way for this teams championship ho |
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Rank: 7th
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Denny Hamlin- 2 Wins, 16 Top TensThis team has scored the second most points over the last 6 races but yet Hamlin still sits 99 points out of the lead. At California Hamlin will need a much better finish then his 14th place average if he hopes to gain on the leader. |
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Rank: 8th
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Greg Biffle- 9 Top Fives, 14 Top TensI'm surprised this team ran so good at Kansas. Perhaps Roush is starting to turn things around. It's been a while since Roush Fords for the most part all ran strong. |
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Rank: 9th
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Kasey Kahne- 2 Wins, 12 Top TensThis would be a good team to pick for the win at California if they had the R6 engine. Unfortunately they won't have it. If Hendrick was so insecure about themselves like RPM is Dale Jr would be in a Lumina by now. |
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Rank: 10th
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Carl Edwards- 7 Top Fives, 12 Top TensDo you remember the last time Carl Edwards finished in the top 10 before Kansas? The answer is Michigan. California is very similar to Michigan so there is hope here. |
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Rank: 11th
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Ryan Newman- 5 Top Fives, 14 Top TensWho could have seen this bad run coming? Anybody if they've been paying attention. This team simply doesn't get it at intermediate tracks for whatever reason. If Newman struggles on the other tracks then he might just be battling Vickers for 12th. |
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Rank: 12th
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Brian Vickers- 1 Win, 13 Top TensThis team could make excuses for the first two races but their overall performance at Kansas was hideous. Every year in the Chase there is a team that battles really hard to get in only to crumble like a cookie. Will history repeat itself again? |
