Carl Edwards joins Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, and Matt Kenseth as definite Chase for the Championship contenders after holding off Kasey Kahne and Clint Bowyer en route to his Sharpie 500 win at Bristol. It was Edwards' first short-track victory in the Nextel Cup series.
1. (1) 24-Jeff Gordon: Two small hiccups in Jeff Gordon’s Drive for Five. I wouldn’t fret Jeff Gordon fans, and I wouldn’t get too excited Gordon haters.
2. (2) 20-Tony Stewart: Tony Stewart has gained 138 points on Jeff Gordon over the last three races.
3. (3) 11-Denny Hamlin: Denny Hamlin is having a phenomenal season, which makes even more surprising that he has more 43rd place finishes than he has wins.
4. (6) 99-Carl Edwards: Carl Edwards was taking care of business at Bristol Saturday night, but not Friday night in the Busch Series race. It’s been over a month since Edwards last finished in the top ten in a Busch Series event.
5. (4) 48-Jimmie Johnson: Bristol may be Jimmie Johnson’s weakest track right now. I guess he’s glad that the Sharpie 500 is prior to the Chase for the Championship.
6. (5) 17-Matt Kenseth: Matt Kenseth is still having a little trouble in the Car of Tomorrow.
7. (7) 2-Kurt Busch: Kurt Busch has five top tens in the last seven races. He picked up his performance just in time for the Race to the Chase.
8. (8) 5-Kyle Busch: It’s hard to believe that it will be two years this weekend since Kyle Busch won his first NASCAR Nextel Cup race.
9. (9) 31-Jeff Burton: Jeff Burton’s sponsorless car on Saturday brought back memories of his final days at Roush Racing.
10. (12) 07-Clint Bowyer: It would take a total collapse in order for Clint Bowyer to miss the Chase for the Championship
11. (10) 29-Kevin Harvick: Kurt Busch has been replaced by Juan Pablo Montoya as Kevin Harvick’s greatest adversary.
12. (11) 1-Martin Truex Jr: Martin Truex Jr is the most vulnerable driver inside the top twelve, and even he is pretty safe.
13. (14) 8-Dale Earnhardt Jr: The 3 was his father’s legacy, the 8 was his grandfather’s. So is it not fitting that the 38 be Dale Earnhardt Jr’s legacy?
14. (13) 12-Ryan Newman: Ryan Newman is running well, just not as good as the two guys in front of him.
15. (15) 16-Greg Biffle: It appears as if Greg Biffle will have a sponsor at Roush Fenway Racing in 2008.
16. (NR) 43-Bobby Labonte: Two consecutive top tens for Bobby Labonte and Petty Enterprises.
Past Suite 16 Rankings
UAW Daimler Chrysler 400, at Las Vegas
Goody's Orange Cool 500, at Martinsville
Subway Fresh Fit 500, at Phoenix
Crown Royal/Jim Stewart 400, at Richmond
Dodge Avenger 500, at Darlington
Citizens Bank 400, at Michigan
Toyota Save Mart 350, at Infineon
LENOX Industrial Tools 300, at New Hampshire
USG Sheetrock 400, at Chicagoland
All-State 400, at Indianapolis
Centurion Boats At The Glen, Watkins Glen
3M Performance 400, at Michigan
