Jimmie Johnson won his second consecutive race at Richmond Saturday. Johnson has established himself as the championship favorite, and the Nextel Cup points leader heading into the Chase for the Championship.
1. (1) 24-Jeff Gordon- There are still those out there that are convinced that Jeff Gordon was robbed of the Nextel Cup Championship in 2004. Would he have won the 2004 championship under the old format? We’ll never really know. So get over it!
2. (4) 48-Jimmie Johnson- Jimmie Johnson could become the first double-digit winner in a single season since Jeff Gordon in 1998. Since then, Johnson and Ryan Newman have the most single season wins with eight.
3. (2) 20-Tony Stewart- Tony Stewart is probably the anti-Hendrick fans best hope in this year’s Chase for the Championship.
4. (5) 11-Denny Hamlin- Denny Hamlin swept the races at Pocono in 2006, can he sweep the races at New Hampshire in 2007?
5. (3) 99-Carl Edwards- Carl Edwards blew an engine at Richmond. Maybe his car spent too much time around Dale Earnhardt Jr’s, and caught that engine virus.
6. (7) 2-Kurt Busch- In 2004, Kurt Busch’s win at New Hampshire sparked a memorable championship run.
7. (6) 17-Matt Kenseth- Matt Kenseth has about as much momentum heading into the Chase for the Championship as Clint Bowyer has wins. I think that will change…for both drivers.
8. (8) 5-Kyle Busch- Kyle Busch was great in the Busch race at Richmond, but very mediocre in the Cup race.
9. (9) 31-Jeff Burton- The 31 team gets their AT&T logos back, however, they just do not seem prepped for a championship run.
10. (10) 1-Martin Truex Jr- Dale Earnhardt Jr’s engine woes have to be of some concern to Martin Truex Jr and the 1 team.
11. (12) 29-Kevin Harvick- Like his two Richard Childress Racing teammates, Kevin Harvick is a long-shot to win the Nextel Cup championship.
12. (11) 07-Clint Bowyer- Clint Bowyer may have won that elusive first race if he would have been a tad more patient.
13. (14) 12-Ryan Newman- The battle for the 13th place consolation prize will be between Dale Earnhardt Jr and Ryan Newman.
14. (13) 8-Dale Earnhardt Jr- Another race, another blown engine for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
15. (16) 43-Bobby Labonte- Say it ain’t so… a Petty Enterprises & Gillette Evernham Motorsports merger!
16. (NR) 9-Kasey Kahne- Don’t look now, but Kasey Kahne has three straight top tens.
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
Sharp Aquos 500, at California
