Denny Hamlin Holds Off Jeff Gordon
Suite 16 Rankings After the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at Loudon
Every week, Suite 101 ranks the top 16 NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers based on results and performance.
Denny Hamlin jumps into second, while Jeff Green makes his first appearance in the Suite 16.
1. (1) 24-Jeff Gordon: Other than the Coca Cola 600, and the 100-point penalty, it has been a near flawless season for Jeff Gordon.
2. (2) 11-Denny Hamlin: Ironically, Denny Hamlin wins a race in which Jeff Gordon was faster than him.
3. (2) 48-Jimmie Johnson: Jimmie Johnson returns to the top five after a four-race slump, if you want to call it that.
4. (5) 17-Matt Kenseth: A Ford driver has not won at Daytona since Greg Biffle in 2003. Matt Kenseth provides the manufacturer an opportunity to break that streak.
5. (4) 20-Tony Stewart: The Pepsi 400 has been a recharge race for Tony Stewart over the past couple of years. He hopes that trend continues this year.
6. (6) 31-Jeff Burton: Jeff Burton should have no problem getting into the Chase for the Championship, however, he needs to regain that momentum he somehow lost after his win at Texas.
7. (7) 29-Kevin Harvick: Kevin Harvick goes for the sweep at Daytona this weekend.
8. (9) 1-Martin Truex Jr: Ever since Dale Earnhardt Jr announced he was leaving DEI, Martin Truex Jr has become a championship contender.
9. (8) 99-Carl Edwards: Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth are becoming a strong one-two punch for Ford racing.
10. (11) 8-Dale Earnhardt Jr: The six-race suspension was perfect preparation for Dale Earnhardt Jr, as next season it is likely that his Hendrick Motorsports crew chief will serve a suspension of some sort for a rules infraction.
11. (12) 5-Kyle Busch: Kyle Busch ran much better than he finished. That just goes to show you how hard it is to make up for lost track position in the Car of Tomorrow.
12. (13) 12-Ryan Newman: If Ryan Newman misses the Chase for the Championship; the race at Phoenix in April may be the culprit.
13. (10) 07-Clint Bowyer: Unfortunately, Clint Bowyer is the most vulnerable of the drivers within the top 12 in the Nextel Cup standings, especially with Ryan Newman lurking in 13th.
14. (14) 26-Jamie McMurray: Jamie McMurray has vastly improved from 2006, however, it may not be enough to get into the Chase for the Championship.
15. (16) 42-Juan Pablo Montoya: The Chase for the Championship is a long-shot, but Juan Pablo Montoya should easily walk away as the 2007 Nextel Cup rookie of the year.
16. (NR) 66-Jeff Green: Jeff Green has more top tens than Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler combined. Didn’t see that coming!
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
