Greg Biffle was declared the winner of the Lifelock 400 at Kansas on Sunday evening, however, as we all know, many fans and drivers were left scratching their heads. NASCAR stated that Biffle maintained reasonable speed as he crossed the finish line, even though he was the fourth car to cross it. Clint Bowyer, the hometown favorite, was credited with second place.
Even though Bowyer was not credited with the win, he sure has peaked at the perfect time. It kind of reminds me of Kurt Busch in 2004. Everyone expected Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Earnhardt Jr to duke it out, but it was Kurt Busch, seeded seventh in the Chase for the Championship, that scored 9 top ten finishes in the final ten races, and would win the Nextel Cup championship.
1. (1) 24-Jeff Gordon: So if Jeff Gordon owned NASCAR, he would have declared Clint Bowyer the winner.
2. (4) 48-Jimmie Johnson: It is safe to say that Jimmie Johnson is on the list of favorite for this weekend's Car of Tomorrow race at Talladega. However, Jacques Villenueve is not!
3. (2) 20-Tony Stewart: Tony Stewart did the smart thing by not commenting on the cut tire and bump from Kurt Busch.
4. (6) 07-Clint Bowyer: If Clint Bowyer loses the Nextel Cup championship by 19 points, images of Greg Biffle suddenly slowing just yards before the finish line will replay in his head.
5. (3) 99-Carl Edwards: Carl Edwards was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
6. (5) 5-Kyle Busch: I wonder if Kyle Busch received any sympathy from Dale Earnhardt Jr fans.
7. (7) 1-Martin Truex Jr: Talladega is kind of a make or break race for Martin Truex Jr in the Chase for the Championship as he is 158 points behind Jimmie Johnson.
8. (8) 17-Matt Kenseth: The better Matt Kenseth runs, the worse he finishes.
9. (12) 29-Kevin Harvick: Kevin Harvick scores his first top ten in the Chase for the Championship
10. (11) 2-Kurt Busch: Kurt Busch cannot seem to stay away from Tony Stewart this year. It kind of reminds of 2001, when Rusty Wallace and Ricky Rudd could not evade contact with one another.
11. (9) 11-Denny Hamlin: Not only is Denny Hamlin taking a hit in the championship standings, his public image is taking a hit as well.
12. (10) 31-Jeff Burton: Now that Clint Bowyer has stepped up, Jeff Burton has become the forgotten man in the Chase for the Championship.
13. (13) 8-Dale Earnhardt Jr: That may have been the worst move of Dale Earnhardt Jr’s career, with the exception to wrecking his former teammate Michael Waltrip and half the field in the 2005 Coca Cola 600.
14. (16) 16-Greg Biffle: The late Benny Parsons would have had fun with Greg Biffle winning at Kansas, not only because he helped launch Biffle’s career, but also, Parsons loved the Aflac duck.
15. (15) 25-Casey Mears: Three straight top ten finishes for Casey Mears. He continues to build momentum for 2008.
16. (14) 12-Ryan Newman: Wow, another DNF for Ryan Newman. The dark cloud is persistently trailing the 12 team.
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
Chevy Rock & Roll 400, at Richmond
Sylvania 300, at New Hampshire
