Every week, Suite 101 ranks the top 16 NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers based on results and performance.

Jimmie Johnson held off Carl Edwards to win his first race since Richmond back in May. For Johnson, three months without a win is an eternity. Carl Edwards continues to surge, and Jeff Gordon continues to falter.

1. (1) 24-Jeff Gordon: Even though Jeff Gordon is currently enduring a little slump, it is still hard to take him out of the number one spot based on his entire season.

2. (2) 20-Tony Stewart: You never know which Tony Stewart will show up at Richmond. He is either dominant, or he really struggles at the old Virginia venue.

3. (4) 99-Carl Edwards: Carl Edwards is peaking at the perfect time.

4. (5) 48-Jimmie Johnson: I like the way they call Jimmie Johnson’s fourteen race winless streak a ‘drought’. What would you call Ken Schrader’s sixteen year winless streak?

5. (3) 11-Denny Hamlin: Denny Hamlin would love to win his first race in his home state of Virginia this weekend.

6. (6) 17-Matt Kenseth: Matt Kenseth’s consistency will be a factor in the Chase for the Championship.

7. (7) 2-Kurt Busch: Kurt Busch is trying to win his third race in a single season for the fifth time in his career.

8. (8) 5-Kyle Busch: As if fans didn’t have enough reasons to dislike Kyle Busch. Now Shrub will be driving Toyota Camry’s starting in 2008.

9. (9) 31-Jeff Burton: As far as Virginia drivers are concerned, Jeff Burton and Denny Hamlin are making up for the struggles that Elliott Sadler, Ricky Rudd, and Ward Burton have endured.

10. (12) 1-Martin Truex Jr: Junior will make the Chase for the Championship, Martin Truex Jr that is!

11. (10) 07-Clint Bowyer: Well look on the bright side, Clint Bowyer’s teammate Jeff Burton entered the 2006 Chase for the Championship winless, but won at Dover two races into the championship run.

12. (11) 29-Kevin Harvick: If Kevin Harvick’s downward spiral would have started a month earlier, he would be in serious danger of missing the Chase for the Championship.

13. (13) 8-Dale Earnhardt Jr: Notice how the two drivers with the most engine troubles (Dale Earnhardt Jr and Ryan Newman) are the two drivers that should have made the Chase for the Championship but will not.

14. (14) 12-Ryan Newman: It is a mystery has to why Ryan Newman and the 12 team have encountered a number of engine troubles and the 2 team has been trouble-free.

15. (15) 16-Greg Biffle: Greg Biffle’s season has been a tough one to figure out.

16. (16) 43-Bobby Labonte: Three straight finishes of 11th or better for the 43 team. I can’t remember the last time that happened. I would guess that it hasn’t happened since John Andretti drove that car back in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.

autoracing@suite101.com

Past Suite 16 Rankings

Daytona 500, at Daytona

Auto Club 500, at California

UAW Daimler Chrysler 400, at Las Vegas

Kobalt Tools 500, at Atlanta

Food City 500, at Bristol

Goody's Orange Cool 500, at Martinsville

Samsung 500, at Texas

Subway Fresh Fit 500, at Phoenix

Aaron's 499, at Talladega

Crown Royal/Jim Stewart 400, at Richmond

Dodge Avenger 500, at Darlington

Coca Cola 600, at Lowe's

Autism Speaks 400, at Dover

Pocono 500, at Pocono

Citizens Bank 400, at Michigan

Toyota Save Mart 350, at Infineon

LENOX Industrial Tools 300, at New Hampshire

Pepsi 400, at Daytona

USG Sheetrock 400, at Chicagoland

All-State 400, at Indianapolis

Pennsylvania 500, at Pocono

Centurion Boats At The Glen, Watkins Glen

3M Performance 400, at Michigan

Sharpie 500, at Bristol