Every week, Suite 101 ranks the top 16 NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers based on performance and results.
Kurt Busch wins for the second time in three races with another dominating performance at Michigan. Still, Busch is unable move up from 12th in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship standings. Martin Truex Jr, the 11th place driver in the standings, finished second.
1. (1) 24-Jeff Gordon: Don't expect Jeff Gordon to retaliate against Matt Kenseth this weekend at Bristol.
2. (2) 20-Tony Stewart: Tony Stewart is the favorite heading into Bristol based on the way he dominated the spring event before he had fuel pump issues.
3. (3) 11-Denny Hamlin: Denny Hamlin’s fifth place finish at Michigan guarantees him a spot in the Chase For The Championship.
4. (4) 48-Jimmie Johnson: It is hard to believe that Jimmie Johnson has not won a Nextel Cup race since Richmond back in May.
5. (5) 17-Matt Kenseth: Matt Kenseth is still the ringleader for Ford Racing.
6. (6) 99-Carl Edwards: Surprising stat- three straight finishes of 28th or worse in the Busch Series.
7. (10) 2-Kurt Busch: Right now, it is a toss-up between Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart as to which driver has the most momentum.
8. (7) 5-Kyle Busch: Kyle Busch will try to become the first driver to sweep Bristol since his brother Kurt in 2003.
9. (8) 31-Jeff Burton: It will be interesting to see which logos appear on Jeff Burton’s Chevrolet this weekend in Bristol. This AT&T versus NASCAR Sprint Nextel is getting old.
10. (9) 29-Kevin Harvick: I don’t see the Kevin Harvick and Juan Pablo Montoya feud cooling down anytime soon.
11. (12) 1-Martin Truex Jr: Martin Truex Jr scored a much-needed second place finish at Michigan. He must survive Bristol as the Race to the Chase heats up.
12. (11) 07-Clint Bowyer: Clint Bowyer is quietly establishing himself as a Chase for the Championship contender, kind of like Jeremy Mayfield a couple of years ago.
13. (13) 12-Ryan Newman: Track position proved to be crucial for Ryan Newman. For most of the race he was stuck in traffic, but once he got up front, though he was a lap down, he was catching Kurt Busch.
14. (14) 8-Dale Earnhardt Jr: Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Chase for the Championship hopes are being crushed by the recent upsurge in Kurt Busch’s performance.
15. (15) 16-Greg Biffle: For a few minutes there early in the race, Greg Biffle looked like the 2005 version of ‘The Biff’.
16. (NR) 22-Dave Blaney: Blaniacs rejoice! That is two top tens in the last four races for Dave Blaney.
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
