Every week, Suite 101 ranks the top 16 NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers based on results and performance.
Kurt Busch wins his first race since Bristol last spring. With the win, Busch moves ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr in the NASCAR Nextel Cup standings, dropping NASCAR's most popular driver out of the Chase for the Championship.
1. (1) 24-Jeff Gordon: Jeff Gordon’s trouble-free season continues. Now, Gordon fans are disappointed with a fourth place finish.
2. (2) 20-Tony Stewart: Picking Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon this weekend at Watkins Glen would be wise.
3. (3) 11-Denny Hamlin: Denny Hamlin didn’t win at Pocono, but he did gain five points on championship leader Jeff Gordon.
4. (4) 17-Matt Kenseth: Road courses of just one of very few weaknesses in Matt Kenseth’s abilities.
5. (7) 48-Jimmie Johnson: Jimmie Johnson is rusty when it comes to qualifying at a road course.
6. (5) 31-Jeff Burton: Another decent run for Jeff Burton at Pocono.
7. (6) 29-Kevin Harvick: At Montreal, many analysts predicted that either Kevin Harvick or Robby Gordon would be doing burnouts, but not at the same time.
8. (9) 5-Kyle Busch: Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart teammates? Now Joe Gibbs will have to get used to the idea of having two drivers on constant probation.
9. (8) 99-Carl Edwards: Carl Edwards still has plenty of wiggle room before he is in danger of falling out of the top 12.
10. (13) 2-Kurt Busch: That was the most dominating performance since Matt Kenseth at Bristol in 2005.
11. (11) 07-Clint Bowyer: Clint Bowyer reminds me of a former Richard Childress Racing driver that was good enough to win on several occasions, but never did- Mike Skinner.
12. (12) 8-Dale Earnhardt Jr: Out of the three bubble boys (Kurt Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Ryan Newman), Earnhardt Jr tends to struggle the most on the road courses.
13. (10) 1-Martin Truex Jr: Martin Truex Jr must have left his mojo at Michigan, because that is the last time he was in contention to win a race.
14. (14) 12-Ryan Newman: Ryan Newman needs Kurt Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr to be penalized an additional 100 points.
15. (NR) 01-Mark Martin: Mark Martin just dropped in the Suite 16 rankings to say hi, he will be leaving again after Watkins Glen.
16. (15) 42-Juan Pablo Montoya: Juan Pablo Montoya hopes to further establish himself as one of NASCAR’s top road racers.
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
