Suite 16- Subway Fresh Fit 500
The top 16 NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers after Phoenix
Every week Suite 101 ranks the top 16 NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers based on results and performance.
Saturday night at Phoenix International Raceway, Jeff Gordon won his 76th career NASCAR race, tying him with the late Dale Earnhardt. Obviously, this is a huge story in NASCAR, so this week’s theme is NASCAR drivers and career wins.
1. (2) 24-Jeff Gordon: Jeff Gordon ties Darrell Waltrip with 59 poles and Dale Earnhardt with 76 wins all in the same weekend. Oh yeah, it was his first win at the Phoenix International Raceway.
2. (1) 48-Jimmie Johnson: There was not this big media frenzy when Jimmie Johnson won his 26th race a few weeks ago at Martinsville tying him with Fred Lorenzen on the all-time win list.
3. (3) 17-Matt Kenseth: Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch, and Ernie Irvan are the three drivers with 15 career wins.
4. (4) 31-Jeff Burton: Jeff Burton’s win at Texas last weekend tied him with the late Davey Allison on the all-time win list with 19.
5. (5) 11-Denny Hamlin: Denny Hamlin’s 2 career wins are as much the 1949 champion Red Byron.
6. (6) 20-Tony Stewart: Tony Stewart is the only driver on the all-time NASCAR win list with 29 career wins.
7. (7) 5-Kyle Busch: Kyle Busch is one of 18 drivers with 4 career wins.
8. (10) 99-Carl Edwards: Carl Edwards is one win away from matching 1992 NASCAR champion Alan Kulwicki’s career win total of 5.
9. (8) 07-Clint Bowyer: Clint Bowyer is tied with former Richard Childress Racing driver Mike Skinner on the all-time win list.
10. (11) 29-Kevin Harvick: Kevin Harvick is one of three drivers with 10 career wins. Sterling Marlin and Donnie Allison are the other two.
11. (13) 01-Mark Martin: Mark Martin is two wins away from matching Bobby Isaac’s career win total of 37.
12. (10) 26-Jamie McMurray: Jamie McMurray has something in common with Mario Andretti. They both have one career win in NASCAR.
13. (12) 8-Dale Earnhardt Jr: I’m wonder if Dale Earnhardt Jr is going carry a Harry Gant flag when he wins his 18th career NASCAR race.
14. (14) 2-Kurt Busch: So who will be the first driver to win their sixteenth career race- Kurt Busch or Matt Kenseth?
15. (15) 42-Juan Pablo Montoya: Juan Pablo Montoya is one win away from matching Bobby Hillin Jr on the all-time win list.
16. (NR) 43-Bobby Labonte: One more win and Bobby Labonte will be tied with his brother Terry on the all-time win list with 22.
UAW Daimler Chrysler 400, at Las Vegas
Goody's Orange Cool 500, at Martinsville
