NASCAR’s Fab Five: Moving Up, Going Out

I’m not ready to shovel dirt yet on the hopes of any NASCAR driver not named Jimmie Johnson, because the fate that’s befallen Kyle Busch can happen to anybody. Granted, there are some significant differences between the two drivers from their experience to their driving styles, crew chiefs, etc. At the same time, there’s no denying a driver’s fate can dramatically change due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or an equipment failure that had nothing to do with the team. That said, Johnson could all but clinch the title this Sunday at Texas, and he’s simply not run a bad race in a long time.

Suffice it to say my number one ranking will be no great mystery, yet you will see that I believe there are a handful of drivers who still have some faint hope should Johnson slip up and they run well.

#5- Jeff Burton- J.B. nearly fell off the radar with his 18th place finish at Atlanta. I still can’t help but believe the engines in the Richard Childress shop simply can’t keep up with what HMS and Roush-Fenway are churning out.

#4- Greg Biffle- The Biff hasn’t been quite as good as he was when the chase started, but the fact he hasn’t folded and has fought through tough races speaks volumes of good about Biffle’s maturity and race intelligence.

#3- David Ragan- Surprised? Not when you consider Ragan has an average finish of 8.6 over the last 5 races. We’re beginning to see why Jack Roush and all the other so-called experts are high on this kid. He’s a winner.

#2- Carl Edwards- Edwards is having the chase I envisioned for Kyle Busch. Edwards is being aggressive, and a reading of the results for far suggests that this approach may win you races, and there other times when it backfires. Think about this- were it not for the penalty for the oil tnka lid at Las Vegas, Jimmie Johnson would have a mirror full of Edwards.

#1- Jimmie Johnson- Who else? Johnson’s worst chase performance is 9th place. No one has been more consistent. Get the engraver ready.

Almost there: If my suspicions of RCR engineering are correct, then you know I think Kevin Harvick hasn’t broken the top 5. Jeff Gordon is so good and yet he can’t close the deal. Don’t count my in the count of those who blame crew chief Steve Letarte. Both Busch brothers- Kyle and Kurt- looked great at AMS. They could make things interesting before its over.

Falling off: Poor Dale Jr. He just can’t keep a car in good running order for an entire race. Clint Bowyer? He’s a Richard Childress driver. See above.