B.D.S. Top 10: Who SHOULD Be #1?

It really gets back to that argument perhaps only slightly less difficult to answer than the one of the greatest driver of all time. What matters more- wins or consistency? Everybody still talks about how Matt Kenseth captured the 2003 title with just one win. In fact, to many- the Chase is known as the “Matt Kenseth Rule.”

How about 1996? Jeff Gordon reeled off 10 victories, while his teammate at the time- Terry Labonte- took home the Winston Cup with just two wins. Here’s what’s weird about that: Labonte and Gordon had the same number of top 5s and top 10s.

And people hate the Chase?

This week I find myself wrestling with the same issues in determining a top 10. For me, there’s no real hard-core formula. I just put all the statistics in front of me and I take into consideration wins, top 5s, top 10s, average finish and I also watch trending. Suffice it to say Matt Kenseth is probably not as worthy of a spot in the B.D.S. (Bump Drafts Studs) as maybe even a Kevin Harvick. Look at the trends and see what I mean.

Fortunately, this is nothing more than fodder for conversation. Check out my top 10, come up with a compelling argument in favor of or against my picks, and this week- you could win a prize in the No Fear Energy “Earn Some Cred” promotion.

Here’s the new top 10 Shaken Up by March Madness- Martinsville Style:

#10- Carl Edwards (last week- 7th): Another week like he had at Martinsville, Cousin Carl would be falling off the pace. The good news for Edwards is Texas is in his wheelhouse. I look for a better day and redemption there.

#9- Kevin Harvick (out last week): What Harvick has going for him is some really good, near race winning performances to offset some pretty rough outings. It’d be real tempting to move in Jeff Burton but overall- his season’s not been as good. Marcos Ambrose is making waves, but was pretty ordinary until Bristol. Ditto for Juan Pablo Montoya. Harvick still possesses the better overall body of work.

#8- Kasey Kahne (last week- 6th): Kahnester’s run of improving every race came grinding to a halt last weekend. Like Edwards, a move back to a bigger track should help his standing.

#7- Tony Stewart (last week- 9th): It’s really remarkable what Stewart and his organizations has accomplished. Yeah, you can’t discount those Hendrick engines, but it’s much more than that. I expect Smoke will stay top 10 all year. It should scare his opponents that Stewart improves as the season wears on. The way his teammate Ryan Newman’s been running of late, SHR may have more representation here.

#6- Kurt Busch (last week- 3rd): Again, I’m looking at trends here. Since his Atlanta win, the Blue Deuce has finished 11th and 18th. Kurt still has a mean machine, but at the moment he’s doing his “Unwind Lap” in the middle of the race.

#5- Kyle Busch (last week 1b): If you were to do a graph of Shrub’s season, it’d look like a ride schematic worthy of a ride at Six Flags. Check this out- his finishes are: 41st, 3rd, 1st, 18th, 1st, 24th. He can be wicked good or just plain wicked.

#4- Denny Hamlin (last week- 8th): Hamlin’s trends are moving in the right direction after a wobbly start. Since finishing 22nd at Las Vegas, Hamlin has finished 13th and 2nd two times in a row. Now he just needs to close the deal.

#3- Jimmie Johnson (last week- 5th): A win in Martinsville, 3 top 10s in a row, only Kurt Busch, Clint Bowyer and Jeff Gordon have a better average finish than J.J.’s 12.8. Yep, I’d say he’s back and that ain’t good for the competition.

#2- Clint Bowyer (last week- 4th): You get the feeling this guy means business. When your worst finish is 19th in 6 races, you’re doing pretty darn good with this competition.

#1- Jeff Gordon (last week- 1a): The wins will come soon. They’ve got to. The competition is reeling him in. Still- when your worst finish is 13th in any given stretch of 6 races, you’re one big daddy.

FALLING BACK

Matt Kenseth just can’t buy a break right now….David Reutimann was so solid until things unraveled at the end in Martinsville. “The Franchise” needs a good TMS run…Brian Vickers was also getting a nice long look but as the lap count came up at Martinsville, Vickers’ standing went down.

READY TO STRIKE

A.J. Allmendinger is 15th in the standings and has just picked up his second top 10….Ryan Newman is coming back to life with a pair of top 10s at the short tracks, and he’s having to do it the hard way..Ditto for Mark Martin. We’ll have to save the old jokes for pit reporter Dick Berggren. Juan Pablo Montoya also benefited from two weeks of full contact racing with a solid 12th place run.

DISTANT THUNDER

Dale Earnhardt Jr. racked up his 2nd top 10, meaning all four HMS cars seem to be on the upward trend. Let’s not forget the racy Texas Motor Speedway has been a good venue for Lil “E.” Jamie Mc Murray was the best finisher for Jack Roush in Virginia. If you ask me, he’s making a good case to be a keeper for the team that must downsize going into 2010.

**CONTEST ALERT**

Congratulations to Trego Steevo of Trego, Wisconsin. He gets “Comment Of The Day” and wins a No Fear Energy hoodie. His name will also go into this Sunday’s drawing for a Grand Prize package courtesy of No Fear.

You can get in on the fun. Just leave a comment to opine on this week’s B.D.S. I will select a “Comment Of The Day” which will earn you a prize in the “Earn Some Cred” promotion. To learn more about the promotion and other cool “No Fear” gear, visit www.earnsomecred.com. Entrants must be a resident of the United States. One daily winner per household. Contributors to Bump Drafts and their families are not eligible.