Welcome to another weekly edition of the “BDS Top 10.” The “BDS” stands for “Bump Drafts Studs.” It’s a little more “family friendly” than calling it the “No B.S.” Top 10 in a veiled verbal swipe at college football’s BCS rankings.
Have you looked at the standings lately? Ladies and gentlemen, once you get the leaders, those drivers at the very front, things muddled in a hurry. When you break it down, a lot of this is about a drop off in performance by Richard Childress Racing and even a slip by Roush- Fenway.
Though I wouldn’t these organizations are by any means ready to join the elite- the likes of Kasey Kahne, Juan Pablo Montoya and David Reutimann are offering a ray of hope for RPM, EGR and MWR respectively.
At least on paper, it’s been a very interesting 2009 season.
The Top 10
#10- Ryan Newman (unranked last week)- The 6th place finish at Chicagoland stopped the bleeding for the Hoosier. Newman had been on a run 4 straight finishes below 10th. He’s been streaky, but Rocket seems to have started a streak back the right way.
#9- Carl Edwards (ranked 4th last week)- And to think I almost forecasted THIS GUY as champion for 2009. Edwards’ numbers are just good enough to hang around, but dare I say this has been a season of disappointment? Do I dare suggest double duty is doing Cousin Carl and Kyle Busch no favors in Cup competition? Just wonderin.’
#8- Kurt Busch (ranked 3rd last week)- Like Edwards, Busch has the car to compete most every week. I won’t be the one to argue that there’s a pattern of regular contact with Jimmie Johnson that I wouldn’t find aggravating if I were driving the Blue Deuce. Busch will bounce back.
#7- Mark Martin (unranked last week)- The possibility for this nightmare scenario exists among many other troubles plaguing the NASCAR brass these days: between Martin, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth is a combined total of 9 victories in 2009. There remains a very real possibility that NONE of the three makes the chase. I doubt it will happen, BUT it has to keep Competition Directors awake at night. If you read one of my earlier columns, all three will make it in my humble opinion.
#6- Juan Pablo Montoya (ranked 9th last week)- Well, look what we have here? JPM
has made the top 10 in 6 of his last 8 races. I still don’t like the idea he has no wins or top fives, but the upcoming schedule favors Montoya with Indianapolis and Watkins Glen on the horizon. His average finish over the last 5 races of 8.6 ties Montoya with Jeff Gordon and ranks only behind Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin.
#5- Kasey Kahne (ranked 8th last week)- With five top 10s in his last 8 starts, Kahnester is showing the consistency that he’s been missing historically. I don’t think he’s going away. Kahne is in a rather sporty bunch between 7th and 14th in the standings- so keeping it up will be critical.
#4- Denny Hamlin (ranked 6th last week)- Lost among the discussion of lost opportunities for wins is the fact that Hamlin has put together a darn good run of late. JGR’s highest ranking driver has 4 top 5s in his last 5 races. There’s this tendency to be in the middle of trouble at times, but the “11″ has proven he can survive.
#3- Jimmie Johnson (ranked 2nd last week)- What’s this? Mr. Vanilla embroiled in controversy? I don’t think Johnson will get any Christmas cards from Kurt and Eva this year. Regardless, the 3-time defending champion has to be accounted for every race, and barring an insane amount of bad luck, he is one of three drivers, maybe four, figuring for serious title contention.
#2- Jeff Gordon (ranked 5th last week)- Now that’s taking care of your team! Gordon rebounded from a disastrous 28th at Daytona for a solid 2nd at Chicagoland, and let’s face it- Gordon was NOT the second fastest car. By the way, have you noticed we’re not talking about Gordon’s bum back anymore. Amazing what therapeutic effect good race results do for you.
#1- Tony Stewart (ranked 1st since the Dawn of Time)- What do Las Vegas, Lowe’s, Talladega and Bristol have in common? These are the ONLY four places where Tony Stewart hasn’t made the top 10 in 2009 so far. Remarkable. Like my buddy Mad Mikie at Laid Back Racing, I bristle at the comparisons to Alan Kulwicki, BUT by any measure, Smoke is on an amazing run…..and his favorite track is up next.
Falling Off The Pace
You know I lend great weight to wins, but there’s no way at this moment I can put Kyle Busch in my top 10. Shrub has 6 finishes of 15th or worse in his last 7 races…Matt Kenseth currently sits 12th in points. Matt the Brat has 5 finishes of 15th or worse in his last 6 races.
Ready To Strike
Greg Biffle- though 13th in points- is still very much alive. There are tracks coming
up where The Biff has been a success and it’s not completely unreasonable to think a driver or two ahead of Biffle won’t bobble a bit.
While the odds are a bit long, Clint Bowyer, David Reutimann, and Brian Vickers still have a chance. Beak has held up better than anyone could have imagined. Just when Bowyer appeared to be gone for good, he’s found a little hope. Vickers can sure start a race well, but when will he close the deal?
Distant Thunder
Give a call to Marcos Ambrose. With his sunny disposition and surprising performance, you could say Ambrose is the “Anti- Shrub.” Jeff Burton may be toast, but I’m not ready to give up on him yet. “Wait ‘Til Next Year”- that’s the battle cry heard from Junior Nation. For “Team 88″ it’s all about putting together a good game plan for 2009 and maybe even racing for a win or two. I do believe Dale Earnhardt Jr. will win at least one race in 2009. Can You say “Talladega?”
PHOTO CREDITS- Newman by colin65, Montoya by Keith Coleman Studio, Gordon victory photo courtesy of Getty Images for NASCAR media, Biffle burnout by Walter Arce. To see more, click on the hyperlinks or visit flickr.com.
