While favorites are emerging, there’s still some heavy traffic out front. Even though Tony Stewart is slipped of late, I hardly think he’s through for 2009. Juan Pablo Montoya got a lot racier last Sunday. Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle are two racers looking like they could get off the shnide any race now.
Mark Martin, Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson may be the "men of the moment," but with the points reset after Richmond, it’s very bunched up now and may stay that way for a few more races. We’ll also note that strong performing non-chasers like Kyle Busch will not be ignored.
The Big 10
#10- Kyle Busch (unranked last week)- With a win and 4 top 5s in his last 6 races, he can’t be ignored. Suffice it to say, we haven’t seen the last of old Shrub. A sure sign in my mind the points system needs a bit of tweaking.
#9- Ryan Newman (ranked 9th last week)- If he keeps hanging around like this, he may up and win one before long. With four straight top 10s, it’s safe to say Newman is a racer on the rise.
#8- Juan Pablo Montoya (unranked last week)- Before I jump on the JPM bandwagon, I want to see another race or two like he had at New Hampshire. He’s got mad skills and racy equipment, but does he have staying power? That will be the question of the hour for the less experienced chasers.
#7- Jeff Gordon (ranked 4th last week)- This may be a bit harsh for a 15th place finish. He’s shown consistency, but you have to wonder if he has enough to seriously contend up front. This observer has some questions, though the answer may very well be "Yes."
#6- Tony Stewart (ranked 6th last week)- Smoke’s recent slippage has become too difficult to ignore, although we’ll concede his ranking may be too harsh over an axle cap. Better races are coming. I’d about bet on that, and I don’t gamble.
#5- Kurt Busch (ranked 7th last week)- Is Busch back? His 6th place finish at New Hampshire revives his hopes. Consistency has been hard to come by of late, but make no mistake, he has the car and he has the skills.
#4- Jimmie Johnson (ranked 5th last week)- OK, so i’m not picking Johnson to repeat. Still, he’s a big-time threat to make NASCAR history and he’ll be one of the drivers up front come Homestead.
#3- Brian Vickers (ranked 2nd last week)- His average finish over his last five races ranks "The Sheriff" only behind Denny Hamlin. By the same token, Vickers has to continue to broaden his range of performance. It’s been something of a breakout year, so we’re not writing him off yet.
#2- Mark Martin (ranked 3rd last week)- His victory at NHIS seems to suggest he has more on his mind than just getting in the chase. His combination of experience, skill and equipment make him perhaps Johnson’s biggest threat to be dethroned. For Martin, it took a championship caliber run just to get here. He’ll need to continue that trend with the likes of Stewart, Hamlin, andpossibly Gordon and Kurt in the mix.
#1- Denny Hamlin (ranked 1st last week)- With seven straight top 10s, dare we use the word "consistent" in the same sentence with Denny Hamlin? Martin better be thankful he didn’t have this guy in his mirror, because history suggests Hamlin would have given the old man the chrome horn. Couple skill with his aggressiveness and you have a driver that’s a threat in more ways than one.
Falling Off The Pace
You have to feel for Kasey Kahne. All the chaos around him has done him no favors. On the other hand, he’s had organizational distractions around him his entire Cup career, so he’s probably more used to it than we know.
Ready To Strike
I was tempted to give Greg Biffle a "10b" ranking. For me the question of who will be the next winless driver to break through with a victory comes down to Biffle, Newman and Montoya. I have a feeling Clint Bowyer won’t be forgotten down the stretch.
Distant Thunder
Gone from the chase, but not forgotten, Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. produce enough moments to suggest they may be heard from more down the stretch.
