Bristol Power Rankings
And now, the tension builds.
If you're a fan of the No. 8 and Dale Earnhardt Jr., you've probably got your nails down to next to nothing these days. After all, for all of his effort, Junior probably feels like Sisyphus, forever pushing a rock uphill and getting absolutely nowhere.
No real tension exists for those who are in the 2007 edition of the Chase, especially Carl Edwards, who won for the second time in 2007 on Saturday night at Bristol. He's back after a year away.
To see more and where Edwards fits in the power rankings, read on.
Here are the latest power rankings after the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
1. Jeff Gordon: Finished 18th Saturday. Back-to-back weeks without a top-10 no cause for alarm, though.
2. Tony Stewart: If he can win at either California or Richmond, he'll be the favorite to win the whole thing.
3. Denny Hamlin: Still confident after a blown engine at Bristol led to only the second DNF of his career.
4. Jimmie Johnson: Never had car completely dialed in Saturday, finished 21st.
5. Carl Edwards: Looked good in getting his second win of year. Any win at Bristol is always special.
6. Matt Kenseth: Lost control of car late, finished 39th to end quest for Bristol three-peat.
7. Martin Truex, Jr.: Just missed the top 10, finished 11th.
8. Kurt Busch: Another top-10 run Saturday. He'll be a factor come Chase time.
9. Jeff Burton: When will this guy get to keep the sponsor on his hood?
10. Clint Bowyer: Finished third Saturday, but feeling the need for a win soon.
11. Kyle Busch: Top-10 run for the March Bristol winner. No word on how he felt about the car afterwards.
12. Kevin Harvick: Would be fighting to make the Chase if it were only top 10 instead of 12.
California track fact: Matt Kenseth won the Auto Club 500 in February at the 2-mile oval after starting 25th. When he won there in the spring of 2006, he came from 31st.
The Labor Day night race is in its third year at the Southern California track. Kyle Busch set the NASCAR world on its ear when he won his first Nextel Cup race there in 2005, becoming the youngest ever to do so.
On the way up: Kasey Kahne (Just missed the Busch-Cup win double), J.J. Yeley (started 40th, finished 13th. Trying to leave Joe Gibbs Racing on an up note for potential team suitors).
On the way out: Ricky Rudd (He qualified well, but spinout led to 38th-place run), Juan Pablo Montoya (didn't cause too much trouble, but started on outside pole and finished 17th.
Where they'll stand: Here's how those in the Chase would line up at the start. The driver's current points standing is in parenthesis.
1. Jeff Gordon 5040 (1). Four wins, six poles.
2. Jimmie Johnson 5040 (6). Four wins, no poles.
3. Tony Stewart 5030 (2). Three wins
4. Carl Edwards 5020 (5). Two wins, six top-5s
5. Kurt Busch 5020 (12). Two wins, five top-5s.
6. Denny Hamlin 5010 (3). One win, one pole.
7. Matt Kenseth 5010 (4). One win, eight top-5s.
8. Jeff Burton 5010 (7). One win, six top-5s.
9. Kyle Busch 5010 (8). One win, five top-5s, 13 top-10s
10. Martin Truex, Jr. (11). One win, five top-5s, nine top-10s
11. Kevin Harvick (10). One win, four top-5s
12. Clint Bowyer (9). No wins.
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