Pocono power rankings
Gotta give it up for Kurt Busch. Not only did the driver of the Blue Deuce finally get off the winless schnide (52 races worth), he did so in a fashion that blew everyone away and inserted him firmly into the Race to the Chase, which has five races and 33 days left to run.
Busch should be in our power rankings, but how does the rest of the field shake out?
Here are the power rankings following the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway:
1. Jeff Gordon: He padded his top-5 total to 14 after a fourth-place run.
2. Denny Hamlin: Got back on track with third-place showing and actually gained five points on Gordon.
3. Tony Stewart: Winning streak ended, still finished sixth.
4. Matt Kenseth: Rallied nicely from 37th to 14th.
5. Jeff Burton: One of the top 5 who didn't lose Chase ground.
6. Carl Edwards: 21st at Pocono, stayed in sixth.
7. Jimmie Johnson: No bad luck for him this time.
8. Martin Truex, Jr.: 22nd on Sunday, heading toward a Dale, Jr. fate.
9. Clint Bowyer: Finished 8th, starting to look secure for Chase.
10. Kevin Harvick: Controversial win in Montreal, 17th at Pocono.
11. Kurt Busch: Back in Chase mix. Performance making 100-point penalty after Dover a non-issue.
12. Kyle Busch: Rallied from early problems, finished 12th.
Watkins Glen track fact: Since 1997, Chevrolets have won nine of the last 10 races at the New York road course. Tony Stewart was in a Pontiac when he won there in 2002.
On the way up: Ryan Newman (was 7th on Sunday, moved up in standings with Kurt Busch), Ricky Rudd (was 13th at Pocono, came on strong near finish).
On the way out: Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (No one remembers who finished second, especially if it knocks them out of Chase contention for now), Jamie McMurray (any momentum he may have had after Daytona win has died.)
How they stand for Chase: To show how NASCAR's new Chase format will work, here's how those currently in the top 12 would line up. The Chase field will be set after the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 is run at Richmond on Sept. 8.
(driver's current points standing in parenthesis).
1. Jeff Gordon 5040: Four wins, five poles. (1)
2. Jimmie Johnson 5040: Four wins, no poles. (7)
3. Tony Stewart 5020: Two wins (5)
4. Denny Hamlin 5010: One win, one pole (2)
5. Matt Kenseth 5010: One win, seven top-5s (3)
6. Jeff Burton 5010: One win, six top-5s (4)
7. Kyle Busch 5010: One win, five top-5s, 11 top-10s (8)
8. Carl Edwards 5010: One win, five top-5s, seven top-10s (6)
9. Kevin Harvick 5010: One win, four top-5s, 10 top-10s (9)
10. Martin Truex, Jr. 5010: One win, four top-5s, seven top-10s (11)
11. Kurt Busch 5010: One win, four top-5s, six top-10s (12)
12. Clint Bowyer 5000: Only Chase-eligible driver without a win.
Imagine how screwy these standings will get if any of the drivers with a single win get one over the next five weeks between now and Richmond.
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