Each week, Suite101 ranks the top 16 drivers based on results and performance.
1. 48-Jimmie Johnson: He lost the battle to Tony Stewart, but so far, he's winning the war.
2. 17-Matt Kenseth: Kenseth hit a minor bump in the road at Martinsville.
3. 9-Kasey Kahne: Kahne was impressive at Martinsville until his engine expired.
4. 6-Mark Martin: Steady, consistent, reliable! That could be what bolsters Martin back into the Chase For The Championship!
5. 20-Tony Stewart: Stewart returns to victory lane and to the top of the fence.
6. 5-Kyle Busch: The youngest of the Busch brothers is on the threshold of his first win of 2006.
7. 8-Dale Earnhardt Jr: Great finish for Junior despite the excessive battle scars.
8. 24-Jeff Gordon: Tony Stewart, not speedy dry, is what cost Gordon the race at Martinsville.
9. 2-Kurt Busch: Other than his win at Bristol, he hasn't been overly impressive.
10. 29-Kevin Harvick: He has made more noise in the media center than on the track.
11. 42-Casey Mears: After his difficulties at Bristol and Martinsville, Mears is stoked about going to Texas.
12. 38-Elliott Sadler: Sadler currently sits 9th in the Nextel Cup standings. Is he going to be the Jeremy Mayfield of 2006.
13. 16-Greg Biffle: Biffle has struggled to find consistency. Can he find it at Texas?
14. 12-Ryan Newman: Paging Newman! Hello, the season has started!
15. 88-Dale Jarrett: Jarrett inaudibly sits 11th in the Nextel Cup standings.
16. tie: 31-Jeff Burton: Despite his position in the Nextel Cup standings, Burton has been the most impressive of the RCR bunch.
99-Carl Edwards: A win at Texas would be the ideal back hand smack to his sophomore slump.
