Suite16 NASCAR Rankings- Phoenix
Suite 16 NASCAR Nextel Cup rankings after the Checker 500 at Phoenix
Nov 13, 2006
1. (1) 48-Jimmie Johnson: Someone called Jimmie Johnson the Indianapolis Colts of NASCAR. That WAS a good analogy. Maybe Johnson’s impending Nextel Cup championship is good news for Peyton Manning and company.
2. (5) 29-Kevin Harvick: Jimmie Johnson was wise in not pushing the issue with Kevin Harvick late in the race at Phoenix.
3. (2) 17-Matt Kenseth: It appears that Matt Kenseth has lost every bit of confidence in his team. Talk about bad timing.
4. (3) 8-Dale Earnhardt Jr: Dale Earnhardt Jr continues to build momentum for 2007.
5. (6) 11-Denny Hamlin: It’s been a wonderful season for the NASCAR rookie Denny Hamlin, but for some reason, I detect a sophomore slump on the horizon.
6. (4) 20-Tony Stewart: That’s okay Jamie, Tony Stewart would just assume buy Craftsman Tools from Home Depot.
7. (8) 24-Jeff Gordon: Is it just me, or does Jeff Gordon get aggravated a little easier than he use to?
8. (7) 31-Jeff Burton: Denny Hamlin was a little upset with Jeff Burton for pinching him into the wall. That marks the first time all season that something negative has been said about Burton.
9. (10) 9-Kasey Kahne: It was a quiet top ten for Kasey Kahne. You know he’s looking forward to Homestead.
10. (11) 6-Mark Martin: Mark Martin threw his give and take principles out the window while racing Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick.
11. (12) 99-Carl Edwards: Carl Edwards has now clashed with NASCAR’s three biggest stars at some point this season- at Pocono it was Tony Stewart, at Michigan it was Dale Earnhardt Jr, and at Phoenix it was Jeff Gordon. Not the best way to make new fans.
12. (9) 5-Kyle Busch: Kyle Busch has seemed to lost some steam as the 2006 season draws to a close.
13. (13) 2-Kurt Busch: A lot of changes are in place at Penske Racing, and it appeared to be positive at Phoenix with Kurt Busch finished 8th, and Ryan Newman finishing 15th.
14. (NR) 25-Brian Vickers: Team meetings or not, Brian Vickers has not slowed down since he has been shunned.
15. (14) 07-Clint Bowyer: Clint Bowyer has been among the top ten every week; he just has trouble closing the deal.
16. (NR) 1-Martin Truex Jr: Truex Jr has performed well over the past 5 or 10 races, reminding us why he is a two-time Busch Series champion.
