Each week, Suite 101 ranks the top 16 NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers based on results and performance.
1. (1) 48-Jimmie Johnson:
Don't worry Jimmie Johnson fans, he is still the King of Lowe's Motor Speedway considering that he is 5 for 9 (not including the All-Star events).
2. (2) 17-Matt Kenseth:
Matt Kenseth was carrying the R+L Carriers sponsorship for the Coca Cola 600. If I'm not mistaken, that was the first time R+L Carriers has sponsored a car since Morgan Shepherd in 1997. Yes, I know, that is likely a fact that only Matt Kenseth and Morgan Shepherd fans are aware of.
3. (7) 9-Kasey Kahne:
I'm already sick of the "Engine Engine Number 9" cliché's after Kasey Kahne wins a Nextel Cup race, which is happening quite frequently these days.
4. (5) 6-Mark Martin:
At the moment, Mark Martin is the most consistent driver next to Jimmie Johnson.
5. (3) 20-Tony Stewart:
Even the Tony Stewart-haters had to cringe when he climbed out of his wrecked car holding his shoulder in pain.
6. (4) 8-Dale Earnhardt Jr:
After serving his one-lap pit road penalty, Dale Earnhardt Jr recovered well and finished 11th.
7. (6) 29-Kevin Harvick:
After two straight finishes of 34th or worse, Kevin Harvick must recapture momentum to evade his yearly trend of hanging around the top ten, and fading as the Chase For The Championship nears.
8. (10) 31-Jeff Burton:
Jeff Burton clearly had a car capable of winning the Coca Cola 600.
9. (8) 24-Jeff Gordon:
Still, Jeff Gordon and the #24 team are several large steps behind Jimmie Johnson and the #48 team.
10. (12) 16-Greg Biffle:
At this pace, Greg Biffle will be back in the top ten before the race at Michigan.
11. (11) 11-Denny Hamlin:
I wonder who would win in a race between Denny Hamlin in the FedEx truck and Dale Jarrett in the UPS truck!
12. (13) 99-Carl Edwards:
Great recovery for Carl Edwards.
13. (9) 5-Kyle Busch:
I probably would not have ranked Kyle Busch this low if it wasn't for his little episode Sunday when he tossed his HANS Device at Casey Mears. And it was a terrible throw. Not as bad as Kurt Busch's ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field, but it was bad.
14. (15) 42-Casey Mears:
Tough break for Casey Mears in the Busch Series race. He had the race won, but a fuel pressure issue prevented him from his first victory in any of NASCAR's main series.
15. (NR) 26-Jamie McMurray:
Jamie McMurray and the #26 team needed that top ten.
16. (NR) 10-Scott Riggs:
Scott Riggs was possibly the only driver that could have outrun his teammate Kasey Kahne.
email the author: autoracing@suite101.com
Past Suite 16 Rankings
