I have ranked the top Ford drivers in NASCAR Nextel Cup heading into 2007.
Tell me who you think is the best Ford driver in our discussion board.
Sometime last summer, I ranked Toyota's Nextel Cup roster. Well, here are how the Ford drivers will rank heading into the 2007 NASCAR Nextel Cup season.
1. 16-Greg Biffle (Roush Racing)- Over the past three years, no other Ford driver has won more. Since 2004, Biffle has ten victories. Expect Biffle to contend for the NASCAR Nextel Cup championship.
2. 17-Matt Kenseth (Roush Racing)- Now that Mark Martin has exited Roush Racing and Ford Motorsports, Kenseth has become Ford's most consummated driver. But Kenseth showed signs of fading as the 2006 season wound down. Still, Kenseth finished 2nd in the Nextel Cup championship standings.
3. 99-Carl Edwards (Roush Racing)- Carl Edwards' first full season in NASCAR Nextel Cup was nothing short of spectacular, but the subsequent season did not live up to expectations. Edwards struggled with consistency, and his temper. Edwards will not repeat his 2005 perfromance, however, he will win a race or two.
4. 88-Ricky Rudd (Robert Yates Racing)- Ever since Ricky Rudd departed the Robert Yates Racing after the 2002 season, neither Rudd nor Yates have enjoyed much success. They may not contend for the Nextel Cup championship as they did in 2000 and 2001, but Rudd may give RYR their first win since 2004.
5. 26-Jamie McMurray (Roush Racing)- Other than Ryan Newman, Jamie McMurray was probably the biggest disappointment of 2006. He never seemed to fit in at Roush Racing. McMurray will improve, but he will not live up to the lofty expectations that were placed upon him.
6. 38-David Gilliland (Robert Yates Racing)- David Gilliland will prove that he is not just a one-hit wonder.
7. 7-Robby Gordon (Robby Gordon Motorsports)- Look for Robby Gordon to possibly win a road course race, but that is about it. Oh yeah, I wouldn't expect any roll bar paddings to come flying out of his window either.
8. 21-Ken Schrader/Jon Wood (Wood Brothers Racing)- With Ken Schrader in the car, the Wood Brothers can run top 20 or 25, but Jon Wood will linger towards the 30's.
9. 6-David Ragan (Roush Racing)- Mark Martin's heir will find it difficult to be competitive at this most high level of NASCAR competition. Ragan will have a J.J. Yeley-like Nextel Cup rookie season.
