NASCAR Power Rankings: Phoenix 2
1. Jimmie Johnson- 6 Wins, 22 Top Tens
Jimmie Johnson has been Superman in the Chase this year but Sam “Kryptonite” Hornish Jr proved to us that Johnson isn’t invincible. The only effect of the Johnson crash will be seen at Homestead when he’s points racing for the fourth year in a row.
2. Mark Martin – 5 Wins, 20 Top Tens
Mark Martin got the job done at Texas. Martin didn’t win or even lead a lap but he renewed his championships chances by finishing 4th. At Phoenix where Martin won earlier this year he needs to further reduce his points deficit to Johnson.
3. Jeff Gordon- 1 Win, 23 Top Tens
Jeff Gordon started on the pole at Texas but if I were to grade his race I would give him a D. Gordon needed a top five day at worst, and the 24 team had perhaps their worst intermediate track performance of the year.
4. Kurt Busch – 2 Win, 19 Top Tens
After the way the 2 car performed at Texas it’s to bad Pat Tryson will be leaving this team soon. I know if I were a crew chief I wouldn’t want to leave Kurt Busch for Martin Treux Jr.
5. Tony Stewart – 4 Wins, 23 Top Tens
Tony Stewart is a still a full race behind Johnson in the point standings. Their main goal this season was to make the Chase, but Talladega is what officially killed this teams chances.
6. Juan Pablo Montoya – 7 Top Fives, 17 Top Tens
Montoya spent much of the Chase racing inside the top 5 but unfortunately it’s starting to look inevitable that he won’t finish there. I can’t find any fault for a team that came virtually out of nowhere and was a legitimate threat.
7. Denny Hamlin – 3 Wins, 18 Top Tens
Hamlin had a big day at Texas and moved up three positions up to 8th in the points. At Phoenix Hamlin should be able to lock himself inside the top 10 in points.
8. Greg Biffle – 10 Top Fives, 16 Top Tens
Other then Kansas and Talladega I don’t remember seeing Biffle at all in the Chase. Their performances haven’t really been that great, but they have managed to avoid DNF’s which is a key aspect of the Chase.
9. Kasey Kahne – 2 Wins, 14 Top Tens
After a failing motor at Texas Kahne now is sitting tenth in the points only 41 points ahead of Carl Edwards. I don’t expect much out of either of these drivers at Phoenix so Homestead will be the key as to who goes to Las Vegas.
10. Ryan Newman – 5 Top Fives, 15 Top Tens
If Ryan Newman is going to finish inside the top ten this season then he must avoid his 22.9 average finish at Phoenix. Newman’s only had 1 top ten at Phoenix since 2005.
11. Carl Edwards – 7 Top Fives, 13 Top Tens
Carl Edwards may have been the biggest loser at Texas. Now Carl sits 11th in the points after his Texas wreck. If Carl doesn’t finish in the top ten then he can forget about recognition at the 2009 awards banquet in Las Vegas.
12. Brian Vickers – 1 Win, 13 Top Tens
I think this team will be impacted tremendously in 2010 by their Chase disaster. Even at their very best they barely made the Chase. With Kenseth, Earnhardt Jr (yes him), and RCR teams improving forget Vickers chances of making the Chase next year.
***What you’re seeing here can also be seen here at Onpitrow.com in a more eye appealing way. Also at onpitrow.com you can also see what drivers moved up this week and what drivers moved down.
