Gordon, 24 team at top in weekly rankings
Tuesday, May. 05, 2009
Kyle Busch (18) and Jeff Gordon (24) at Richmond International Raceway on May 2, 2009. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
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RICHMOND, VA - MAY 02: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Combos Toyota, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 2, 2009 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR)
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RICHMOND, VA - MAY 02: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Ground Toyota, races against Greg Biffle, driver of the 3M Ford, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 2, 2009 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR)
AP
Jimmie Johnson (48) spins out in turn two during the NASCAR Crown Royal 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Saturday May 2, 2009. (AP Photo/John Cameron)
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RICHMOND, VA - MAY 02: Amoke pours out of the #31 Prilosec OTC Chevrolet driven by Jeff Burton after he made contact with the wall during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 2, 2009 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for NASCAR)
The top-15 Sprint Cup teams following the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway. Teams are ranked in terms of their performance and their potential for success this season. (Previous ranking in parentheses).
1. (1) Jeff Gordon (car No. 24)
Decision to stay with worn tires likely cost this team a decent chance of winning Saturday night, but they're back in the points lead.
2. (3) Kyle Busch (car No. 18)
Still testing the old saying that everybody loves a winner, but that's what this guy does.
3. (4) Tony Stewart (car No. 14)
Moving on up in a way that would make Sherman Helmsley (a.k.a. George Jefferson) proud, which is somehow still surprising some people.
4. (2) Jimmie Johnson (car No. 48)
The way things went for this championship team at Richmond is where your surprise is. It wouldn't be too safe to bet against a rebound real soon.
5. (5) Kurt Busch (car No. 2)
Ran well, but had his share of problems and lost some ground. Bigger problems and headlines for the parent company whose cars the former champion drives have to be a distraction.
6. (6) Denny Hamlin (car No. 11)
This a driver who dearly loves to win in Virginia and he was frustrated, hurt and angry after his chance to win vanished on a pit stop. He pretty obviously had the best car Saturday.
7. (7) Clint Bowyer (car No. 33)
Pretty average outing for this group, and that's not what we've come to expect.
8. (8) Carl Edwards (car No. 99)
Same as above.
9. (19) Ryan Newman (car No. 39)
This Stewart-Haas group's leap forward in these rankings further reflects the suspicion that they're really onto something at their place.
10. (9) Mark Martin (car No. 5)
Martin also came back strong after a tough weekend in Alabama and "strong" sure works when you're describing most of the Hendrick teams.
11. (12) Jeff Burton (car No. 31)
Coming back the way this team has the last two weekends is strong. Sustaining that and staying up front - and not having to bounce back - would be more meaningful.
12. (11) Matt Kenseth (car No. 17)
Ranking matches the driver's spot in the standings. We'll see tenuous his hold on the final Chase spot is at Darlington.
13. (10) David Reutimann (car No. 00)
14. (13) Greg Biffle (car No. 16)
15. (14) Kasey Kahne (car No. 9)
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