Gordon still tops rankings; Stewart gaining

Tuesday, May. 12, 2009

The top-15 Sprint Cup teams following the weekend’s event Darlington (S.C.) 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)

The driver characterized his Darlington race as “a crazy night,” but he still was able to finish fifth. So we’re not crazy enough to move the four-time champion off the top of the heap.

2. (3) Tony Stewart (car No. 14)

Can you say charging? A college student with a new bank card can’t do it any better.

3. (4) Jimmie Johnson (car No. 48)

After that little issue in qualifying and having to start out back, this team moved all the way to second and made a run or two on the eventual race winner before cooling the jets and getting the points.

4. (2) Kyle Busch (car No. 18)

This is a fast bunch of people, but their driver had an absolutely horrible weekend at Darlington Raceway. Having that flat tire late in Friday night’s race was probably the most frustrating, but Saturday’s finish hurt, too.

5. (5) Kurt Busch (car No. 2)

Ran all right, even led a little bit early and is still third in the standings. That’ll let you hold a position, but won’t advance you much.

6. (9) Ryan Newman (car No. 39)

This group's surge is impressive. It’s going to be interesting to see which of the Stewart-Haas drivers gets to victory lane first.

7. (10) Mark Martin (car No. 5)

Another pole and a win, to boot. Having the deal set for next season might be helping this outfit focus on building momentum. If that’s the case, we’ll have to make some room closer to the top of this list.

8. (6) Denny Hamlin (car No. 11)

Not the finish this team wanted, but a solid enough race for the whole team. The two guys right ahead of him here were just better at Darlington.

9. (11) Jeff Burton (car No. 31)

Finishing 12th isn’t wonderful, but it was a good night’s work and at least this time no one’s having to talk about the team’s comeback. Staying out of those holes is better, if slightly less dramatic.

10. (12) Matt Kenseth (car No. 17)

This former champion finished 10th, which is better than the 13th he had at Richmond. His ranking and place in the standings are doing precisely what the 17 team is doing: heading in the right direction.

11. (8) Carl Edwards (car No. 99)

Much better team than results of the last couple of weekends show. Couple more of those and it might be time to wonder what’s up.

12. (7) Clint Bowyer (car No. 33)

Accident at Darlington put these guys on the DNF list, which is not where you find them very often. That early season sheen is picking up a few smudges. 13. (14) Greg Biffle (car No. 16)

14. (15) Kasey Kahne (car No. 9)

15. (not ranked) Juan Pablo Montoya (car No. 42)

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