AFTER PHOENIX RANKINGS

J. Gordon having great year, just Johnson's is better

Monday, Nov. 12, 2007

• Slideshow | Sunday's action at Phoenix

That's Racin's David Poole ranks the top 40 teams in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series following the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. (Rankings based on team performance and potential. Each team's previous week's ranking in parentheses:)

1. (1) Jimmie Johnson -- car No. 48

Now fourth among active drivers with 33 wins. Only Jeff Gordon (81), Bill Elliott (44) and Mark Martin (35) have more.

2. (2) Jeff Gordon -- car No. 24

It's worth remembering this team is having one of the best years any team's ever had.

3. (3) Clint Bowyer -- car No. 07

Third-place in final standings would be a fitting reward for this team's solid season.

4. (4) Kyle Busch -- car No. 5

Had a shot at a Truck-Busch-Cup sweep at Phoenix. News flash: This guy can drive.

5. (5) Tony Stewart -- car No. 20

Thanks to pit crew missteps, he probably passed more cars than anybody at Phoenix.

6. (8) Matt Kenseth -- car No. 17

This team has strung together top-fives in all four races that Jimmie Johnson has won.

7. (11) Kevin Harvick -- car No. 29

After a 10th at Phoenix, this team has now finished between sixth and 10th in 11 races.

8. (10) Martin Truex Jr. -- car No. 1

Postrace friction Sunday between Truex and crew chief Kevin Manion over strategy.

9. (6) Carl Edwards -- car No. 99

Blown engine ruined what was shaping up to be a very good day for him at Phoenix.

10. (9) Jeff Burton -- car No. 31

Only 80 points out of fifth place in the standings going into the season's final week.

11. (7) Kurt Busch -- car No. 2

12. (13) Ryan Newman -- car No. 12

13. (12) Denny Hamlin -- car No. 11

14. (16) Greg Biffle -- car No. 16

15. (15) Casey Mears -- car No. 25

16. (14) Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- car No. 8

17. (19) Bobby Labonte -- car No. 43

18. (20) Juan Pablo Montoya -- car No. 42

19. (18) Jamie McMurray -- car No. 26

20. (17) Kasey Kahne -- car No. 9

21. (21) Mark Martin/Aric Almirola -- car No. 01

22. (22) Reed Sorenson -- car No. 41

23. (26) J.J. Yeley -- car No. 18

24. (28) Paul Menard -- car No. 15

25. (30) David Stremme -- car No. 40

26. (23) Ricky Rudd -- car No. 88

27. (24) Elliott Sadler -- car No. 19

28. (25) Tony Raines -- car No. 96

29. (29) Robby Gordon -- car No. 7

30. (27) Dave Blaney -- car No. 22

31. (31) David Ragan -- car No. 6

32. (32) David Gilliland -- car No. 38

33. (36) Johnny Sauter -- car No. 70

34. (35) Brian Vickers -- car No. 83

35. (34) Kyle Petty -- car No. 45

36. (33) Patrick Carpentier/Scott Riggs -- car No. 10

37. (37) Bill Elliott -- car No. 21

38. (38) Jeremy Mayfield -- car No. 66

39. (39) David Reutimann -- car No. 00

40. (40) Michael Waltrip -- car No. 55

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