Teammates keep hold of their perch atop rankings

8 victories for Hendrick drivers in past 9 races

DAVID POOLE

dpoole@charlotteobserver.com

Monday, May. 14, 2007

• Sunday slideshow | Action at the track
• Updated points | The top 35 and beyond

That’s Racin’ ranks the top 40 teams in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series following the Dodge Avenger 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

(Rankings based on team performance and potential. Each team’s preseason ranking is in parentheses:)

1. (2) Jeff Gordon – car No. 24 Winning races how he used to, in ways that make you go “how in the world…?”

2. (1) Jimmie Johnson – car No. 48 He came to get tires at Darlington and it wound up costing him. How odd is that?

3. (3) Denny Hamlin – car No. 11 Criticizing crew for Darlington error? This is the big time. They’ve got to get it done.

4. (4) Matt Kenseth – car No. 17 If forced, could you have guessed where he finished at Darlington? (It was seventh.)

5. (6) Tony Stewart – car No. 20 Sixth in the points and hasn’t really done a whole lot. That has an ominous feel to it.

6. (5) Kyle Busch – car No. 5 Team has tailed off a bit. Could Hendrick good fortune turn his way at Charlotte?

7. (8) Jeff Burton – car No. 31 Had a “points” day at Darlington – team finished 10th and was rarely higher all day.

8. (9) Kurt Busch – car No. 2 Ran better than he finished at Darlington. Seventh in points with only three top 10s.

9. (7) Kevin Harvick – car No. 29 Daytona 500-winning team seems like a complete non-factor too many weekends.

10. (12) Clint Bowyer – car No. 07 Got first career Nextel Cup pole and thanks to the Dale Earnhardt Jr. story few cared.

11. (13) Ryan Newman – car No. 12 12. (14) Carl Edwards – car No. 99 13. (11) Jamie McMurray – car No. 26 14. (10) Dale Earnhardt Jr. – car No. 8 15. (16) Martin Truex Jr. – car No. 1 16. (15) Mark Martin/Regan Smith – car No. 01 17. (17) Greg Biffle – car No. 16 18. (18) J.J. Yeley – car No. 18 19. (20) Bobby Labonte – car No. 43 20. (19) David Stremme – car No. 40 21. (25) Kasey Kahne – car No. 9 22. (26) Elliott Sadler – car No. 19 23. (21) Jeff Green – car No. 66 24. (22) Juan Pablo Montoya – car No. 42 25. (23) Tony Raines – car No. 96 26. (24) Reed Sorenson – car No. 41 27. (27) Joe Nemechek – car No. 13 28. (36) Sterling Marlin – car No. 14 29. (30) Casey Mears – car No. 25 30. (28) Robby Gordon – car No. 7 31. (29) David Ragan – car No. 6 32. (32) David Gilliland – car No. 38 33. (33) Ricky Rudd – car No. 88 34. (34) Kyle Petty – car No. 45 35. (35) Johnny Sauter – car No. 70 36. (37) Dave Blaney – car No. 22 37. (38) Paul Menard – car No. 15 38. (40) Ken Schrader – car No. 21 39. (31) Scott Riggs – car No. 10 40. (NR) Kenny Wallace – car No. 78

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