AFTER CHICAGOLAND RANKINGS

Gordon maintains lead
despite 'bad' day

Kenseth, Stewart move into No. 2 and 3 spots

Monday, Jul. 16, 2007

• Race Rewind | Chicagoland 400
• Slideshow | Chicagoland 400
• Race Results | Chicagoland 400

That's Racin's David Poole ranks the top 40 teams in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series following the USG Sheetrock 400 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill.

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

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

How do you build a 300-point lead? You pull out top-10 finishes on "bad" days.

2. (4) Matt Kenseth -- car No. 17

No team is better and piling up the points while working outside of the spotlight.

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

After his victory at Chicagoland, Stewart said missing 2006 Chase was "humbling."

4. (2) Denny Hamlin -- car No. 11

It'd be a mistake for Stewart or anyone to underestimate Hamlin's competitiveness.

5. (3) Jimmie Johnson -- car No. 48

Tire failure sidetracked what might have been a good battle with Stewart in Joliet.

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

Edwards was coming fast at end of Chicago race, just like he is as Chase approaches.

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

Driver who won Daytona 500 at all-star race already this year has won at Indy before.

8. (9) Kyle Busch -- car No. 5

Startlingly talented. Emotional development may ultimately determine success level.

9. (7) Martin Truex Jr. -- car No. 1

Lost some ground with rough run at Chicagoland. Can't afford many more of those.

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

You keep waiting for this team to put together races where it looks like it might win.

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

12. (12) Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- car No. 8

13. (15) Kurt Busch -- car No. 2

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

15. (13) Jamie McMurray -- car No. 26

16. (17) Casey Mears -- car No. 25

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

18. (18) Mark Martin/Regan Smith -- car No. 01

19. (19) Juan Pablo Montoya -- car No. 42

20. (22) Bobby Labonte -- car No. 43

21. (28) Reed Sorenson -- car No. 41

22. (26) David Gilliland -- car No. 38

23. (24) David Ragan -- car No. 6

24. (20) Robby Gordon -- car No. 7

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

26. (21) Kasey Kahne -- car No. 9

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

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

29. (29) Jeff Green -- car No. 66

30. (30) Sterling Marlin -- car No. 14

31. (31) David Stremme -- car No. 40

32. (32) Johnny Sauter -- car No. 70

33. (33) Ricky Rudd -- car No. 88

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

35. (40) Kyle Petty/John Andretti -- car No. 45

36. (35) Dave Blaney -- car No. 22

37. (36) David Reutimann -- car. No. 00

38. (38) Paul Menard -- car No. 15

39. (39) Joe Nemechek -- car No. 13

40. (37) Brian Vickers -- car No. 83

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