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closeAFTER BRISTOL RANKINGS
Johnson maintains hold on top of rankings
Kenseth also holds on at No. 2, but remaining Top 10 sees change
DAVID POOLE / The Charlotte Observer
Monday, Mar. 26, 2007
That's Racin' ranks the top 40 teams in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series following the Food City 500 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. (Rankings based on team performance and potential. Each team's previous ranking is in parentheses:)
1. (1) Jimmie Johnson -- car No. 48
No competitive factor at Bristol, but overall this has been the sport's best team so far.
2. (2) Matt Kenseth -- car No. 17
He has three top-five finishes, but one was a victory so he gets a slight not for second.
3. (t5) Jeff Burton -- car No. 31
Four top-five finishes in first five races, and he could have bulled to a Bristol victory.
4. (t5) Jeff Gordon -- car No. 24
Recovery to get a third at Bristol was reminiscent of the way the 24 team used to roll.
5. (3) Tony Stewart -- car No. 20
Clearly the superior car at Bristol, but you have to finish to win and this team didn't.
6. (11) Kyle Busch -- car No. 5
Certainly was politically correct with assessment of new car after winning its debut.
7. (10) Kevin Harvick -- car No. 29
Back into form on the short track at Bristol. He could be a factor again this weekend.
8. (4) Mark Martin/Regan Smith -- car No. 01
Early pit road penalty put Smith in a hole in debut. Team still fourth in owner points.
9. (8) Denny Hamlin -- car No. 11
Had his car in position to win had it not been for typical late-race Bristol weirdness.
10. (7) Carl Edwards -- car No. 99
Team just still can't seem to quite put things back together the way they were in '05.
11. (13) Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- car No. 8
12. (12) Clint Bowyer -- car No. 07
13. (14) David Stremme -- car No. 40
14. (9) Kurt Busch -- car No. 2
15. (21) Jamie McMurray -- car No. 26
16. (16) J.J. Yeley -- car No. 18
17. (20) Greg Biffle -- car No. 16
18. (19) Kasey Kahne -- car No. 9
19. (17) Bobby Labonte -- car No. 43
20. (18) Elliott Sadler -- car No. 19
21. (15) Ryan Newman -- car No. 12
22. (23) Juan Pablo Montoya -- car No. 42
23. (29) Casey Mears -- car No. 25
24. (24) Robby Gordon -- car No. 7
25. (35) Jeff Green -- car No. 66
26. (25) Martin Truex Jr. -- car No. 1
27. (26) Reed Sorenson -- car No. 41
28. (27) Ricky Rudd -- car No. 88
29. (28) David Gilliland -- car No. 38
30. (30) Tony Raines -- car No. 96
31. (31) Sterling Marlin -- car No. 14
32. (22) Joe Nemechek -- car No. 13
33. (34) David Ragan -- car No. 6
34. (NR) Kyle Petty -- car No. 45
35. (39) Brian Vickers -- car No. 83
36. (33) Johnny Sauter -- car No. 70
37. (32) Dave Blaney -- car No. 22
38. (36) Scott Riggs -- car No. 10
39. (37) Ken Schrader -- car No. 21
40. (38) Dale Jarrett -- car No. 44
