AFTER CHARLOTTE RANKINGS

Another bad run at Charlotte
drops Gordon from top

Teammate Mears makes big jump after Coca-Cola 600 win

DAVID POOLE / The Charlotte Observer

Tuesday, May. 29, 2007

That's Racin' ranks the top 40 teams in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series following the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway at Charlotte. (Rankings based on team performance and potential. Each team's previous ranking is in parentheses:)

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

One fewer top five and top 10 than Jeff Gordon. But Johnson also has one more win.

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

For some reason, Charlotte has been the bane of his racing existence in recent years.

3. (3) Denny Hamlin -- car No. 11

Team working through issues with crew. Maybe it won't peak until it's Chase time.

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

Dover is a place where this team could muscle its way back past Chevys to win again.

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

As strong as Chevrolet has been, hard to believe no Gibbs teams has won a race yet.

6. (9) Kevin Harvick -- car No. 29

Uninspired run in 600, but this team did win the NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge.

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

Broke long winless streak at Dover last fall. Looks to break little lull there again now.

8. tie (8) Kurt Busch -- car No. 2

and (6) Kyle Busch -- car No. 5

Kurt is the Busch brother who seems to have a little more forward momentum right now, but it seems like both could use a dose of big-time positive reinforcement.

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

Give this team credit for hanging in there with all the stuff that's swirling around it.

11. (12) Carl Edwards -- car No. 99

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

13. (10) Clint Bowyer -- car No. 07

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

15. (15) Martin Truex Jr. -- car No. 1

16. (18) J.J. Yeley -- car No. 18

17. (11) Ryan Newman -- car No. 12

18. (29) Casey Mears -- car No. 25

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

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

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

22. (20) David Stremme -- car No. 40

23. (24) Juan Pablo Montoya -- car No. 42

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

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

26. (22) Elliott Sadler -- car No. 19

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

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

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

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

31. (35) Johnny Sauter -- car No. 70

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

33. (27) Joe Nemechek -- car No. 13

34. (28) Sterling Marlin -- car No. 14

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

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

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

38. (39) Scott Riggs -- car No. 10

39. (40) Kenny Wallace -- car No. 78

40. (38) Bill Elliott/Ken Schrader -- car No. 21

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