AFTER DOVER RANKINGS

Dover win pushes Truex Jr. into top 10 in rankings

Hendrick drivers maintain hold on primo spots

DAVID POOLE

dpoole@charlotteobserver.com

Tuesday, Jun. 05, 2007

That’s Racin’ ranks the top 40 teams in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series following the Autism Speaks 400 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. (Rankings based on team performance and potential. Each team’s preseason ranking is in parentheses:)

1. (1) Jimmie Johnson – car No. 48 Went down swinging at Dover, running his car until he wore it out trying for a win.

2. (2) Jeff Gordon – car No. 24 Just didn’t quite get enough done to inch back ahead of his teammate for top spot.

3. (3) Denny Hamlin – car No. 11 Another top-five run for a team that has to go into Pocono as the odds-on favorite.

4. (4) Matt Kenseth – car No. 17 Top-five finish at Dover keeps this team right in this year’s four-team top echelon.

5. (7) Jeff Burton – car No. 31 Doing what it did last year, racking up solid points without setting the world on fire.

6. (5) Tony Stewart – car No. 20 He and Kurt Busch acted like children on track. Busch acted like a goon on pit road.

7. (6) Kevin Harvick – car No. 29 He finished two laps down at Dover, but don’t dare tell his fans he wasn’t inspired.

8. (11) Carl Edwards – car No. 99 In case you missed it, this guy who hasn’t won in nearly two years is sixth in points.

9. (t8) Kyle Busch – car No. 5 This week, at least, he came across as the least out-of-control of the Busch brothers.

10. (15) Martin Truex Jr. – car No. 1 Well, well, well. It looks like somebody can win races with Dale Earnhardt Inc.

11. (12) Mark Martin/Regan Smith – car No. 01 12. (13) Clint Bowyer – car No. 07 13. (10) Dale Earnhardt Jr. – car No. 8 14. (t8) Kurt Busch – car No. 2 15. (17) Ryan Newman – car No. 12 16. (14) Jamie McMurray – car No. 26 17. (19) Greg Biffle – car No. 16 18. (18) Casey Mears – car No. 25 19. (20) Bobby Labonte – car No. 43 20. (16) J.J. Yeley – car No. 18 21. (25) Kasey Kahne – car No. 9 22. (24) Tony Raines – car No. 96 23. (21) Reed Sorenson – car No. 41 24. (23) Juan Pablo Montoya – car No. 42 25. (22) David Stremme – car No. 40 26. (30) Robby Gordon – car No. 7 27. (26) Elliott Sadler – car No. 19 28. (34) Sterling Marlin – car No. 14 29. (29) Jeff Green – car No. 66 30. (36) David Ragan – car No. 6 31. (27) Ricky Rudd – car No. 88 32. (28) Kyle Petty – car No. 45 33. (37) Brian Vickers – car No. 83 34. (31) Johnny Sauter – car No. 70 35. (33) Joe Nemechek – car No. 13 36. (35) David Gilliland – car No. 38 37. (38) Scott Riggs – car No. 10 38. (40) Bill Elliott/Ken Schrader – car No. 21 39. (32) Dave Blaney – car No. 22 40. (NR) Jeremy Mayfield – car No. 36

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