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closeAFTER BRISTOL RANKINGS
Biffle bumps Edwards
out of No. 2 spot
Kyle Busch maintains hold on top of ThatsRacin.com rankings
DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
Monday, Mar. 17, 2008
That's Racin' ranks the top 40 teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series after the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. Rankings are based on team performance and potential for success this season. (Previous ranking in parentheses):
1. (1) Kyle Busch - car No. 18
Busch kept his car going well enough to finish 17th at Bristol with no power steering.
2. (4) Greg Biffle - car. No. 16
Only Biffle, Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have three top fives in first five races.
3. (2) Carl Edwards - car No. 99
We expected more than a 16th at Bristol. Still the only two-win team so far this year.
4. (3) Tony Stewart - car No. 20
Dominated past two Bristol spring races with little to show for it. Wasn't his fault this time.
5. (11) Jeff Burton - car No. 31
This team was able to pounce when the opportunity to win came its way at Bristol.
6. (6) Dale Earnhardt Jr. - car No. 88
Would fans rather see him make the Chase chasing points or miss it going for wins?
7. (5) Ryan Newman - car No. 12
Daytona 500 champ started in back at Bristol after engine change and never caught up.
8. (9) Kevin Harvick - car No. 29
If he had won at Bristol he'd be where Burton is. That victory is the only difference.
9. (8) Kasey Kahne - car No. 9
Fought it all day at Bristol, but sometimes you win those fights. He finished seventh.
10. (7) Matt Kenseth - car No. 17
Drops three spots with a top 10? Tough, but late-race madness boosted Bristol result.
11. (14) Clint Bowyer - car No. 07
Last year's biggest surprise is holding up his end of the deal in strong Childress start.
12. (10) Jeff Gordon - car No. 24
(tie) (12) Jimmie Johnson - car No. 48
The grace period is now over. If these guys are strong at Martinsville, it's worry time.
14. (15) Denny Hamlin - car No. 11
15. (13) Kurt Busch - car No. 2
16. (20) Mark Martin/Aric Almirola - car No. 8
17. (18) Martin Truex Jr. - car No. 1
18. (21) Juan Pablo Montoya - car No. 42
19. (16) Brian Vickers - car No. 83
20. (17) Bobby Labonte - car No. 43
21. (19) Casey Mears - car No. 5
22. (24) David Ragan - car No. 6
23. (25) Elliott Sadler - car No. 19
24. (22) Reed Sorenson - car No. 41
25. (23) Robby Gordon - car No. 7
26. (29) David Gilliland - car No. 38
27. (28) David Reutimann - car No. 00
28. (26) Scott Riggs - car No. 66
29. (30) Jeremy Mayfield - car No. 70
30. (27) Paul Menard - car No. 15
31. (33) Travis Kvapil - car No. 28
32. (35) J.J. Yeley - car No. 96
33. (32) Dale Jarrett - car No. 44
34. (36) Michael Waltrip - car No. 55
35. (37) Sam Hornish Jr. - car No. 77
36. (31) Jamie McMurray - car No. 26
37. (34) Dave Blaney - car No. 22
38. (38) Regan Smith - car No. 01
39. (39) Dario Franchitti - car No. 40
40. (40) Kyle Petty - car No. 45
