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closeAFTER PHOENIX RANKINGS
Top three hold ground in rankings
DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
Monday, Apr. 14, 2008
That's Racin' ranks the top 40 teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series after the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. Rankings are based on team performance and potential for success. (Last week's ranking in parentheses):
1. (1) Carl Edwards - car No. 99
Fell on the wrong side of pit strategies at Phoenix but still showed impressive speed.
2. (2) Jeff Burton - car No. 31
Keeps points lead with Houdini-like top 10. He's right, though, team must get better.
3. (3) Kyle Busch - car No. 18
More than any team this year, this one seems it could go on a long winning streak.
4. (5) Denny Hamlin - car No. 11
You get the sense that if this team ever gets it all going at once it could be scary good.
5. (6) Dale Earnhardt Jr. - car No. 88
There's going to be incredible pressure on this team to convert on a win at Talladega.
6. (4) Tony Stewart - car No. 20
Stewart is way overdue for a win at Talladega where he has six runner-up finishes.
7. (11) Jimmie Johnson - car No. 48
Declared "we're back" after fuel-milage gamble paid off big with a win at Phoenix.
8. (9) Clint Bowyer - car No. 07
If Jimmie Johnson's gas gamble failed at Phoenix Bowyer would have hit the jackpot.
9. (8) Greg Biffle - car. No. 16
Had to claw his way uphill for most of the night to get his top-10 finish at Phoenix.
10. (7) Kevin Harvick - car No. 29
Stumbled with 19th at Phoenix. That's this team's third straight finish outside top 10.
11. (14) Mark Martin/Aric Almirola - car No. 8
Too bad this team decided not to gamble at Phoenix. Martin deserved shot at that win.
12. (12) Jeff Gordon - car No. 24
This team needs a Talladega victory almost as badly as teammate Earnhardt Jr. does.
13. I10) Ryan Newman - car No. 12
14. (19) Martin Truex Jr. - car No. 1
15. (15) Kasey Kahne - car No. 9
16. (13) Matt Kenseth - car No. 17
17. (17) Juan Pablo Montoya - car No. 42
18. (16) David Ragan - car No. 6
19. (18) Kurt Busch - car No. 2
20. (21) Casey Mears - car No. 5
21. (22) Jamie McMurray - car No. 26
22. (23) Bobby Labonte - car No. 43
23. (20) Brian Vickers - car No. 83
24. (27) David Gilliland - car No. 38
25. (25) Paul Menard - car No. 15
26. (26) Travis Kvapil - car No. 28
27. (24) Elliott Sadler - car No. 19
28. (30) Scott Riggs - car No. 66
29. (29) Robby Gordon - car No. 7
30. (28) Reed Sorenson - car No. 41
31. (31) Dave Blaney - car No. 22
32. (37) David Reutimann - car No. 44
33. (38) Sam Hornish Jr. - car No. 77
34. (36) Michael Waltrip - car No. 55
35. (35) Regan Smith - car No. 01
36. (32) Michael McDowell - car No. 00
37. (34) J.J. Yeley - car No. 96
38. (33) Johnny Sauter - car No. 70
39. (39) Mike Skinner - car No. 84.
40. (40) Dario Franchitti - car No. 40
