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closeAFTER DARLINGTON RANKINGS
Edwards builds momentum before Charlotte
No. 99 moves into second in rankings behind Kyle Busch
DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
Monday, May. 12, 2008
That's Racin' ranks the top 40 teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series after the Dodge 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. Rankings are based on team performance and potential for success. (Last week's ranking in parentheses):
1. (1) Kyle Busch -- car No. 18
You can boo him until your lungs catch fire, but if you're not impressed with what he's doing this year then you're not paying attention.
2. (5) Carl Edwards -- car No. 99
Lest we forget, Charlotte is a whole lot like the tracks this team has been so strong on.
3. (2) Jeff Burton -- car No. 31
Eleven races in and Burton's worst finish is 13th. He's also completed every lap.
4. (3) Denny Hamlin -- car No. 11
If this team can ever get its luck out of the ditch, it might win a whole bunch of races.
5. (4) Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- car No. 88
All-star win would mean a special event sweep in ‘08 -- he did win the Bud Shootout.
6. (7) Tony Stewart -- car No. 20
Up after Darlington because Lap 2 wreck wasn't his doing and his rally was stirring.
7. (6) Clint Bowyer -- car No. 07
Turned what might have been an awful run at Darlington into a decent top-15 finish.
8. (9) Jimmie Johnson -- car No. 48
After being the model team for two seasons it hasn't been anything special this year.
9. (13) Jeff Gordon -- car No. 24
Probably too big a jump for these guys, but there were a lot of bad days at Darlington.
10. (8) Kevin Harvick -- car No. 29
Defending all-star race winner isn't riding a wave of momentum back into Charlotte.
11. (11) Greg Biffle -- car. No. 16
Had a great car at Darlington as long as it lasted. The trick is, it has to go all the way.
12. (10) Ryan Newman -- car No. 12
Something tells me this team'll be stronger than you might think the next two weeks.
13. (14) Martin Truex Jr. -- car No. 1
14. (12) Mark Martin/Aric Almirola -- car No. 8
15. (17) David Ragan -- car No. 6
16. (18) Travis Kvapil -- car No. 28
17. (15) Kasey Kahne -- car No. 9
18. (20) Matt Kenseth -- car No. 17
19. (16) Juan Pablo Montoya -- car No. 42
20. (19) Bobby Labonte -- car No. 43
21. (22) Jamie McMurray -- car No. 26
22. (25) Kurt Busch -- car No. 2
23. (21) Casey Mears -- car No. 5
24. (24) David Gilliland -- car No. 38
25. (23) Brian Vickers -- car No. 83
26. (32) Dave Blaney -- car No. 22
27. (31) Scott Riggs -- car No. 66
28. (30) David Reutimann -- car No. 44
29. (26) Paul Menard -- car No. 15
30. (27) Robby Gordon -- car No. 7
31. (28) Reed Sorenson -- car No. 41
32. (29) Elliott Sadler -- car No. 19
33. (34) Michael Waltrip -- car No. 55
34. (33) Regan Smith -- car No. 01
35. (36) Michael McDowell -- car No. 00
36. (37) J.J. Yeley -- car No. 96
37. (38) AJ Allmendinger -- car No. 84
38. (35) Sam Hornish Jr. -- car No. 77
39. (39) Patrick Carpentier -- car No. 10
40. (40) Dario Franchitti/Sterling Marlin -- car No. 40
