AFTER DAYTONA RANKINGS

Who can stop Kyle Busch?

Another win keeps points leader on top of driver rankings

DAVID POOLE

The Charlotte Observer

Tuesday, Jul. 08, 2008

That's Racin' ranks the top 40 teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series after the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Rankings are based on performance and potential for success. (Last week's ranking in parentheses):

1. (1) Kyle Busch - car No. 18

Six wins in the first half. You can use two words to summarize that: Any questions?

2. (2) Carl Edwards - car No. 99

Could he have won Daytona without last caution? Could, yes. Would, who knows?

3. (3) Dale Earnhardt Jr. - car No. 88

Led for a long time at Daytona but couldn't close the deal, settling in to finish eighth.

4. (6) Kasey Kahne - car No. 9

He's been strong for a long spell, but this team doesn't have a Chase spot locked up.

5. (4) Jeff Burton - car No. 31

Bounced around like a pinball at Daytona, dooming team to its season's worst result.

6. (7) Matt Kenseth - car No. 17

Team has rebounded remarkably, finishing seventh or better in seven of eight races.

7. (5) Jimmie Johnson - car No. 48

Maybe this team's annual summer swoon won't look so much like a swoon this year.

8. (9) Denny Hamlin - car No. 11

This was another one of the cars that seemed to have a "HIT ME" sign on at Daytona.

9. (8) Tony Stewart - car No. 20

Give him credit for knowing his limits and getting out when he felt too sick to race.

10. (11) Jeff Gordon - car No. 24

Had a car capable of winning Daytona but got circumstanced all the way back to 30th.

11. (10) Greg Biffle - car. No. 16

Suddenly in precarious Chase position after no top-10 finishes in the past five races.

12. (12) Clint Bowyer - car No. 07

Made it through enough of Daytona mayhem to log a top-10 and stay in Chase fight.

13. (13) Kevin Harvick - car No. 29

14. (16) Kurt Busch - car No. 2

15. (17) David Ragan - car No. 6

16. (14) Brian Vickers - car No. 83

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

18. (18) Ryan Newman - car No. 12

19. (22) Mark Martin/Aric Almirola - car No. 8

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

21. (20) Elliott Sadler - car No. 19

22. (21) Juan Pablo Montoya - car No. 42

23. (23) Casey Mears - car No. 5

24. (25) Travis Kvapil - car No. 28

25. (24) Jamie McMurray - car No. 26

26. (26) David Gilliland - car No. 38

27. (29) Paul Menard - car No. 15

28. (27) David Reutimann - car No. 44

29. (31) Robby Gordon - car No. 7

30. (28) Michael Waltrip - car No. 55

31. (30) Dave Blaney - car No. 22

32. (32) Sam Hornish Jr. - car No. 77

33. (33) Reed Sorenson - car No. 41

34. (38) Patrick Carpentier - car No. 10

35. (36) Regan Smith - car No. 01

36. (34) AJ Allmendinger - car No. 84

37. (39) Michael McDowell - car No. 00

38. (35) Scott Riggs - car No. 66

39. (37) J.J. Yeley - car No. 96

40. (78) Joe Nemechek - car No. 78

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