NASCAR Driver Rankings & Odds- Talladega

Talladega Superspeedway -- 04/27/08

Author: Jeremy Dunn

Published: Monday Apr 28 2008 1:29pm

1. (2) 18-Kyle Busch- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (6-1)

He has won seven of twenty-one races he has entered in NASCAR’s top three series thus far in 2008. What a stellar year indeed for 22-year-old Kyle Busch. After rallying from a lap down at Talladega, Busch confirmed what we already knew, that he is a phenomenal driver who is only going to improve with experience and age. More and more, he is looking like a driver that can actually contend for the Sprint Cup Championship. Before, we questioned his uniformity. Not since Jeff Gordon have we seen so much talent at this level of competition at such a youthful age. On another note, Busch’s move from Hendrick Motorsports to Joe Gibbs Racing is proving to be more prosperous than many expected.

After nine races, Kyle Busch is second in the Sprint Cup Championship Standing, with two wins, five top five finishes, and six top ten finishes.

2. (1) 99-Carl Edwards- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (6-1)

Other than David Ragan’s surprising top five finish, it was a rather forgettable weekend for Roush Fenway Racing, especially Carl Edwards. He was involved in a multi-car crash in Saturday’s Nationwide Series event after Kevin Lepage inexplicably pulled right into the middle of the lead pack while exiting the pits. On Sunday, things did not improve as a cut tire ultimately sent him to the garage prematurely. Edwards’ lack of success on the restrictor plate venues continued, but the Sprint Cup Series returns to Richmond next weekend, which happens to be one of his better tracks.

After nine races, Edwards is tenth in the championship standings. He has posted a series-high three wins, along with four top five finishes and five top ten finishes.

3. (3) 31-Jeff Burton- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (15-1)

As usual, Jeff Burton did not take center stage, but his perpetual consistency keeps him on top of the Sprint Cup standings by 22 points over Busch. The unflappable veteran kept his nose clean throughout the race, and scored a respectable 12th place finish. Thus far, Burton’s consistency has proven more valuable than Edwards’ sheer dominance. With one more race until we are ten races deep into the 2008 season, you can sense which drivers will be contending for the coveted trophy in the final ten races of the season, and Burton is clearly one of those drivers.

After nine races in 2008, Burton leads the championship standings. He has posted one victory, three top five finishes, and six top ten finishes.

4. (4) 88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr.- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (7-2)

As the Sprint Cup Series packs up and heads Richmond, Virginia this weekend, it will be two years exactly since Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s last victory. At Talladega, Earnhardt, Jr. once again led laps, 46 to be exact, and had a car that could have won the race given the right circumstances. Unfortunately, for the eager Earnhardt fans, they will have to wait another week at least. Despite the doughnut in the win column, the other meaningful columns contain impressive numbers, and nothing can put a damper on his season up to this point. Earnhardt will win multiple races in 2008; we just did not anticipate it taking this long. As I say each week, be patient Earnhardt Nation.

After nine races, Earnhardt, Jr. has yet to win; however, he has scored three top five finishes, and a series-high seven top ten finishes. He currently sits third in the Sprint Cup standings.

5. (7) 11-Denny Hamlin- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (8-1)

Well, if Tony Stewart does indeed depart the Joe Gibbs Racing organization, it is safe to say that the team will not lack in talent. Kyle Busch has clearly delivered in 2008, and Denny Hamlin is steadily marching towards the front of the standings. Ever since they encountered fuel pickup issues at Bristol last month, Hamlin and the 11 team have surged. Just like the first half of 2007, Hamlin is a weekly contender at all tracks. With Richmond, Darlington, and Charlotte forthcoming, you should not expect Hamlin to decelerate.

After nine races, Hamlin has one victory, four top five finishes, and six top ten finishes. He is fourth in the championship standings.

6. (5) 48-Jimmie Johnson- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (5-1)

For most of the race, Jimmie Johnson vigilantly awaited the appropriate opportunity to challenge for the lead. In the past, that strategy has paid dividends for Johnson and the 48 team. However, after a brief stint of leading the race, Johnson faded back to mid-pack where he finished thirteenth. Though they seemed to have lost their edge at the super speedways, I have learned by now, do not discount Johnson and the 48 team. Jeff Gordon finished 19th and is fourteenth in the standings.

After nine races, Johnson is fifth in the Sprint Cup standings. He has scored one win, four top five finishes, and four top ten finishes.

7. (6) 29-Kevin Harvick- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (15-1)

A last lap wreck ended any hope of a solid finish for Kevin Harvick. His inconspicuous day ended with a 24th place showing. Like Earnhardt, Jr., Harvick’s winless skid is swelling with each concluded race. Following an Earnhardt win, everyone will shift their attention to Harvick, though he will likely answer those ‘when are you going to winΔ’ questions in a less diplomatic manner. Harvick’s last win occurred in the 2007 Daytona 500.

Harvick’s 2008 season has not been a disappointment other than the lack of wins. After nine races, he is sixth in the standings. He has posted two top five finishes and four top ten finishes.

8. (10) 07-Clint Bowyer- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (15-1)

Clint Bowyer scored his sixth consecutive top ten finish following his ninth place showing at Talladega. Like his two Richard Childress Racing teammates, Bowyer is producing consistent numbers. My only concern with Bowyer is that he tends to finish in the bottom half of the top ten more so than the top five, which means that he does not content for that many wins.

After nine races, Bowyer has posted two top five finishes and six top ten finishes. He is currently seventh in the Sprint Cup standings.

9. (9) 20-Tony Stewart- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (5-1)

After leading a race-high 61 laps, anything less than a victory would be a bitter disappointment. Well, not only did Stewart not win, but also he was involved in two separate on-track incidents. He blew a tire and scraped the wall on lap 144 while leading the race. Stewart maintained his position on the lead lap. He was laboring his way back to the front in a damaged car when an accident on lap 173 that involved Earnhardt, Jr. and Bobby Labonte put the exclamation point on an exasperating day for Stewart. Talladega is one of the few tracks that Stewart has yet to conquer in the Sprint Cup series.

After nine races, Stewart is still winless, but he has scored three top five finishes and five top ten finishes. He is ninth in the championship standings.

10. (8) 16-Greg Biffle- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (18-1)

Greg Biffle posted an eighteenth place finish at Talladega in a race in which he never seemed to have a winning setup. Unlike his teammates Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards, Biffle was able to evade any catastrophic failures and come home with a solid finish.

After nine races, Biffle has scored three top five finishes and five top ten finishes. He is eighth in the Sprint Cup standings.

One the rise- Juan Pablo Montoya, Ryan Newman, Casey Mears, David Ragan, and Brian Vickers

One the decline- Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex, Jr., Kasey Kahne, and Jeff Gordon