Driver Rankings & Odds- California

California Speedway -- 02/24/08

Author: Jeremy Dunn

Published: Tuesday Feb 26 2008 9:07am

Finally, after a long, cold, and wet weekend in Fontana, California, we can briefly look back before moving on to Las Vegas!

1. (2) Kyle Busch- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (+1000)

So far so good for Joe Gibbs Racing’s newest driver. Kyle Busch has scored two fourth place finishes in the first two races of the season, which is great when you think about championship points; however, when you are as spirited as Kyle Busch is, you want that trophy. It is not a matter of if Kyle Busch wins a race in 2008; it is a matter of when. Surprisingly, the 18 team appears to be the strongest of the trio of Joe Gibbs Racing teams thus far. However, it is still very early. Busch must remain consistent if he expects to hang with his former Hendrick Motorsports teammates.

2. (1) Ryan Newman- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (+2000)

Last week was an eventful week for the newly added member of the Daytona 500 champion fraternity. Ryan Newman appeared on a plethora of television and radio shows. As many times as he repeated himself, he never seemed to get tired of talking about his phenomenal triumph. As the show moved on to California, Newman, and his team got right back down to business. How did they follow up their Daytona 500 win? Well, the Rocketman led three laps and finished tenth, and leaves the Pacific Coast second in the Sprint Cup championship standings. It is still early, but Newman appears to be back among the frontrunners.

3. (3) 20-Tony Stewart- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (+700)

Tony Stewart has been notorious for slow starts, however, he has a third place finish and a seventh place finish to boot. Furthermore, he is undefeated in the Nationwide Series. Stewart appeared to have some handling issues in the Cup race, but he was able to manage his way to a solid finish, which is a good sign for ‘Smoke’ fans. As the season progresses, Stewart and Greg Zipadelli will find a comfortable balance and they will be championship contenders. Do not let the Toyota emblem on the front of the car fool you.

4. (-) Carl Edwards- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (+700)

For the fourth consecutive season, a Roush Fenway Racing prepared car won the Auto Club 500. Carl Edwards’ convincing win verified that the Roush group has made the proper adjustments with the new car. While most analysts projected that Matt Kenseth would be the leader of the Roush pack, Edwards was the one that clearly showed that he has something for the Hendrick boys. He passed both Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson in the closing laps en route to his eighth career Sprint Cup win.

5. (6) Jimmie Johnson- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (+450)

Even though Jimmie Johnson did not win the Auto Club 500, he very well could have. Johnson and the 48 team have not lost any of their edge as they led 76 of the 250 laps paced. If Sunday was any indication as to how the 2008 season will play out, anti-Hendrick fans are in for another long season. However, Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards have given the Dodge and Ford faithful some hope. Stay tuned!

6. (7) Jeff Gordon- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (+450)

It was a familiar sight, the 48 and 24 leading the field for most of the early part of the Auto Club 500. Even though Carl Edwards manhandled them in the closing laps, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon clearly established themselves as the drivers to beat in the race to the 2008 Sprint Cup championship. However, one thing that was noticeable, and we have observed it in the past- Jeff Gordon was fast early yet he faded just a bit. Jimmie Johnson was faster as the race progressed. Folks, keep that in mind.

7. (4) Kurt Busch- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (+1200)

Kurt Busch never seemed to have the track position he needed in order to contend for the Auto Club 500 win. After starting 36th, he made his way to the front, but he seemed to stall out at around the 10th to 15th position range. Fortunately, it is early enough in the season for this team to make the necessary amendments in order to step up their intermediate program.

8. (8) Matt Kenseth- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (+700)

Matt Kenseth did not win his third consecutive Auto Club 500, but his fifth place finish was exactly what this team needed following their 36th place finish in the Daytona 500. Kenseth was solid all weekend, but he was a step or two behind Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon, and Jimmie Johnson. Look for the 17 team to contend for the win at Las Vegas next week.

9. (-) Kasey Kahne- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (+2000)

Kasey Kahne began to display signs of his 2006 form when he won six races before he faded to a 9th place finish. After the misery that Kahne and his Gillett Evernham Motorsports team endured in 2007, a top ten is precisely what this team needed. The consistency of this team is still in question, but if Kahne strikes hot, he can win multiple races, especially at tracks like Las Vegas and Atlanta.

10. (-) Martin Truex Jr- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (+3000)

Martin Truex, Jr. and his DEI team are out to prove that the 2007 season was no fluke, and they are off to a fine start. Truex, Jr. did not have a car that could win the race, but he was solid all throughout the weekend and posted a sixth place finish. Last year, engine troubles and questionable pit strategy may have hindered them. It seems as if they have grown up a little bit.

On the rise- Kevin Harvick and Brian Vickers

On the decline- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Denny Hamlin