NASCAR Driver Rankings- Phoenix

Phoenix International Raceway -- 11/09/08

Author: Jeremy Dunn

Published: Monday Nov 10 2008 2:16pm

1. (1) 48-Jimmie Johnson: 1-100 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Well folks, the championship chase ended prematurely following another overpowering performance by Jimmie Johnson at Phoenix on Sunday. After struggling with the handling at Texas, Johnson made a bold statement on Friday after he won his series-high sixth Coors Light pole of the 2008 Sprint Cup campaign. As soon as the green flag waved on Sunday, the hunted had a head start on the hunters. While Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle sliced and diced their way through traffic, Johnson enjoyed the clean air as he led an astounding 217 laps. Edwards battled his way to a fourth place showing, losing nearly half of what he gained last week at Texas. Heading into Ford championship weekend in Homestead, Johnson has a commanding 141-point lead over Edwards. Biffle was eliminated from championship contention.

After 35 races, Johnson has seven wins, 15 top five finishes, and 22 top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 107.7, which is best among Sprint Cup drivers.

2. (2) 99-Carl Edwards: 12-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Carl Edwards finished fourth at Phoenix on Sunday, which is solid, but Jimmie Johnson continued his Chase for the Championship mastery. Edwards, who had won the previous two races, had the momentum heading into the weekend, but momentum clearly shifted back to Johnson when he won the pole. Edwards qualified 15th and battled track position for most of the afternoon. He is the only driver that is mathematically alive in the championship chase. He is 141 points behind Johnson heading into Homestead, which means that he needs a miracle.

After 35 races, Edwards has eight wins, 18 top five finishes, and 26 top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 107.5, which is second overall among Sprint Cup drivers. He leads the series in top five and top fen finishes.

3. (3) 16-Greg Biffle:

After starting the race dead last, Greg Biffle had a huge mountain to climb. Unfortunately, he never had ideal track position. Biffle passes plenty of cars, and his crew chief Greg Erwin felt as if Biffle’s car was as fast as Jimmie Johnson’s at times, he just did not have the opportunity to race for the lead. He did lead seven laps while pitting off-sequence, however. Biffle’s title hopes ended with his 11th place finish at Phoenix, but this team should be stout in 2009. Biffle should hang on to third in the Sprint Cup standings, as he owns a 66-point cushion over Jeff Burton.

After 35 races, Biffle has wins, 12 top five finishes, and 17 top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 93.8.

4. (4) 29-Kevin Harvick:

It was another ho-hum top ten showing for Kevin Harvick. They have been placing top ten finishes quite frequently, but top five finishes seem to be few and far between. The consistency is there, they just need a thorough examination to figure out why they are not top five material. After qualifying 19th, Harvick scored a seventh place finish. He moves up to fifth in the Sprint Cup championship standings, seven points ahead of sixth place driver Clint Bowyer.

After 35 races, Harvick is winless, but he has scored six top five finishes, and 18 top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 90.3.

5. (6) 31-Jeff Burton:

Jeff Burton’s consistency will likely land him a top five showing in the Sprint Cup championship standings for the first time since 2000. However, he will never win a championship with consistency alone. He must figure out a way to lead laps and win races. Burton and his two Richard Childress Racing teammates Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer all had similar season; plenty of top ten finishes, very few top fives and laps led. On Sunday, Burton finished ninth after qualifying 24th. He is fourth in the Sprint Cup championship standings, 59 points ahead of fifth place driver Harvick.

After 35 races, Burton has two wins, seven top five finishes, and 18 top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 89.8.

6. (7) 07-Clint Bowyer:

It was an uneventful weekend for Clint Bowyer on the Sprint Cup side, as he finished in the twelfth position on Sunday. Nevertheless, he was on pins and needles during the Nationwide Series event. Bowyer was involved in a wreck on a restart early in the race due to a jam-up, and saw his lead evaporate. However, the team fought their way back to a fourth place finish. That performance displayed Bowyer’s poise and skill behind the wheel. Very few drivers would have been able to accomplish that. Bowyer’s lead in the Nationwide Series standings is at 56 points over Carl Edwards. In the Sprint Cup standings, Bowyer is in the sixth position, just seven points out of the top five.

After 35 races, Bowyer has one win, six top five finishes, and 16 top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 82.6.

7. (5) 24-Jeff Gordon:

It was another ‘blown’ opportunity for Jeff Gordon, as he desperately wants to win a race before the season concludes. He was running in the top five when his engine began to deteriorate. He lost a cylinder, and the engine eventually expired. Gordon finished in the 41st position while his teammate Jimmie Johnson continued to bask in the glory that Gordon once owned. He falls to seventh in the Sprint Cup championship standings, 75 points behind sixth place driver Clint Bowyer.

After 35 races, Gordon is winless, but he has scored 12 top five finishes and 18 top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 95.9.

8. (9) 18-Kyle Busch:

Kyle Busch scored his third consecutive top ten finish at Phoenix on Sunday. After starting the race in the 14th position. Kyle Busch was able to place an eighth place finish. While he was never a threat to Jimmie Johnson, Busch is ending the 2008 season with a little bit of momentum. Despite Johnson’s amazing performance in the Chase for the Championship, and Busch’s colossal collapse, it is difficult to neglect Busch’s 2008 season. He is eleventh in the Sprint Cup championship standings, seven points behind tenth place driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

After 35 races, Kyle Busch has eight wins, 17 top five finishes, and 21 to ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 104.3.

9. (10) 26-Jamie McMurray:

Jamie McMurray is ending the 2008 season in extraordinary fashion. Just three months ago, everyone though that McMurray would soon be joining the unemployment line. Now, he is running up to par with his four teammates if not better. He finished in the third position at Phoenix after leading 28 laps. He moves up to 16th in the Sprint Cup championship standings, 364 points behind 13th place driver David Ragan.

After 35 races, McMurray has three top five finishes, and ten top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 76.2.

10. (NR) 88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr.:

It was not a victory, but it was a solid effort by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and the 88 crew. After starting the race in the fifth position, Earnhardt, Jr. finished in the sixth position at one of his better racetracks. He spent the majority of the afternoon in the top five. He is trying to hold on to a top ten spot in the championship standings. He is currently tenth, seven points ahead of Kyle Busch.

After 35 races, Earnhardt, Jr. has one win, ten top five finishes, and 16 top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 100.0.

On the rise: Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, David Ragan, A.J. Allmendinger, and Kasey Kahne

On the decline: Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart, Martin Truex, Jr., Ryan Newman, and Brian Vickers