NASCAR Driver Rankings & Odds- Charlotte

Lowe's Motor Speedway -- 05/25/08

Author: Jeremy Dunn

Published: Tuesday May 27 2008 1:47pm

1. (1) 18-Kyle Busch: 4-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

After winning the pole for the Coca Cola 600, it appeared as if Kyle Busch was about to put on another clinic. He finished third after an up and down race, and maintains his lead in the Sprint Cup championship standings. Busch’s car seemed to fade on the longer runs, which was not ideal in the 600-mile event. Busch is still the driver to beat as the Sprint Cup series heads to Dover, Delaware for next week’s race.

After twelve races, Busch has three wins, eight top five finishes, and nine top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 112.0.

2. (3) 88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: 5-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

It was another heartbreaker for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and his countless fans. After leading 76 laps, Earnhardt, Jr. hit the wall causing damage to the right side of his Chevrolet. However, fuel mileage helped him place a solid top five finish. Overall, Earnhardt, Jr. is one of most improved drivers in 2008, so there is much to look forward to as we head into the summer stretch. He maintains his third place position in the championship standings.

After twelve races, Earnhardt, Jr. has five top five finishes, and nine top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 109.5.

3. (2) 99-Carl Edwards: 5-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Carl Edwards was not the dominant force at Charlotte as he had been at the other 1.5-mile tracks. Still, he placed a ninth place finish. Edwards started the race in 30th, so he had a ways to go to get to the front, but once he did, he stayed there. Edwards moved up to sixth in the championship standings following his ninth place finish. He seems to have cooled off just a little since he won four of the first seven races.

After twelve races, Edwards has three wins, five top five finishes, and eight top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 103.4.

4. (4) 31-Jeff Burton: 15-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

After a dozen races, Jeff Burton has completed every lap in the 2008. No other driver can boast that accomplishment. Burton’s consistency has him placed in the second spot in the championship standings following his sixth place finish in the Coca Cola 600. Burton has yet to grab many headlines this year, but if he maintains this error-free pace, a championship could change that.

After twelve races, Burton has one win, three top five finishes, and eight top ten finishes.
He has a driver rating of 93.3

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

Like his teammate Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin had tire issues during the closing laps of the Coca Cola 60, relegating him to a 24th place finish. Hamlin’s performance was off for most of the night, but he seemed as if he was on his way to a solid finish. Despite the disappointing finish, Hamlin is fourth in the championship standings.

After twelve races, Hamlin has one win, four top five finishes, and seven top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 103.8.

6. (7) 20-Tony Stewart: 6-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Tony Stewart should have been celebrating his first win in nearly a year, but a tire problem ended his hopes of a Memorial Day weekend victory. Frustration appears to be mounting for this team as they seem to have a dark cloud following them around. On the bright side, Stewart was fast, especially at the end of the race. He is eighth in the championship standings.

After twelve races, Stewart has four top five finishes, and six top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 95.8.

7. (6) 48-Jimmie Johnson: 6-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Jimmie Johnson’s blown engine relegated the two-time champion to a rare 39th place finish at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. He performed well on Sunday evening, but a rare mechanical failure ended any hopes of s second victory in 2008. Johnson falls to ninth in the Sprint Cup championship standings.

After twelve races, Johnson has one win, four top five finishes, and four top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 96.2.

8. (10) 16-Greg Biffle: 15-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

For two consecutive weeks, Greg Biffle crossed the finish line behind the Dodge of Kasey Kahne. The two Washington state natives are on a roll, and Biffle seems to be on the verge of winning his first race of the season. Despite his runner-up finish, Biffle is eleventh in the championship standings.

After twelve races, Biffle has four top five finishes, and six top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 90.6.

9. (NR) 9-Kasey Kahne: 25-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Kasey Kahne proved that his All-Star win was no fluke after his second Coca Cola 600 victory. Many critics felt as if Kahne did not belong in the All-Star race, but this win confirms that he is a NASCAR All-Star. It was only the second win for Dodge in 2008. Kahne and Ryan Newman continue to duke it out as the top Dodge driver.

After twelve races, Kahne is twelfth in the standing, and has one win, one top five finish, and six top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 82.0

10. (NR) 24-Jeff Gordon: 8-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Jeff Gordon proved that a 15th place car could finish in the top five if the stars align correctly. Gordon struggled with the handling, just as he did last week, but he conserved enough fuel to coast to a fourth place finish. The top finish keeps him in the top ten in the standings, but this team has some work to do before the series visits upcoming tracks such as Pocono, Michigan, and Chicagoland.

After twelve races, Gordon has five top five finishes, and six top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 95.7.

On the decline- Martin Truex, Jr., Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer, and Kevin Harvick

On the rise- Matt Kenseth, Elliott Sadler, David Reutimann, and Bobby Labonte