NASCAR Driver Rankings & Odds- Richmond

Richmond International Raceway -- 05/03/08

Author: Jeremy Dunn

Published: Monday May 5 2008 1:06pm

1. (1) 18-Kyle Busch- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (5-1)

Just like that, Kyle Busch is the least popular driver among the fans. After wrecking Dale Earnhardt, Jr. while battling for the lead with just a handful of laps remaining in the Dan Lowry 400, Earnhardt Nation is unlikely to forgive or forget anytime soon. Nonetheless, Kyle Busch did not calculatedly spin Earnhardt, Jr. He was driving in over his head, and lost the handle for a brief moment. Unfortunately, Earnhardt, Jr. was a casualty. Despite Busch’s immense talent, his attitude makes it difficult for fans and other drivers to warm up to him. Perhaps the praise he has received from the media and the comparisons to Dale Earnhardt, Sr. has swollen his ego.

Busch reclaims the Sprint Cup championship lead after his second place finish at Richmond.

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

Carl Edwards posted a solid top ten finish in what could have been a disastrous night. Edwards received damage after contact with J.J. Yeley late in the race. Fortunately, his crew was able to patch up the damages and Edwards recovered nicely. With Bob Osborne back after a suspension that seemed like an eternity, Edwards and the 99 team are ready for the summer stretch, hoping to put some distance between themselves and the thirteenth position in the standings. Presently, Edwards is tenth in the standings.

Edwards has resigned with Roush Fenway Racing for the next three years, so cross his name off the list of free agents.

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

Jeff Burton finished eleventh at Richmond after qualifying 33rd. Burton must qualify better if he intends to keep his nose clean every week. Thus far, he has evaded the obstacles that usually plague drivers that qualify near the back. Matt Kenseth is a perfect example. It seems as if he suffers some kind of unfortunate incident every week. Still, Burton is posting solid finishes week in and week out, and has virtually solidified a spot in the Chase for the Championship. He is second in the Sprint Cup championship standings.

4. (4) 88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr.- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (4-1)

The winless streak continues. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. must look ahead to Darlington instead of dwelling on the events that occurred at Richmond. Earnhardt, Jr. may or many not have won the race at Richmond. He and Kyle Busch were battling intensely and neither driver was yielding and inch. Earnhardt, Jr. displayed class that Kyle Busch lacked in the post-race interviews. While Earnhardt, Jr. refused to point fingers, Busch seemed overly defensive. Fans, Earnhardt, Jr. is competitive, and it is likely a win will fall in his lap, kind of how it did with Clint Bowyer at Richmond. Earnhardt, Jr. is third in the Sprint Cup standings.

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

After leading 381 laps, Denny Hamlin had to be crestfallen after his tire deflated. Hamlin was the class of the field from the drop of the green flag. Anything less than a victory is disappointing after dominating a race to that extent. NASCAR rubbed salt in the wound by penalizing Hamlin two laps after his car stalled on the track forcing a caution. NASCAR officials felt as if Hamlin purposely caused the caution. For Hamlin fans, his performance, the tire issue withstanding, is a good sign of things to come. This team is stout every week. Hamlin falls to sixth in the Sprint Cup standings.

6. (8) 07-Clint Bowyer- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (12-1)

The fastest car does not always win the race. Clint Bowyer was riding along in the fourth position when events began to unfold. He was the beneficiary of Hamlin’s misfortune and Busch’s recklessness. Bowyer won the race because he was fast enough to hang with the leaders, and capitalize on their mistakes. The win was similar to his teammate Jeff Burton’s win at Bristol. Burton benefited from Hamlin and Tony Stewart’s misfortune. Bowyer has posted seven successive top ten finishes. He has jumped up to fourth in the Sprint Cup standings.

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

Kevin Harvick’s performance on Saturday night was surprisingly mediocre. Over the past several years, Harvick has thrived on tracks such as Richmond, but he spent the majority of the evening in the bottom half of the top ten. Harvick must have mixed emotions right now. He has enjoyed a consistent season, but he has yet to contend for wins like his two teammates. He is fifth in the championship standings.

8. (9) 20-Tony Stewart- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (6-1)

While his two teammates highlighted the night with controversy, Tony Stewart quietly finished in the fourth position. Stewart spent most of the evening with Harvick in the bottom half of the top ten, but his car seemed to improve as the race progressed. Despite reports of an alternator malfunction, Stewart maintained his position on the track and enjoyed a solid finish. Stewart is eight in the Sprint Cup standings.

9. (6) 48-Jimmie Johnson- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (6-1)

Just when it appears as if Jimmie Johnson and the 48 team have returned to their championship form, they miss the setup. Just three weeks ago, Johnson led the most laps en route to the win at Phoenix. Logically, Johnson would produce similar results at Richmond. That was not the case as he spent most of the evening in mid-pack, which is why he was involved in the multi-car pileup late in the race. Because you never know which Johnson is going to show up at the track (the champion or the also-ran), he is a tough one to bet on right now. He is seventh in the Sprint Cup standings.

10. ( - ) 8-Mark Martin- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (none)

When he races, he is contending for wins. That is exactly what Mark Martin had in mind when he opted to reduce his schedule. He is racing to win, not to collect points or a paycheck. That kind of worry-free environment has benefited the wily veteran and this team. Martin is 28th in the standings. Despite the fact that he has missed three races in 2008, he is ahead of six drivers that have competed in all ten events.

On the rise- Ryan Newman (40-1), Martin Truex, Jr. (25-1), Jeff Gordon (8-1), Travis Kvapil (100-1), and Kasey Kahne (40-1)

On the decline- Matt Kenseth (25-1), Kurt Busch (50-1), Greg Biffle (20-1), Casey Mears (100-1), and Juan Pablo Montoya (100-1)