NASCAR Driver Rankings & Odds- Martinsville

Martinsville Speedway -- 03/30/08

Author: Jeremy Dunn

Published: Monday Mar 31 2008 2:13pm

1. (1) 18-Kyle Busch- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (8-1)

Despite the fact that Kyle Busch suffered through an excruciating day at Martinsville, he still gets the nod as the number one driver in the rankings. It was the first time all season long in which Busch really encountered handling woes. He is typically a stout short track racer, so his difficulties at Martinsville are a little surprising. However, there is no reason to believe that Busch and the 18 team will begin a free fall. They are still the team to beat in 2008. Busch fell from first to fifth in the Sprint Cup championship standings.

2. (5) 31-Jeff Burton- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (15-1)

Jeff Burton nearly pulled off another victory. His patience and perseverance nearly won the race, but the faster cars of Denny Hamlin and Jeff Gordon eventually overcame him. Burton is the strongest of the Richard Childress Racing drivers, and he is the most consistent driver in the garage. He is finishing better than he runs, which is a key ingredient in the championship formula. Burton expressed his displeasure regarding the rookie, Michael McDowell, who was competing in his first NASCAR Sprint Cup event for Michael Waltrip Racing. McDowell failed to yield to the leaders late in the race. Burton is the new Sprint Cup points leader.

3. (2) 16-Greg Biffle- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (12-1)

Greg Biffle has never been that great at Martinsville, so his 20th place finish is not a surprise. Biffle held on for a decent finish after starting last due to an engine change just before the race. Other than his mid-race skirmish with Ryan Newman, he ran a fairly clean race. Biffle should return to his top five form at Texas next weekend. Biffle drops from second to third in the standings.

4. (6) 88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr.- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (9-2)

Another great car, another top ten finish. Unfortunately, he was unable to capitalize on his fantastic run. Still, Earnhardt nation must be pleased with the way things are going. A year ago, it seemed as if nothing could go right for Earnhardt, Jr. What a difference a year makes. He has posted four consecutive top ten finishes, and has five top ten finishes in six races. So far so good for the Earnhardt, Jr. and Hendrick Motorsports coalition. Earnhardt, Jr. moves up to fourth in the championship standings.

5. (3) 99-Carl Edwards- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (8-1)

You have to look closely for the 99 car, because it seems as if he has a new paint scheme each week. From Aflac to Dish Network, and from Office Depot to Claritin. Regardless of the company logo on the hood, Edwards usually performs at a high level. Martinsville has not been one of his favorable tracks, but he kept his nose clean and finished ninth. Edwards is still outside of the top twelve in the Sprint Cup championship standings, but he is fast approaching the cutoff. He is up to fourteenth in the standings, just 54 points behind the twelfth place driver, Clint Bowyer. Like his teammate Biffle, Edwards is looking forward to the race in Texas.

6. (4) 29-Kevin Harvick- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (15-1)

It was a surprisingly quiet afternoon for Kevin Harvick, who typically contends for top five finishes at the short tracks. It appeared as if track position played a key role in his outcome. His car was fast enough to maintain a top fifteen position, but not fast enough to move up through traffic like Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon were able to do. Like his two Richard Childress Racing teammates, consistency has been the name of the game. Harvick is continually posting solid finishes week after week, which is why he sits second in the standings.

7. (7) 20-Tony Stewart- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (5-1)

Like Harvick, Tony Stewart drove a clean and smart race at Martinsville. After his dominating performance at Bristol two weeks ago, many analysts, including myself, thought Stewart would do the same this weekend. He ran in the top ten for most of the day before he rallied past Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in the final laps, securing his third top five finish of the 2008 season. Stewart is sixth in the championship standings.

8. (10) 24-Jeff Gordon- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (6-1)

If it were a 505 lap race, Jeff Gordon may have had a shot at Denny Hamlin, but he was a little too late on that last green flag run. Gordon fell behind, but methodically picked his way through traffic and nearly stole the win from Hamlin. It was an up and down day for Gordon. After leading the early laps, he was involved in an incident with Bobby Labonte. He meticulously worked his way back to the front. After a challenging race at Bristol two weeks ago, Gordon needed a top five finish. He has climbed up to ninth in the Sprint Cup championship standings.

9. ( - ) 11-Denny Hamlin- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (12-1)

The Virginia native finally won at his home track. Denny Hamlin was able to pass Jeff Burton and hold off a hard charging Jeff Gordon en route to his first win of the 2008 season. It was a refreshing victory for Hamlin. Throughout the first month of the season, his teammates Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart overshadowed him, as they seemed to be leading the Joe Gibbs Racing foray. However, Hamlin made a statement on Sunday, and may be the best short track racer in the Joe Gibbs Racing stables. He is eighth in the championship standings.

10. (9) 9-Kasey Kahne- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (15-1)

It was another average performance from Kasey Kahne. Regardless of how he runs during the race, Kahne seems to finish much better than he runs. Last year, Kahne would overdrive an ill handling car; therefore, his finishes were in the sub-thirties. Kahne has displayed tons of maturity in 2008. He is currently seventh in the Sprint Cup standings.

On the rise- Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, Casey Mears, David Ragan, and Jamie McMurray

On the decline- Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, David Reutimann, and Dave Blaney