NASCAR Driver Rankings & Championship Odds- Fontana

California Speedway -- 08/31/08

Author: Jeremy Dunn

Published: Tuesday Sep 2 2008 9:07am

1. (1) 18-Kyle Busch: 13-8 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Kyle Busch is still the driver to beat as we approach the ten-race championship run, but it is clear that Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson are closing the gap. The trio of Busch, Edwards, and Johnson has won every race since Kurt Busch won at New Hampshire in June. It has been the summer of Busch, Edwards, and Johnson indeed. At California, Kyle Busch seemed to struggle in comparison to his recent performances, but he still managed a seventh place finish. His lead in the Sprint Cup championship standings is 208 points over Carl Edwards.

After twenty-five races, Kyle Busch leads the series with eight wins. He has posted fifteen top five finishes, seventeen top ten finishes, and leads the Sprint Cup series with a 112.0 driver rating.

2. (2) 99-Carl Edwards: 11-4 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

After winning two consecutive races, a sixth place finish at California was not what Carl Edwards had in mind when he arrived in Fontana. Edwards qualified 26th, and quickly made his way into the top ten, but never mounted a serious challenge for Jimmie Johnson or Greg Biffle. At one point in the late stages of the race, Edwards was running in third, but he eventually faded to a sixth place finish. Edwards is still Busch’s main threat for the Sprint Cup championship trophy. He trails Busch by 208 points.

After twenty-five races, Edwards has six wins, eleven top five finishes, and a series-high nineteen top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 106.4, which is second among Sprint Cup drivers.

3. (3) 48-Jimmie Johnson: 4-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

If there was any previous doubt that Jimmie Johnson could hang with the Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards duo, those doubts subsided on Sunday evening. Johnson downright spanked the field of 43 at Fontana, as he led a whopping 228 out of 250 laps. It was clear from the drop of the green flag that the 48 car was a rocket. Greg Biffle was the only driver within the same zip code as Johnson, and even he was astounded by how fast the 48 car ran. Johnson is gaining momentum and confidence, which could spell disaster for his eleven championship contending opponents. He is third in the Sprint Cup standings, 369 points behind Kyle Busch.

After twenty-five races, Johnson has three wins, eight top five finishes, and thirteen top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 103.3

4. (5) 29-Kevin Harvick: 33-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

About two or three months ago, it appeared as if Kevin Harvick would barely enter the Chase for the Championship, if at all. However, he continues to score top five finishes week after week, and finds himself in a very comfortable position heading into Richmond. Harvick scored a fourth place finish at California, which is impressive following his 33rd place qualifying effort on Friday. He is seventh in the Sprint Cup championship standings, 623 points behind Kyle Busch.

After twenty-five races, Harvick has yet to win, but he has posted six top five finishes, and eleven top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 88.5.

5. (6) 88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr: 10-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

It has not been a memorable summer for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Thanks to his superb start to the season, he will indeed qualify for the Chase for the Championship, but he has fallen further behind Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, and his teammate Jimmie Johnson. At California, Earnhardt, Jr. qualified 18th and finished eleventh. He has not finished inside the top ten since Daytona on July fourth weekend, nearly two months ago. He needs a solid performance at Richmond in order to regain some lost confidence. He is fourth in the Sprint Cup championship standings, 432 points behind Kyle Busch.

After twenty-five races, Earnhardt, Jr. has one win, seven top five finishes, and twelve top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 100.2.

6. (8) 16-Greg Biffle: 25-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Greg Biffle is inaudibly chasing the championship in 2008. While Busch, Edwards, and Johnson dominated the headlines, Biffle is gaining ground. He easily had the second best car at California, and was the only driver that could keep Jimmie Johnson within reach. On the final run, Biffle started to close on Johnson, but could not get close enough to make the pass. Following his runner-up finish, Biffle moves up to sixth in the Sprint Cup championship standings, 596 points behind Kyle Busch.

After twenty-five races, Biffle has yet to win, but he has scored eight top five finishes, and eleven top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 91.8.

7. (4) 20-Tony Stewart: 25-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Surprisingly, Tony Stewart made little noise this weekend at California. After qualifying fourteenth, Stewart was mired back in mid-pack for the entire evening. He was only able to muster up a mediocre 22nd place finish. Stewart is not quite locked into the Chase for the Championship, but expect him to clinch at Richmond next weekend. He falls to eighth in the Sprint Cup standings, 138 points ahead of the cutoff.

After twenty-five races, Stewart has yet to win, but he has recorded eight top five finishes, and twelve top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 94.7.

8. (7) 31-Jeff Burton: 33-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Jeff Burton continues to fall off the radar as the Chase for the Championship approaches. He has struggled mightily throughout the summer months. On Sunday, Burton finished an unspectacular seventeenth after starting the race from the 27th position. Burton is consistent, but even his consistency has waned quite a bit. He is fifth in the Sprint Cup championship standings, 521 points behind Kyle Busch.

After twenty-five races, Burton has one win, four top five finishes, and eleven top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 88.0.

9. (9) 17-Matt Kenseth: 28-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Matt Kenseth is not locked into the Chase for the Championship, but barring a major disaster, he will qualify for the Chase for the fifth successive season. Only Johnson has accomplished that feat. Kenseth finished fifth at California after qualifying 37th. He is ninth in the standings, 109 points ahead of the cutoff.

After twenty-five races, Kenseth has zero wins, six top five finishes, and fifteen top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 87.6.

10. (NR) 11-Denny Hamlin: 33-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Following the disastrous finish at Michigan two weeks ago, Hamlin has responded well with two third place finishes, therefore, bolstering his championship nascar odds. Hamlin was solid all evening at California, and was clearly the best of the Joe Gibbs Racing contingent. He is not out of the woods by no means, but he did pad his advantage over the thirteenth place driver. He is eleventh in the championship standings, 97 points above the cutoff.

After twenty-five races, Hamlin has one win, eight top five finishes, and thirteen top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 94.8.

On the rise: Clint Bowyer (80-1 nascar odds), Kasey Kahne (80-1 nascar odds), David Reutimann, Brian Vickers, and A.J. Allmendinger

On the decline: Kurt Busch, Elliott Sadler, Jamie McMurray, Martin Truex, Jr., and Casey Mears