NASCAR Driver Rankings & Championship Odds- Martinsville

Martinsville Speedway -- 10/19/08

Author: Jeremy Dunn

Published: Monday Oct 20 2008 9:18am

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

It really seems unfair- to race at Martinsville in the Chase for the Championship knowing how much better the 48 team is than the rest of the field. After his fifth career win at Martinsville, and sixth win of the 2008 Sprint Cup season, Jimmie Johnson now has more room for error with only four races remaining. He started from the pole when qualifying was rained out on Friday, and led an astounding 339 laps en route to his convincing victory. The championship race is far from over, but it is going to be difficult for Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, and Carl Edwards to catch Johnson. He has an authoritative 149-point lead over Biffle.

After 32 races, Johnson has six wins, thirteen top five finishes, and twenty top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 107.2, which is best among Sprint Cup drivers.

2. (2) 16-Greg Biffle: 11-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

It could have been a lot worse for Greg Biffle. Midway through the race, Biffle was running in the top ten when he had to pit under green, as he was off-sequence with the rest of the leaders. He lost a lap and fell back as far as 32nd, but he was able to rally and post a solid 12th place finish. While he was a lap down, Biffle was as fast as some of the drivers that were running in the top ten. Biffle is still in the championship hunt, but there is quite a bit of distance between him and Jimmie Johnson. Biffle led nine laps at Martinsville. He is 149 points behind Jimmie Johnson.

After 32 races, Biffle has two wins, eleven top five finishes, and fifteen top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 93.6.

3. (4) 99-Carl Edwards: 18-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Carl Edwards was thrilled with his third place finish following two consecutive disastrous weeks at Talladega and Charlotte. His third place finish was a career best at Martinsville. He consistently ran among the top three or five all afternoon long, and avoided any potential setbacks. Edwards is still fourth in the Sprint Cup championships nascar standings, but he is now a distant 198 points behind Jimmie Johnson.

After 32 races, Edwards has six wins, fifteen top five finishes, and a series-high 23 top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 105.4.

4. (3) 31-Jeff Burton: 12-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

A costly error on pit road turned a possible top ten finish into a seventeenth place finish for Jeff Burton. He was not having the kind of day he desired, but Burton was hoping to salvage a solid top ten finish. Unfortunately, by pitting outside of his box with only 37 laps remaining, NASCAR officials held Burton in the pits for a demoralizing one-lap penalty. These types of errors are errors that Jimmie Johnson and the 48 do not make when the championship is within reach. He falls to third in the Sprint Cup championship nascar standings, 152 points behind Jimmie Johnson.

After 32 races, Jeff Burton has two wins, seven top five finishes, and seventeen top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 90.8.

5. (5) 29-Kevin Harvick: 100-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Kevin Harvick posted another solid top ten finish. However, he was never in position to challenge for the win. Harvick is one of the handful of star drivers without a win in 2008. Martinsville was supposed to be a prime opportunity for him, but he never had the preferred track position. He remains in the sixth position in the Sprint Cup championship nascar standings, but he is 256 points behind Johnson.

After 32 races, Harvick has yet to win, but he has scored six top five finishes, and sixteen top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 89.9.

6. (7) 07-Clint Bowyer: 80-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Clint Bowyer did exactly what he needed to do to at Martinsville. He finished tenth, which is indicative of how he performed for most of the afternoon. He remains in the fifth position in the Sprint Cup championship nascar standings, 242 points behind Jimmie Johnson.

After 32 races, Bowyer has one victory, five top five finishes, and fifteen top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 81.8.

7. (9) 24-Jeff Gordon: 100-1 Sprint Cup Championship Odds

Early in the race, it appeared as if Jeff Gordon might finally break that 37-race winless dearth, as he was able to muscle his way around Johnson and lead 57 laps. However, he eventually faded and finished in the fourth position. With his top five performance, he moves up to seventh in the Sprint Cup championship nascar standings, 275 points behind Johnson. His title hopes are on life support, if that, so expect this team to aggressively race for wins.

After 32 races, Jeff Gordon is winless, but he has posted eleven top five finishes, and sixteen top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 96.0.

8. (6) 20-Tony Stewart:

Tony Stewart encountered tire issues on several occasions throughout the race. Prior to his problems, he was running in the top ten. He ended the day in the 26th position, far below pre-race expectations. Out of the championship hunt, Stewart is nascar racing for wins, and counting down the days in which he pulls into Daytona ready to climb into a car that he owns. He is eighth in the Sprint Cup nascar standings, 338 points behind Jimmie Johnson.

After 32 races, Stewart has one win, ten top five finishes, and sixteen top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 94.4.

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

After fighting his way around Carl Edwards for the second position, the majority of fans were hoping that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. would be able to mount challenge to the eventual race-winner Jimmie Johnson. However, Johnson was peerless on the final two restarts, and Earnhardt, Jr. was forced to fend off Edwards for the second position. It was a positive effort for Earnhardt, Jr. and his team. It was his best finish since his win at Michigan in June. He moves up to ninth in the Sprint Cup championship nascar standings, 379 points behind his teammate Jimmie Johnson.

After 32 races, Earnhardt, Jr. has one win, ten top five finishes, and fifteen top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 100.0.

10. (NR) 11-Denny Hamlin:

The winner of the spring race at Martinsville was unable to duplicate his success; however, Denny Hamlin posted a fifth place finish. With the Sprint Cup championship seemingly out of reach, Hamlin will shun the points-nascar racing mentality and shoot for victory lane. He is eleventh in the Sprint Cup championship nascar standings, 420 points behind Jimmie Johnson.

After 32 races, Hamlin has one win, ten top five finishes, and sixteen top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 93.7.

On the rise: Casey Mears, Martin Truex, Jr., Brian Vickers, David Ragan, and A.J. Allmendinger

One the decline: Kyle Busch, Jamie McMurray, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch, and Elliott Sadler