NASCAR Driver Rankings & Odds- Las Vegas

Las Vegas Motor Speedway -- 03/02/08

Author: Jeremy Dunn

Published: Monday Mar 3 2008 2:20pm

1. (4) 99-Carl Edwards- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (6-1)

Carl Edwards has clearly flexed the most muscle thus far in 2008. For the second week in a row, he has driven his Roush Fenway prepared Ford into victory lane following his celebratory back flip. Edwards and the 99 team are quickly establishing themselves as NASCAR’s team to beat. In fact, the entire Roush camp appears to have turned the corner after a frustrating 2007 season.

Unfortunately, there is a black cloud hanging over Edwards’ victory after his car flunked post-race inspection. The cap on his oil reservoir encasement was off, and NASCAR may hand out a hefty penalty and fine. Robby Gordon has already felt the wrath of NASCAR’s disciplinary department.

2. (1) 18-Kyle Busch- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (8-1)

Kyle Busch had a rough weekend in the Nationwide Series, and his Sprint Cup outing was not what the 22-year-old Las Vegas native had in mind after he won the pole on Friday. He led 56 laps, but faded to an 11th place finish after spending most of the afternoon among the top five. Busch currently sits second in the Sprint Cup Championship standings, but he could reclaim the top spot if Edwards faces a penalty that involves any loss in championship points. Busch has emerged as Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota’s top driver thus far in 2008.

3. (3) 12-Ryan Newman- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (20-1)

After a solid start to the 2008 season at Daytona and California, Ryan Newman appeared to encounter some handling issues at Las Vegas. He spent some time in the top ten, but started to fade around mid-race. Newman and company salvaged a top fifteen finish, which is a solid point’s day, but this team must improve their program on the 1.5-mile facilities. Newman typically runs well at Atlanta, except for the one and a half year when he struggled everywhere, so he should bounce back.

4. (9) 9-Kasey Kahne- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (18-1)

What a difference a year makes. Kasey Kahne has put the dismal 2007 season behind him and is moving forward quite nicely in 2008. Kahne is the only Sprint Cup driver with a top ten finish in all three events. Nevertheless, he has yet to score a top five. This team is not where they were in 2006 when they won six races, but they are miles ahead of where they were last year.

5. (6) 24-Jeff Gordon- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (5-1)

This ranking is clearly performance-based. Jeff Gordon may have finished 35th, but he was among the top three all afternoon at Las Vegas. If it were not for his late-race gaffe, he would have scored his second straight top five finish. He did not have the car to compete with Carl Edwards, but he was fast. Gordon and the 24 team are resilient, so expect them to bounce back from their second DNF in three races.

6. (-) 16-Greg Biffle- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (18-1)

Greg Biffle swore he had the fastest car, and he may have. Unfortunately, track position was crucial, as it usually is. Biffle was fast all afternoon, which bodes well for the driver who is in a contract year. Now that looked like the Biffle we saw in 2005 when he won six races.

7. (3) 20-Tony Stewart- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (7-1)

Obviously, Tony Stewart is ready to put the Las Vegas weekend behind him. Two wrecks and a foot injury is not a driver’s idea of a productive weekend. Nevertheless, Stewart was running in the top ten when his tire abruptly exploded, so he had a fast car. The important thing was that Tony Stewart did not suffer any major injuries from the pair of accidents.

8. (-) 88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr.- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (7-1)

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. appeared almost crestfallen after finishing second to Carl Edwards at Las Vegas. That was somewhat surprising following his disastrous race at California last weekend. Earnhardt, Jr. spent most of the day in the top five, so he is handling the Hendrick horsepower with ease, but he is ready to close the deal. You cannot blame him for showing a little bit of disappointment. He has not won a race in nearly two years. However, it was a great point’s day for Earnhardt, Jr., as he is back among the elusive top twelve, for now.

9. (5) 48-Jimmie Johnson- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (5-1)

If you were to say that Jimmie Johnson would finish 29th, which is actually better than he ran for most of the day, it would be assumed that he wrecked or had some kind of mechanical failure. That was not the case. The 48 team simply missed the setup, in fact, they were not even close. After qualifying 33rd, Johnson ran in the lower 30’s for the majority of the afternoon. Chad Knaus was unable to find that magic fix as he sat on top of the pit box in disbelief. Is the 48 team about to embark upon a season full of disappointment? Every team goes through a down season at some point, and the 48 team is overdue for a bad season. Nevertheless, it is still too early to tell if that is the case.

10. (-) 29-Kevin Harvick- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (25-1)

Kevin Harvick has to be content following his fourth place finish at Las Vegas, a track that he has struggled at in the past. He spent all day in the top ten, and used pit strategy to work himself into the top five. Harvick’s teammate Jeff Burton had a strong showing as well, however, Clint Bowyer was a total non-factor.

10. (8) 17-Matt Kenseth- Sprint Cup Championship Odds (8-1)

Like Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth performed at a high level but does not have the finish to show for it. This team will regroup and return to the top twelve in due time.

On the rise- Jeff Burton, David Ragan, and Travis Kvapil

On the decline- Kurt Busch, Robby Gordon, Clint Bowyer