NASCAR Rankings and Championship odds

Lowe's Motor Speedway Charlotte -- 05/24/2009

Author: Jeremy Dunn

Published: Tuesday May 26 2009 1:09pm

1. (1) Jeff Gordon: 4/1 odds

After qualifying third, Gordon began to fade almost instantaneously following the green flag. After lingering around the twenties, the 24 team used a two-tire pit strategy to put Gordon back in the top ten. He hung in there for a while. He ended up finishing in the fourteenth position.

After twelve races, Gordon leads the Sprint Cup championship standings by 44 points over Tony Stewart. He has one win, six top five finishes, and eight top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 107.5, and an average running position of 10.023.

2. (2) Tony Stewart: 15/2 odds

Other than a little confrontation with David Reutimann and his mechanic during a rain delay, Stewart’s day was nondescript. He qualified 28th, and made his way into the top ten within 100 laps, but was never the class of the field. He finished in the nineteenth position.

After twelve races, Stewart is second in the standings, 44 points behind Gordon. He has scored five top five finishes, and eight top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 99.6, and an average running position of 10.687.

3. (5) Kyle Busch: 4/1 odds

Kyle Busch led a race-high 173 of 227 laps. Unforunately, he was unable to capitalize on another dominant performance. He finished in the sixth position after pitting under the final caution while other either stayed on the track, or opted for two tires only.

After twelve races, Kyle Busch is sixth in the standings, 182 points behind Gordon. He has three wins, four top five finishes, and five top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 107.1, and an average running position of 11.217.

4. (4) Jimmie Johnson: 4/1 odds

Johnson was not the dominant driver this weekend as I predicted, but he had a top five car. He ended up finishing in the thirteenth position after the final pit stop.

After twelve races, Johnson is fourth in the standings, 128 points behind Gordon. He has a win, five top five finishes, and seven top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 101.7, and an average running position of 10.033.

5. (3) Kurt Busch: 8/1 odds

After an unscheduled green flag pit stop, Busch lost a lap and never recovered. After qualifying seventeenth, Busch had a top ten run going. He ended up finishing in the 34th position.

After twelve races, Kurt Busch is third in the standings, 115 points behind Gordon. He has one win, three top five finishes, and six top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 99.3, and an average running position of 10.035.

6. (6) Ryan Newman: 16/1 odds

Newman won the pole and ran near the front in the early portion of the race. A loose lug nut mired Newman in the back of the pack, and they had a difficult time recovering. Nevertheless, they gambled on the weather and posted a second place showing. Newman has scored four consecutive top five finishes.

After twelve races, Newman is seventh in the standings, 184 points behind Gordon. He has four top five finishes, and six top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 82.5, and an average running position of 17.352.

7. (7) Denny Hamlin: 15/1 odds

After qualifying in the thirteenth position, Hamlin finished eleventh. He spent most of the day in or near the top ten. It was a solid effort by all Joe Gibbs Racing teams.

After twelve races, Hamlin is fifth in the standings, 147 points behind Gordon. He has two top five finishes, and four top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 100.0, and an average running position of 10.276.

8. (10) Mark Martin: 9/1 odds

Martin was fast early in the race, but track position hindered the 5 team. After qualifying fourth, Martin ended up finishing in the seventeenth position.

After twelve races, Martin is twelfth in the standings, 294 points behind Gordon, and six points ahead of thirteenth place David Reutimann. He has two wins, three top five finishes, and six top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 96.4, and an average running position of 14.207.

9. (NR) Carl Edwards: 9/1 odds

Carl Edwards enjoyed a respectable outing, as he placed fourth, thanks to a two-tire pit strategy late in the race.

After twelve races, Edwards is eleventh in the standings, 291 points behind Gordon, and nine points ahead of Reutimann. He has two top five finishes, and five top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 89.7, and an average running position of 13.330.

10. (NR) David Reutimann: 100/1 odds

Reutimann won his first race by gambling on Mother Nature. Reutimann has been running near the top ten all year long, so a win was inevitable. Do not be surprised if Reutimann wins another race before the season concludes.

After twelve races, Reutimann is thirteenth in the standings, 30 behind Gordon, and six points behind Martin. He has one win, two top five finishes, and three top ten finishes. He has a driver rating of 82.2, and an average running position of 15.369.

On the rise: Matt Kenseth (25/1 odds), Brian Vickers (66/1 odds), Robby Gordon, Kasey Kahne (50/1 odds), Juan Pablo Montoya (100/1 odds), and Joey Logano

On the decline: Jeff Burton (40/1 odds), Greg Biffle (18/1 odds), Clint Bowyer (66/1 odds), Dale Earnhardt Jr (50/1 odds), and Kevin Harvick (100/1 odds)

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