S
stridsberry
Guest
Okay, I think it’s official – Ryan Newman is making a complete mockery of the ratings, with nearly a 20-point bulge over 2nd. Drivers making big gains this week were Dale Jr., Dale Jarrett, and Ward Burton. Taking a tumble were Jeff Gordon, Bill Elliott, and the Marlin/McMurray combo.
1. (1) RYAN NEWMAN 160
Mr. Newman, congratulations on finally getting back into the top-5 in points – and moving ahead of your teammate, to boot. Lord knows, you’ve earned with these last few months.
2. (4) TONY STEWART 140.3
I’m sure that if Tony were farther back in points, he would have taken a chance on the lead – but as it is, he’s got the biggest margin of the point leader since Darlington.
3. (2) JIMMIE JOHNSON 131.1
As it turned out, that 1st lap incident wasn’t all that costly –he still lost the valve train, and wouldn’t have gained more than one spot if it (the damage) hadn’t happened.
4. (10) DALE EARNHARDT JR. 121.9
Dale’s sure got these plate tracks a goin’ – and Michael isn’t the only moving roadblock that he’s got, either.
5. (9) DALE JARRETT 121.4
2 seconds of fuel cost him a shot at the top-5 – but he managed to hook up with the draft other fuel-stoppers and come home 9th.
6. (5) MARK MARTIN 118.9
Looks like one of those fluke things that has happened to the high-point drivers all season. A season sweep at Charlotte would sure help make up for it.
7. (6) MATT KENSETH 118.5
He’s working hi way back – now a mere 29 points out of the top-5.
8. (11) KURT BUSCH 117.4
Before the Indy-Glen-Michigan slump this year, he was up to 5th in the points. He’s just now getting set to return to the top-10.
9. (12) RICKY RUDD 113.6
It’s been a long time since Ricky finished in the top-5 – since Watkins Glen, to be exact. The only reason he’s still 9th in the points is because he leads the circuit in top-20s (26).
10. (3) JEFF GORDON 113.1
Valve train woes are yet another coating of frustration on a disappointing year. He’s not out of it yet, but 33.5 points per races is still a good-sized chunk, and a run like that of Kulwicki or Newman is, shall we say, rare.
11. (8) RUSTY WALLACE 112.7
I think it’s pretty wrong to penalize someone points for a part that never made it onto the track. This has sure put a dent in his championship hopes.
12. (7) BILL ELLIOTT 112.2
Poor fuel mileage cost his an excellent chance to make some serious gains in the standings – he actually lost 31 points on the lead.
13. (15) JEFF GREEN 107.4
This was Jeff’s best finish of the season on a superspeedway – his previous best was 9th at Michigan.
14. (T16) MICHAEL WALTRIP 102.1
It’s a darn good thing Michael was getting great fuel mileage, or else he never would have made the top-10 after those jack problems.
15. (T16) ROBBY GORDON 100.9
I’m not sure, but this may have been the first time that Robby led a plate race. Then again, running the full season opens the door for a lot of firsts.
16. (19) JEFF BURTON 98.9
I really didn’t see him all day, but he somehow snuck up to just miss out on the top-10.
17. (14) RICKY CRAVEN 97.6
He led some laps, and spent a lot of time in the top-10, but horrible fuel mileage doomed him. The four spots gained on the backstretch of the final lap came in handy, though.
18. (13) STERLING MARLIN/JAMIE McMURRAY 95
For being thrust in the spotlight, Jamie had a good race going before running out of fuel. He even kept the car in the top-5 of owner’s points.
19. (18) KEVIN HARVICK 90.8
I bet Kevin’s really p.o.’ed at the crew – he only got 2 laps of fuel when they told him he could get 6.
20. (21) KYLE PETTY 87.4
Once again, another solid, mid-teens finish for Kyle. In all honesty, I’m amazed that he’s still challenging for the top-20 in points, when he hasn’t finished better than 10th.
21. (20) BOBBY LABONTE 86.5
I don’t really know how he got a lap down, but he did, and you’ll rarely (but not never) get a strong finish when you’re a lap down.
22. (24) JEREMY MAYFIELD 84.2
The way I see it, the average driver will have top-20 finishes in about half the races. It looks like Jeremy has finally gotten up near average.
23. (22) DAVE BLANEY 83.6
Just made laps, really. All the day long.
24. (28) WARD BURTON 82
I’d have been impressed if Ward had just managed to finish the race, given his recent stretch. To get a top-10…
25. (23) JOHNNY BENSON 76.1
Another victim of the Hendrick motor problems. And another epitome of Johnny’s year.
26. (T26) JOHN ANDRETTI 73.8
But for a few laps of fuel, John had 7th place just about wrapped up.
27. (29) ELLIOTT SADLER 71.8
Elliott says he had a great car. How can the car be great if you finish 14 laps down – over 7% of the advertised distance?
28. (32) STEVE PARK 71.1
He took advantage of the great fuel mileage the DEI cars got, snuck up at the end, and wound up with his best finish of the season.
29. (T26) JIMMY SPENCER 70.7
Well, he has a chance at being the highest-rank Ganassi driver for the year. A pretty remote chance, but a chance none the less.
30. (25) KEN SCHRADER 70.4
Poor Kenny. I sure don’t want to see him out of Winston Cup, but unfortunately, it could turn out that way next year.
31. (33) TODD BODINE 67.4
Ford may have no boundaries, but NASCAR sure does. Still, I’d like to see Helton save a sideways car at 185mph.
32. (30) TERRY LABONTE 63.6
Aaack…at least his motor was one of the last ones to give out.
33. (31) JOE NEMECHEK 59.8
If I were Joe, I’d tell Rick to bring the exact same car and motor from Kansas. When you’ve got a good thing, stick to it.
34. (36) MIKE SKINNER 56.6
That thing performed early like the McClure plate car of the early-to-mid ‘90s – but the fuel mileage had to spoil it.
35. (37) KENNY WALLACE 55.6
It’s back to Bill Davis after a one-week hiatus – and thus the break-up of the comedians. Sad thing is, the funnier of the two is the racer.
36. (35) MIKE WALLACE 54.8
I have a reply from Kenny: “Hey, I did better than YOU! By EIGHT SPOTS! HA!”
37. (34) CASEY ATWOOD 54
Seeing him out there, you wouldn’t believe that this is the same team that had top-10s at all of last year’s plate races. (Mike Wallace 6th, 9th, 10th; Kevin Lepage 10th.)
38. (40) BOBBY HAMILTON/GREG BIFFLE 53.1
Introducing the Hamiffle machine! As such created because it’s only fair that they get the same treatment as Marlin/McMurray.
39. (38) JERRY NADEAU 49.5
Jerry, you didn’t listen to me last week, did you? Even when the car’s good, it doesn’t finish well.
40. (39) BRETT BODINE 44.7
I’m sure Brett didn’t have an issue with the rain. It got him in the field, didn’t it? Geoffrey, though, may beg to differ.
1. (1) RYAN NEWMAN 160
Mr. Newman, congratulations on finally getting back into the top-5 in points – and moving ahead of your teammate, to boot. Lord knows, you’ve earned with these last few months.
2. (4) TONY STEWART 140.3
I’m sure that if Tony were farther back in points, he would have taken a chance on the lead – but as it is, he’s got the biggest margin of the point leader since Darlington.
3. (2) JIMMIE JOHNSON 131.1
As it turned out, that 1st lap incident wasn’t all that costly –he still lost the valve train, and wouldn’t have gained more than one spot if it (the damage) hadn’t happened.
4. (10) DALE EARNHARDT JR. 121.9
Dale’s sure got these plate tracks a goin’ – and Michael isn’t the only moving roadblock that he’s got, either.
5. (9) DALE JARRETT 121.4
2 seconds of fuel cost him a shot at the top-5 – but he managed to hook up with the draft other fuel-stoppers and come home 9th.
6. (5) MARK MARTIN 118.9
Looks like one of those fluke things that has happened to the high-point drivers all season. A season sweep at Charlotte would sure help make up for it.
7. (6) MATT KENSETH 118.5
He’s working hi way back – now a mere 29 points out of the top-5.
8. (11) KURT BUSCH 117.4
Before the Indy-Glen-Michigan slump this year, he was up to 5th in the points. He’s just now getting set to return to the top-10.
9. (12) RICKY RUDD 113.6
It’s been a long time since Ricky finished in the top-5 – since Watkins Glen, to be exact. The only reason he’s still 9th in the points is because he leads the circuit in top-20s (26).
10. (3) JEFF GORDON 113.1
Valve train woes are yet another coating of frustration on a disappointing year. He’s not out of it yet, but 33.5 points per races is still a good-sized chunk, and a run like that of Kulwicki or Newman is, shall we say, rare.
11. (8) RUSTY WALLACE 112.7
I think it’s pretty wrong to penalize someone points for a part that never made it onto the track. This has sure put a dent in his championship hopes.
12. (7) BILL ELLIOTT 112.2
Poor fuel mileage cost his an excellent chance to make some serious gains in the standings – he actually lost 31 points on the lead.
13. (15) JEFF GREEN 107.4
This was Jeff’s best finish of the season on a superspeedway – his previous best was 9th at Michigan.
14. (T16) MICHAEL WALTRIP 102.1
It’s a darn good thing Michael was getting great fuel mileage, or else he never would have made the top-10 after those jack problems.
15. (T16) ROBBY GORDON 100.9
I’m not sure, but this may have been the first time that Robby led a plate race. Then again, running the full season opens the door for a lot of firsts.
16. (19) JEFF BURTON 98.9
I really didn’t see him all day, but he somehow snuck up to just miss out on the top-10.
17. (14) RICKY CRAVEN 97.6
He led some laps, and spent a lot of time in the top-10, but horrible fuel mileage doomed him. The four spots gained on the backstretch of the final lap came in handy, though.
18. (13) STERLING MARLIN/JAMIE McMURRAY 95
For being thrust in the spotlight, Jamie had a good race going before running out of fuel. He even kept the car in the top-5 of owner’s points.
19. (18) KEVIN HARVICK 90.8
I bet Kevin’s really p.o.’ed at the crew – he only got 2 laps of fuel when they told him he could get 6.
20. (21) KYLE PETTY 87.4
Once again, another solid, mid-teens finish for Kyle. In all honesty, I’m amazed that he’s still challenging for the top-20 in points, when he hasn’t finished better than 10th.
21. (20) BOBBY LABONTE 86.5
I don’t really know how he got a lap down, but he did, and you’ll rarely (but not never) get a strong finish when you’re a lap down.
22. (24) JEREMY MAYFIELD 84.2
The way I see it, the average driver will have top-20 finishes in about half the races. It looks like Jeremy has finally gotten up near average.
23. (22) DAVE BLANEY 83.6
Just made laps, really. All the day long.
24. (28) WARD BURTON 82
I’d have been impressed if Ward had just managed to finish the race, given his recent stretch. To get a top-10…
25. (23) JOHNNY BENSON 76.1
Another victim of the Hendrick motor problems. And another epitome of Johnny’s year.
26. (T26) JOHN ANDRETTI 73.8
But for a few laps of fuel, John had 7th place just about wrapped up.
27. (29) ELLIOTT SADLER 71.8
Elliott says he had a great car. How can the car be great if you finish 14 laps down – over 7% of the advertised distance?
28. (32) STEVE PARK 71.1
He took advantage of the great fuel mileage the DEI cars got, snuck up at the end, and wound up with his best finish of the season.
29. (T26) JIMMY SPENCER 70.7
Well, he has a chance at being the highest-rank Ganassi driver for the year. A pretty remote chance, but a chance none the less.
30. (25) KEN SCHRADER 70.4
Poor Kenny. I sure don’t want to see him out of Winston Cup, but unfortunately, it could turn out that way next year.
31. (33) TODD BODINE 67.4
Ford may have no boundaries, but NASCAR sure does. Still, I’d like to see Helton save a sideways car at 185mph.
32. (30) TERRY LABONTE 63.6
Aaack…at least his motor was one of the last ones to give out.
33. (31) JOE NEMECHEK 59.8
If I were Joe, I’d tell Rick to bring the exact same car and motor from Kansas. When you’ve got a good thing, stick to it.
34. (36) MIKE SKINNER 56.6
That thing performed early like the McClure plate car of the early-to-mid ‘90s – but the fuel mileage had to spoil it.
35. (37) KENNY WALLACE 55.6
It’s back to Bill Davis after a one-week hiatus – and thus the break-up of the comedians. Sad thing is, the funnier of the two is the racer.
36. (35) MIKE WALLACE 54.8
I have a reply from Kenny: “Hey, I did better than YOU! By EIGHT SPOTS! HA!”
37. (34) CASEY ATWOOD 54
Seeing him out there, you wouldn’t believe that this is the same team that had top-10s at all of last year’s plate races. (Mike Wallace 6th, 9th, 10th; Kevin Lepage 10th.)
38. (40) BOBBY HAMILTON/GREG BIFFLE 53.1
Introducing the Hamiffle machine! As such created because it’s only fair that they get the same treatment as Marlin/McMurray.
39. (38) JERRY NADEAU 49.5
Jerry, you didn’t listen to me last week, did you? Even when the car’s good, it doesn’t finish well.
40. (39) BRETT BODINE 44.7
I’m sure Brett didn’t have an issue with the rain. It got him in the field, didn’t it? Geoffrey, though, may beg to differ.
