S
stridsberry
Guest
While his lead shrank somewhat this week, Ryan Newman maintains a solid 11+ gap back to Tony Stewart, as the top-4 remain the same. Drivers making the biggest gains were Rusty Wallace, Marlin/McMurray, and Bobby Labonte; taking the biggest falls were Bill Elliott and Robby Gordon.
1. (1) RYAN NEWMAN 155.9
Ryan sure put on quite the drive with the back-up car, even using short pitting to stay on the lead lap. But the last major obstacle to a title bid is just around the bend.
2. (2) TONY STEWART 144.8
Last year at Martinsville, the motor let go on Tony’s car while he was in 2nd. That can’t happen this year if he wants to keep his points lead.
3. (3) JIMMIE JOHNSON 130.9
Just one question: Since when does a loose wheel sound like a dying motor? I think Jimmie needs to make sure his hearing is fully functional.
4. (4) DALE EARNHARDT JR. 126.9
While he likely won’t finish as high in points this year as last, his peripheral stats are very similar. If he could only avoid getting/driving hurt…
5. (11) RUSTY WALLACE 120
Out of Rusty’s nine top-10 finishes in the first 16 races, the highest one was a 6th. In the last 15 events, his lowest top-10 finish is 5th.
6. (7) MATT KENSETH 119.5
…And with the sour tones of a motor, go any hopes Matt still had of the championship. It’s a shame, to, because it looked like he was going to at least hold his ground in the race.
7. (6) MARK MARTIN 118.9
Motor problems for Mark, too, but at least his held together to bring home a decent finish.
8. (5) DALE JARRETT 117
Dale’s still got a good shot at the top-10 in points – even if it is at the expense of his teammate.
9. (8) KURT BUSCH 116.3
The car ran great until the motor decided to take a sick leave. The paint job looked pretty good, too.
10. (9) RICKY RUDD 110.4
So much for Ricky being the “what about me?” of the title chase. Now he’s scrambling just to stay in the top-10 in points.
11. (10) JEFF GORDON 109.8
If you go by the “Kulwicki standard”, Jeff is still in the hunt – but teetering on the edge.
12. (14) MICHAEL WALTRIP 106.7
No one should be surprised at Michael having a good run – he did finish 8th the first time around this year.
13. (13) JEFF GREEN 104.1
What a classic line: “Had to be a Bodine.” Sad thing is, it’s true.
14. (18) STERLING MARLIN/JAMIE McMURRAY 103.8
WOW. That’s all I had to say as Jamie crossed the line. Now it’s Bliss’s turn to keep the team gunning for the owner’s championship.
15. (16) JEFF BURTON 99
This must have been one of the better experiments this team has done.
16. (12) BILL ELLIOTT 98.4
The 1st driver of the days to have his championship hopes go down along with a tire.
17. (21) BOBBY LABONTE 94.8
So close, yet so far. And why is he so disappointed with 2nd? I’d be ecstatic, if I were him.
18. (19) KEVIN HARVICK 94.4
He went airborne, and still got the least damage of the RCR cars. Somehow, that doesn’t fit.
19. (15) ROBBY GORDON 93.5
It figures – one guy known for causing wrecks gets caught up with another guy known for causing wrecks.
20. (23) DAVE BLANEY 90.5
Dave just sort of snuck up there at the end. I didn’t notice him all evening, but there he was, 10th at the finish.
21. (17) RICKY CRAVEN 89.3
After the wreck, they had gotten the car repaired and ready to re-enter the race. But NASCAR wouldn’t let him, because his spotter had left the stand. That gaff may have cost him a spot or two in the final rundown.
22. (22) JEREMY MAYFIELD 87.5
On the same lap that Bill got taken out of the points race, Jeremy’s rear-end gear went kaput. But he beat Bill!
23. (20) KYLE PETTY 85.5
I bet pettyfan4life is not liking the fall Kyle took this week. But top-10s are the only thing that’s going to get him back towards the top.
24. (25) JOHNNY BENSON 82.4
With 60 laps to go, Johnny was way back around 30th, three laps down. By the time the checkered flag dropped, 18th. And it’s not like anybody fell out of the race and helped his cause.
25. (28) STEVE PARK 77.7
Isn’t it amazing, Steve how well you do when you don’t total the car every week! Consecutive top-15s!
26. (26) JOHN ANDRETTI 77.6
John, just admit that you’re going to be back at PE next year. Admittedly, you’re doing a fine job of evading the question. But it’s time you confirmed it.
27. (24) WARD BURTON 75.7
How conductive of a metal is Ward’s car made of. It must be pretty high – other cars slam into and stuck to it nearly every week.
28. (27) ELLIOTT SADLER 70.6
Elliott’s 2nd half is actually pretty close to how he did last year (five top-20 finishes in last 18 races). It’s a good thing he got the contract signed sooner rather than later.
29. (30) KEN SCHRADER 69.7
A U.S. Army sponsorship would actually be pretty fitting – you’ve got a battle-hungry soldier behind the wheel, after all.
30. (29) JIMMY SPENCER 66.9
Who’d be willing to bet that this team is doing some experimenting this year too?
31. (31) TODD BODINE 65.1
“There’s no way I was going to get off the gas.” No wonder you hit so many people, Todd.
32. (32) TERRY LABONTE 64.8
Terry may be looking forward to Martinsville more than anybody. After all, it’s the only place he’s lead at in the past couple years.
33. (36) MIKE WALLACE 61.3
Mike has now surpassed Stacey’s top-20 total in this car, while needing 7 fewer races. Is it that A.J. just cares a little more, or is Mike “just that good”?
34. (34) MIKE SKINNER 58.7
If Mike makes it the entire year without a top-10, we may need to call in the resuscitation team for Mr. McClure.
35. (35) KENNY WALLACE 57.9
“Sometimes, you just need to lift off the gas.” Todd could learn a lot from you, Kenny. That is, if he doesn’t wreck you first.
36. (33) JOE NEMECHEK 56.8
Seemed to have a solid run going before the engine gave out. Any luck on finding a ride for next year?
37. (39) JERRY NADEAU 56.7
This was, by far, Jerry’s best finish since taking over the reins of the 44. Who knows how good it could have been if qualifying weren’t rained out.
38. (37) CASEY ATWOOD 51.8
I’m getting this sinking feeling that Mr. Smith is entering Ted in these races to look over as a replacement for Casey. Here’s some advice, Case: let him have it, and take his truck series ride. You’ll be happier there, trust me.
39. (38) BOBBY HAMILTON/GREG BIFFLE 50
Bobby hasn’t had much luck finding a ride for next year, either. And the 55 is still open for business. Now that Jerry Jones is out of the picture, who’s to say Bobby won’t come back?
40. (40) BRETT BODINE 47.4
It could rain on Thursday and Friday every week of the year, and Brett would never complain.
1. (1) RYAN NEWMAN 155.9
Ryan sure put on quite the drive with the back-up car, even using short pitting to stay on the lead lap. But the last major obstacle to a title bid is just around the bend.
2. (2) TONY STEWART 144.8
Last year at Martinsville, the motor let go on Tony’s car while he was in 2nd. That can’t happen this year if he wants to keep his points lead.
3. (3) JIMMIE JOHNSON 130.9
Just one question: Since when does a loose wheel sound like a dying motor? I think Jimmie needs to make sure his hearing is fully functional.
4. (4) DALE EARNHARDT JR. 126.9
While he likely won’t finish as high in points this year as last, his peripheral stats are very similar. If he could only avoid getting/driving hurt…
5. (11) RUSTY WALLACE 120
Out of Rusty’s nine top-10 finishes in the first 16 races, the highest one was a 6th. In the last 15 events, his lowest top-10 finish is 5th.
6. (7) MATT KENSETH 119.5
…And with the sour tones of a motor, go any hopes Matt still had of the championship. It’s a shame, to, because it looked like he was going to at least hold his ground in the race.
7. (6) MARK MARTIN 118.9
Motor problems for Mark, too, but at least his held together to bring home a decent finish.
8. (5) DALE JARRETT 117
Dale’s still got a good shot at the top-10 in points – even if it is at the expense of his teammate.
9. (8) KURT BUSCH 116.3
The car ran great until the motor decided to take a sick leave. The paint job looked pretty good, too.
10. (9) RICKY RUDD 110.4
So much for Ricky being the “what about me?” of the title chase. Now he’s scrambling just to stay in the top-10 in points.
11. (10) JEFF GORDON 109.8
If you go by the “Kulwicki standard”, Jeff is still in the hunt – but teetering on the edge.
12. (14) MICHAEL WALTRIP 106.7
No one should be surprised at Michael having a good run – he did finish 8th the first time around this year.
13. (13) JEFF GREEN 104.1
What a classic line: “Had to be a Bodine.” Sad thing is, it’s true.
14. (18) STERLING MARLIN/JAMIE McMURRAY 103.8
WOW. That’s all I had to say as Jamie crossed the line. Now it’s Bliss’s turn to keep the team gunning for the owner’s championship.
15. (16) JEFF BURTON 99
This must have been one of the better experiments this team has done.
16. (12) BILL ELLIOTT 98.4
The 1st driver of the days to have his championship hopes go down along with a tire.
17. (21) BOBBY LABONTE 94.8
So close, yet so far. And why is he so disappointed with 2nd? I’d be ecstatic, if I were him.
18. (19) KEVIN HARVICK 94.4
He went airborne, and still got the least damage of the RCR cars. Somehow, that doesn’t fit.
19. (15) ROBBY GORDON 93.5
It figures – one guy known for causing wrecks gets caught up with another guy known for causing wrecks.
20. (23) DAVE BLANEY 90.5
Dave just sort of snuck up there at the end. I didn’t notice him all evening, but there he was, 10th at the finish.
21. (17) RICKY CRAVEN 89.3
After the wreck, they had gotten the car repaired and ready to re-enter the race. But NASCAR wouldn’t let him, because his spotter had left the stand. That gaff may have cost him a spot or two in the final rundown.
22. (22) JEREMY MAYFIELD 87.5
On the same lap that Bill got taken out of the points race, Jeremy’s rear-end gear went kaput. But he beat Bill!
23. (20) KYLE PETTY 85.5
I bet pettyfan4life is not liking the fall Kyle took this week. But top-10s are the only thing that’s going to get him back towards the top.
24. (25) JOHNNY BENSON 82.4
With 60 laps to go, Johnny was way back around 30th, three laps down. By the time the checkered flag dropped, 18th. And it’s not like anybody fell out of the race and helped his cause.
25. (28) STEVE PARK 77.7
Isn’t it amazing, Steve how well you do when you don’t total the car every week! Consecutive top-15s!
26. (26) JOHN ANDRETTI 77.6
John, just admit that you’re going to be back at PE next year. Admittedly, you’re doing a fine job of evading the question. But it’s time you confirmed it.
27. (24) WARD BURTON 75.7
How conductive of a metal is Ward’s car made of. It must be pretty high – other cars slam into and stuck to it nearly every week.
28. (27) ELLIOTT SADLER 70.6
Elliott’s 2nd half is actually pretty close to how he did last year (five top-20 finishes in last 18 races). It’s a good thing he got the contract signed sooner rather than later.
29. (30) KEN SCHRADER 69.7
A U.S. Army sponsorship would actually be pretty fitting – you’ve got a battle-hungry soldier behind the wheel, after all.
30. (29) JIMMY SPENCER 66.9
Who’d be willing to bet that this team is doing some experimenting this year too?
31. (31) TODD BODINE 65.1
“There’s no way I was going to get off the gas.” No wonder you hit so many people, Todd.
32. (32) TERRY LABONTE 64.8
Terry may be looking forward to Martinsville more than anybody. After all, it’s the only place he’s lead at in the past couple years.
33. (36) MIKE WALLACE 61.3
Mike has now surpassed Stacey’s top-20 total in this car, while needing 7 fewer races. Is it that A.J. just cares a little more, or is Mike “just that good”?
34. (34) MIKE SKINNER 58.7
If Mike makes it the entire year without a top-10, we may need to call in the resuscitation team for Mr. McClure.
35. (35) KENNY WALLACE 57.9
“Sometimes, you just need to lift off the gas.” Todd could learn a lot from you, Kenny. That is, if he doesn’t wreck you first.
36. (33) JOE NEMECHEK 56.8
Seemed to have a solid run going before the engine gave out. Any luck on finding a ride for next year?
37. (39) JERRY NADEAU 56.7
This was, by far, Jerry’s best finish since taking over the reins of the 44. Who knows how good it could have been if qualifying weren’t rained out.
38. (37) CASEY ATWOOD 51.8
I’m getting this sinking feeling that Mr. Smith is entering Ted in these races to look over as a replacement for Casey. Here’s some advice, Case: let him have it, and take his truck series ride. You’ll be happier there, trust me.
39. (38) BOBBY HAMILTON/GREG BIFFLE 50
Bobby hasn’t had much luck finding a ride for next year, either. And the 55 is still open for business. Now that Jerry Jones is out of the picture, who’s to say Bobby won’t come back?
40. (40) BRETT BODINE 47.4
It could rain on Thursday and Friday every week of the year, and Brett would never complain.
