Top 35

[south jersey girl]

after 5 races, is anyone surprised by the top 35?

30...#7, Robby Gordon
31...#5, Mark Martin (glad to see him in the top 35 after a couple of engine failures)
32...#77, Sam Hornish
33...#34, John Andretti
34...#20, Joey Logano (hanging in there, the engine failure yesterday hurt)
35...#71, David Gilliland (pretty impressive for a team that started only a couple of weeks before Daytona)

outside looking in

36...#82, Scott Speed (is that Dinger I hear laughing??)
37...#8, Aric Almirola
38...#98, Paul Menard
39...#28, Travis Kvapil (team is folding due to lack of sponsorship)
40...#66, Dave Blaney (single car team)
41...#36, Scott Riggs (single car team)
42...#78, Regan Smith (single car team)
43...#87, Joe Nemechek (his own car)
44...#41, Jeremy Mayfield (his own car)

[Tonyfan14]

Mark Martin being that far down is very surprising and I'm a little surprised Joey is that far down in the standings. I thought he would struggle but not as bad as he is.  It wont take much at Martinsville for him to fall out of the top 35. And now not only does he have that to worry about but I saw on Foxsports that Zippy is very upset right now. It wouldn't surprise me to see Zippy step down from being Joey's crew chief if the 20 team continues to struggle.   

[scott b]

I'm impressed by the #71, even though they just barely hung on to the 35th place after Bristol.  Also, even though he had help from a points swap to start the season, Andretti keeping the #34 in is a bit of an accomplishment.

Of the ones that missed, none come as a shock.  Kvapil and the #28 could have gotten the job done if they hadn't gutted that team for Menard, who is also outside looking in.  The #82 has a rookie driver in a no-test year.  The #8 has Almirola who's not an official rookie, but still inexperienced, plus has sponsor issues.  Then you get down to the single car & owner/driver operations.

The good news for the guys ranked 36th and lower is that the entry list a Bristol was only 45 cars, and that included the #28 which will now be idle.

As far as Mark Martin, I consider that a fluke.  DNF's at the start of the season look bad, but the team is obviously bringing a very competitive car to the track.  He'll make steady progress.

[DougS]

Mark Martin being that far down is very surprising and I'm a little surprised Joey is that far down in the standings. I thought he would struggle but not as bad as he is.  It wont take much at Martinsville for him to fall out of the top 35. And now not only does he have that to worry about but I saw on Foxsports that Zippy is very upset right now. It wouldn't surprise me to see Zippy step down from being Joey's crew chief if the 20 team continues to struggle.   

I have to agree with you on Mark. That low was very surprising. I fully expected him and his equipment to run just like they did yesterday.

If Zippy ever leaves JGR it will be at the end of a contract. Zippy's to honorable to walk away. And that's not a shot at Tony. Tony was very respectfull and didn't demand anything from JGR but handled the offer and situation with accumen and respect that a seasoned nascar driver should.

Not surprised at David Gilliland, I know there is alot of people on the board who say he's a hack driver and doesn't deserve to be in cup. But he's a 20-25 driver in points every year.
Not surprised at Menard. A definate pay for play driver. Daddy's money or reality will run out sooner or later.
Not surprised at Mayfield he should have stuck with Trucks.
Not surprised with Amirola. He left the best thing ever offered to him in a fit and EGR cannot afford to give him the "best" equipment for a not ready driver.
Not surprised with Logano. Happy he's not out of the top 35 yet but it's just a matter of time. I've predicted since last year than he wouldn't keep the car in the top 35. It's just in-expierence. Which is why I scratch my head that Kyle is running (buying a NNS championship) the full NNS schedule and not Joey?

I'm surprised at Scott Riggs I really thought he had a chance with any ride but I guees TBR is further behind the curve than thought and Scott can't make up for that.
Surprised that John Andretti is in. He's just running more laps than the other start and park drivers.
Surprised at Scott Speed I expected him in 40th or worse so he's close by his blue toenails.

[south jersey girl]

I'm impressed by the #71, even though they just barely hung on to the 35th place after Bristol. 

I had forgoten that the 71 team missed Daytona (with Mike Wallace driving)
Managed to get into the top 35 with only 4 races...that's very impressive

[SMOKEN14]

To be honest I figured Joey Logano would be out of the top 35 after 5 races BUT I only missed it by a couple spots. after Martinsville he should be sliced toast instead of sliced bread 

[Tonyfan14]

I don't see Zippy walking away from JGR but I could see him step down from being Joey's crew chief and do something behind the scenes at JGR. 

[20forLogano]

Mark Martin being that far down is very surprising and I'm a little surprised Joey is that far down in the standings. I thought he would struggle but not as bad as he is.  It wont take much at Martinsville for him to fall out of the top 35. And now not only does he have that to worry about but I saw on Foxsports that Zippy is very upset right now. It wouldn't surprise me to see Zippy step down from being Joey's crew chief if the 20 team continues to struggle.   

if you only watch the results across the screen at the end of each race then you see Joey in 34th.  But his runs have been much better than the results.  Got wrecked at Daytona (43rd), Cali (26th), Vegas (13th), Atlanta (30th) got hit by Allmendinger and then put into the wall by stewart while running 20th and Bristol (38th) blown engine running 27th.  So the 20 team could be around 25th-26th in points right now and you wouldn't state anything about Joey.  But one who only watches standings doesn't realize it is not as bad as it looks.  I guess Mark Martin is going to be getting his CC booted as well.  He is terrible I guess as well sitting 31st in points. 
Zippy is going no where people.  He is going to be there right now when Joey is seeing a lot of these tracks for the first time.  The 2nd half od the season is going to be solid.  Zippy will be leading when the wins start coming frequently.

[Tonyfan14]

Oh yeah I'm sure Zippy would be much happier if he were 25-26th in points. 

With all the hype he got and knowing how great of a car and how great of team he was given you would think he would at the very least be top 20 in points. 

[20forLogano]

Oh yeah I'm sure Zippy would be much happier if he were 25-26th in points. 

With all the hype he got and knowing how great of a car and how great of team he was given you would think he would at the very least be top 20 in points. 

he's 18 and seeing these tracks for the first time man.  And oh yeah, the economy decides to go down and Nascar cancels testing at tracks they race at so Joey doesn't get the chance all other rookies got when they came into Cup.  That's a big detriment for any rookie trying to crack the Cup Series.  If Zippy didn't want this he would have left Gibbs.  he had the opportunity.  Judge your opinion and facts on reality and not what the media wants you to hear.  They are the ones that created the buzz about Joey.  All he has done is win where he goes and this animal is completely different.  Joey is going to be great once he learns the COT, tracks and gains the respect of the veterens which he is doing.  He hasn't wrecked anyone and races people clean.  38th, 23rd, 2nd, 12th and 28th.  You know whos stats those are after his first 5 cup races full time?  Kyle Busch.  Nothing spectacular and he was 20 when he first got the FT gig.  I think he has turned out pretty decent .  Give Joey some time and you will see the results.

[KurtBuschFan]

Joey could have had his time to run on the tracks that the rest of the rookies got their chance to see....if they hadn't rushed him into the Cup Series.

[Chris]

Some folks have made some good comments... many spot on.
I'd like to offer these thoughts.
In the 'predictions' thread, I suggest Logano WOULD be in the top 35 at the end of the season...
Of course the ONLY reason I figured he'd make the top 35 was because he had an automatic "in" into the first 5 races,.. and I figured he'd do well enough to just hang onto the top 35...
Mainly I figured he'd make the top 35 because of different teams "swapping" in filling out the go-or-do home spots,.. and he'd get there by process of elimination.. not on talent.
Every one says Logano is "super" talent... so far I hadn't saw anything along those lines.  The ONLY time he has done anything is last season at Richmond when he we 9th fastest in the first practice session.. then qualiofying got rained out and he went home.
ALL the other events he has ran... he's just been an also-ran. 
People can say,.. he's had bad luck, ben wrecked, don't get no practice because of new rules this season.. but much of this was known BEFORE the season started.
IMO Logano has been REAL TOUGH on equipment.  He's been his own worst enemy so far.  No one to blame but himself.
At Daytona he wrecked in practice,.. the was in a wreck he should NOT have been in in the Bud Shoot-out.  He should of been out trying to get seat time,.. but instead was racing.. and at that could only race with the bad-markers.  Next Week at Cali, he again crashed in practice,.. and also the following week at Vegas. 
By the time the first three races were over,.. he'd wrecked 5 or more cars.  Anyone that wrecks that much bring MUCH of it on themselves.
I think Logano WILL get better as time goes on... but IMO he'd goping to be NOTHING MORE than your "average" rookie, and not do anything spectacular this year.

Other thoughts...
SUre Martin is a long way down now... but you can't keep a good man down.  I AM concerned (even THIS early in the season) that he is so far back in the points.  IMO I think it's going to be a struggle to make the top 12.  There's just TOO MANY drivers running well,.. and it's going to be more of a problem to "pass" so many people.. other then make up the "points" gap... Just a lot of good racers running for those 12 spots.

Pleasently surprised to see Gilliland, and Andretti in the top 35 in points.  Both have took new teams and earned their spots.  The #71 for Gilliland even missed the field at Daytona,.. so Gilliland has made the top 35 in just 4 races.  IMO I still think folks give him a bum deal, and not enough respect.

Not surprised at Menard. A definate pay for play driver. Daddy's money or reality will run out sooner or later.

I'm not so sure this is a fair or accurate assessment..  First Paul's never had  'good" ride,.. and IMO I think he does OK with what he has.  As far as Daddy running out of money.  I can't see this either.  In the just released list of BILLIONAIRS... "Daddy" is on the list.  Pauls got all the money he wants to continue racing.

As far as the drivers making THIS weekends race... Kvapil's team folding will let Mayfield actually GET to race.  IMO I think he's continued to show just WHY owners like Penskee, and Evernham gave him the boot.  If he wasn't the owner and driving his own car... he'd be looking for a replacement with the poor results he has posted so far.

[20forLogano]

Joey could have had his time to run on the tracks that the rest of the rookies got their chance to see....if they hadn't rushed him into the Cup Series.

While I can disagree with Joey running in the Nationwide full time and not Cup this year the only one that rushed Joey was Home Depot.  They were the ones who told JGR it was Joey they wanted in the car and start building their Marketing and Advertising campaign with Joey for many years to come.  That is why Joey signed a 7 year deal which is not the norm these days.  Remember Roush wanted to sign Kyle to a 9 year deal and he didn't want anything to do with that long term commitment so that is why he went to HMS.  Anyway Joey has proven he can run in the Nationwide cars and compete for top 10's, 5's and wins week in and week out so getting to know the COT is not a bad thing.  This year is a learning year for him and I expect the 2nd half of the season to be competative for Joey and the team.