October 6th - October 10th, 2008
Wednesday: Did your driver survive the Talladega carnage, or did the Big One spell disaster for his spot in the Top 15? Find out where the Frontstretch Staff rates your favorite in this week's Power Rankings!
Thursday: Matt McLaughlin Mouths Off about whether a broadcaster's interest in a race team constitutes a conflict of interest when they're on the air.
Friday: Our John Potts tells it like it is in racing because he lived it - and he'll share it all with you in Driven to the Past.
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The tricky triangle in Pennsylvania had several twists and turns for the Cup drivers this past weekend. Who left the track climbing up the Pocono mountains? Kasey Kahne, for one; he’s making believers out of our staff with his second win in three starts, and even secured a first place vote again this week. And while Matt Kenseth isn’t in the Top 12 in driver points, he remains within the Top 12 of our poll.
But how about who’s sliding down the slopes? Kyle Busch’s spin and subsequent last place finish certainly took a few votes away … but was it enough to knock him out of the top spot? And what RCR driver’s recent on track travails have caused him to drop completely out of our Top 15? Read on to find out in the latest edition of our Power Rankings, and see if you agree or disagree with the choices of your favorite Frontstretch writers.
How The Rankings Are Calculated: Frontstretch does their power rankings somewhat similar to how the Associated Press does them for basketball or football — writers on our staff will vote for the Top 20 on a 20-19-18-17-16-15…3-2-1 basis, giving 20 points to their first place driver, 19 for their second, and so on. In the end, Mike Neff calculates the points, adds some funny one liners, and … voila! You have the power rankings from our dedicated staff.
| FRONTSTRETCH TOP 15 POWER RANKINGS: JUNE 11TH, 2008 | |||
| Rank | Driver (First Place Votes) | Votes | Last Week |
| 1 | Kyle Busch (6) | 189 | 1 |
| First driver in NASCAR history to claim three crappy finishes in three different states on the same weekend. | |||
| 2 | Jeff Burton | 181 | 3 |
| Good thing he swerved at David Ragan on pit road and was in the same shot with Junior. Otherwise, you probably would have never seen him … even though he’s 21 points out of the championship lead! | |||
| 3 | Carl Edwards (3) | 179 | 2 |
| Should’ve consulted the duck about pit strategy; he’d have probably been better off. | |||
| 4 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | 172 | 4 |
| The best car in the Hendrick stable… and people are suggesting Tony Eury, Jr should go. Guess they should be replacing Chad Knaus in short order as well. | |||
| 5 | Kasey Kahne (1) | 147 | 9 |
| Say what you will about the Bud-Kahne partnership, but no one can deny he’s given them more wins in one month than Junior did in three years. | |||
| 6 | Greg Biffle | 137 | 5 |
| Wonder how much his pit crew ridiculed him for screwing up on pit road. | |||
| 7 | Jeff Gordon | 133 | 6 |
| Apparently, this racing stuff really is harder than Gordon has made it look all of these years. | |||
| 8 | Jimmie Johnson | 125 | 7 |
| Chad the magician couldn’t pull a rabbit out of his hat this time — his road course pit strategy wound up way off course. | |||
| 9 | Matt Kenseth | 121 | 10 |
| That sound you hear is not an oncoming train; it’s the No. 17 team continuing to gain momentum. | |||
| 10 | Denny Hamlin | 119 | 8 |
| Apparently, the new car isn’t too temperamental if you crush the right front fender. | |||
| 11 | Tony Stewart | 75 | 11 |
| On the verge of repeating Dale Jr.‘s 2007 season — which means we should hear something on his future this week. | |||
| 12 | Brian Vickers | 75 | NR |
| If that stupid wheel stayed on at Lowe’s during the Coke 600, he’s looking at making the Chase right about now. | |||
| 13 | David Ragan | 66 | 12 |
| Pocono was a bit of a setback, but this team should start contending for wins once we get to tracks for the second time this summer. | |||
| 14 | Kevin Harvick | 57 | NR |
| If you look up the words “Chase vulnerability” in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of Harvick’s car for 2008. | |||
| 15 | Mark Martin | 48 | NR |
| Hoping if Michael Waltrip Racing can fit a recliner into a car, DEI can fit a rocking chair into his. | |||
| Dropped Out : Clint Bowyer (13), Martin Truex, Jr. (14), Travis Kvapil (15). | |||
| Also Receiving Votes: Martin Truex Jr. (46), Travis Kvapil (40), Bobby Labonte (38), Kurt Busch (38), Clint Bowyer (36), Ryan Newman (32), Dave Blaney (27), David Reutimann (8), Jamie McMurray (4), David Gilliland (4), Juan Pablo Montoya (2), A.J. Allmendinger (1). | |||
| Who Voted: Ren Jonsin, Tom Bowles, Cami Starr, Mike Neff, Kim DeHaven, Tony Lumbis, Matt Taliaferro, Vito Pugliese, Bryan Keith, and Doug Turnbull. | |||
Still haven’t joined the Frontstretch Forums? Here’s a peek at what you’re
missing this week:
How do you feel about A.J. Allmendinger’s release from Red Bull Racing?
Are you surprised to see Paul Menard leaving DEI?
If you’d prefer to stay out of controversial NASCAR topics, feel free to join us in The Infield, where we talk about everything from politics to stick and ball sports to jokes and odd news from around the world.
And for those of you that might visit The Frontstretch Forums to kill time, feel free to join in our Games forum. It’s the perfect place to waste away countless hours playing word association, hangman, and much, much more.
Click here to join the forums and tell us what you think. Don’t miss out on a chance to share your opinion with a growing community of fans just like you!
Message Board Quote of the Week: “I don’t see how Rusty + DEI + COT = competitive on the racetrack in 2009. I do see how Rusty could hook a sponsor, though, which DEI needs more than ever with Paul Menard leaving and taking the Menards money with him.” Scott B on rumors that Rusty Wallace would be making a return to NASCAR behind the wheel of a DEI-owned machine
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