January 5th - 9th, 2009
Monday: 2008 Driver Reviews return to the Frontstretch, as we ring in the New Year with a look back at the seasons of Casey Mears and Paul Menard.
Tuesday: Juan Pablo Montoya and current free agent Joe Nemechek go under the microscope as our look back at last season continues.
Wednesday: It's back! With the new season just a month away, some of your favorite writers return to check in on the offseason news and offer their take in the latest edition of Mirror Driving.
Thursday: Tony Raines and David Reutimann have their last 36 races sliced apart as our Driver Review Series trudges on.
Friday: While Elliott Sadler figures out his next move, we figure out how he put himself in position to be released by GEM with a look back at his 2008 slump.
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Frontstretch Sprint Cup Power Rankings : Top 15 After Texas
Frontstretch Staff · Wednesday November 5, 2008
History repeated itself for the third time in a row, as the winner at Atlanta in the Fall headed to Texas the following week and won again. That victory this week by Carl Edwards stole a couple of first place votes away from Jimmie Johnson, but didn’t move him out of the top spot just yet. Meanwhile, Jeff Burton’s drive to the championship is done — that is, if you believe the voters in this week’s poll.
But just how far did Burton fall? And what Roush Fenway driver made an appearance in our Top 12 for the first time? Read on for the answers in this week’s version of the Top 15 rankings.
| FRONTSTRETCH TOP 15 POWER RANKINGS: NOVEMBER 5th, 2008 | |||
| Rank | Driver (First Place Votes) | Votes | Last Week |
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson (8) | 195 | 1 |
| Seventh place or better in two successive races, and the title is his. | |||
| 2 | Carl Edwards (2) | 192 | 2 |
| Carl is doing what he has to do; it just isn’t going to be enough. | |||
| 3 | Greg Biffle | 170 | 3 |
| Got his first Top 5 finish in over a month; at this point, it’s a few weeks too late. | |||
| 4 | Jeff Gordon | 160 | 5 |
| Finally figuring out the new car just in time to save Steve Letarte’s job. | |||
| 5 | Matt Kenseth | 139 | 6 |
| Still looking like the only driver to make NASCAR change their point system in the last two decades — but consistency doesn’t cut it in this format. | |||
| 6 | Kevin Harvick | 137 | 7 |
| Continuing to prove that RCR is good — just not quite good enough. | |||
| 7 | Clint Bowyer | 131 | 10 |
| A Top 5 on an intermediate track could be a good sign for ’09. | |||
| 8 | David Ragan | 118 | 8 |
| Sizzling sophomore still missing that win to put the finishing touches on that Most Improved Driver Award. | |||
| 9 | Jeff Burton | 111 | 4 |
| No championship this year, but at least he’s assured of getting invited to New York. | |||
| 10 | Kyle Busch | 108 | 12 |
| Busch may be a brash, young punk, but he still understands history and his place in it; just ask Sam Ard. | |||
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | 92 | 9 |
| At least he finished ahead of Logano. | |||
| 12 | Jamie McMurray | 85 | 14 |
| Word came recently that McMurray will be reacquiring former crew chief Donnie Wingo. Good idea — might want him to go back to running mid-pack where he’s more familiar. | |||
| 13 | Tony Stewart | 85 | 11 |
| Just practicing for next year at this point. | |||
| 14 | Dale Earnhardt, Jr. | 83 | 13 |
| If not for bad luck and blown tires, he might have had a chance at 3rd in Texas. | |||
| 15 | Martin Truex, Jr. | 61 | NR |
| Enjoying outrunning teammate Mark Martin for now, since it isn’t going to happen very often next year. | |||
| Dropped Out : Kurt Busch (15). | |||
| Also Receiving Votes: Casey Mears (53), Kurt Busch (34), David Reutimann (31), Mark Martin (20), Brian Vickers (20), A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kasey Kahne (13), Elliott Sadler (11), Juan Pablo Montoya (9), Bobby Labonte (9), Paul Menard (5), Ryan Newman (4), Brad Keselowski (3), Scott Riggs (2), Robby Gordon (1), Reed Sorenson (1), Sam Hornish, Jr. (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
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How does Jimmie Johnson compare to Cale Yarborough?
Ten things we hated about the 2008 season
Ten things we loved about the 2008 season
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