| 1 |
1 |
 |
Matt Kenseth |
We got a lot of emails last week saying we’re crazy at having Kenseth No. 1. It jammed our email box. If it keeps up, we’ll have throw in a disclaimer that Kenseth is the No. 1 driver under 200 pounds. |
| 2 |
2 |
 |
Tony Stewart |
We have been making a lot of Tony Stewart fat jokes, but the killer came last week when Fortune called him the “roly-poly star driver of the bright orange No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet.” |
| 3 |
12 |
 |
Brian Vickers |
Hi. I am Brian Vickers. Haven’t heard of me yet, eh. Well certainly you’ve heard of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Well, I passed him in the standings with my third-place run at Fontana. Yeah. I was impressed, too. |
| 4 |
3 |
 |
Kurt Busch |
That was a touching moment when he leaned into the car window to congratulate his brother. Even Jimmy Spencer was moved to tears. |
| 5 |
4 |
 |
Mark Martin |
Shirts are already being printed up that say Salute to You Two. |
| 6 |
8 |
 |
Greg Biffle |
Since Biffle is safely in the Chase, I would have liked to see Snoop Dogg serve as his crew chief for a race. Biffle: “Snoop, do we need to pit?” Snoop: “Fo Shizzle, Greg Bizzle. Pit this lap.” |
| 7 |
5 |
 |
Rusty Wallace |
Man, he looked all nice in that suit as the Busch Series analyst this week. NBC did a smart thing putting Jamie McMurray in charge of Rusty’s hair and wardrobe. |
| 8 |
11 |
 |
Carl Edwards |
He was all smiles all weekend. And that was just because Ryan Newman didn’t enter the Busch race. |
| 9 |
6 |
 |
Jimmie Johnson |
A lot of fans write in and want him to get his eyebrows waxed, but (1) That is a painful procedure (2) They really keep the sun out of your eyes when the sun is in your eyes in Turn 1. |
| 10 |
6 |
 |
Jeremy Mayfield |
After his Nextel Cup career is over, we’re going to write a book with Mayfield called “How to Look like a Motorcycle Cop Without Even Trying.” |
| 11 |
16 |
 |
Ricky Rudd |
His ninth-place finish was utterly amazing after he didn’t have a single lap in the car until the pace laps on Sunday. |
| 12 |
17 |
 |
Kyle Busch |
He learned real quick that 2 percent milk doesn’t spray as well as champagne in victory lane. |
| 13 |
10 |
 |
Jeff Gordon |
Nothing to see here. |
| 14 |
9 |
 |
Joe Nemechek |
Kyle Busch finished fourth this spring at Richmond, which tied him with Joe Nemechek for career top-fives on a short track. |
| 15 |
21 |
 |
Kasey Kahne |
On Labor Day, his hometown in Enumclaw, Wash., honored him and he signed autographs. It’s a good thing it was a holiday. Otherwise the local high school wouldn’t have had a single girl show up that day. |
| 16 |
15 |
 |
Ryan Newman |
Last week, Dale Jarrett finally talked. He said his car was loose and that is why he got into Newman at Bristol. Which is kind of like saying the deer died of cardiac arrest after you shot it. |
| 17 |
23 |
 |
Jamie McMurray |
Man, Roush Racing is a powerhouse. McMurray is one of six Roush drivers currently in the top 10. |
| 18 |
14 |
 |
Bobby Labonte |
He needs some fresh rumors to get his season back on track. Jayski, get to work so we can get a Bobby a top-five this weekend. |
| 19 |
20 |
 |
Casey Mears |
Everyone wants to know why they moved Casey out of the Target car. Target wanted him out because they are making a huge push to promote their new clothing line for high schoolers. |
| 20 |
13 |
 |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
He’s got more top-10 finishes than Jeff Gordon. But only because Gordon went to Wrigley Field. |
| 21 |
18 |
 |
Elliott Sadler |
He got inducted into the California Speedway Walk of Fame, and the track gave him a cool surfboard. Which means he will be the only guy in Emporia, Va. with a surfboard in the gunrack of his truck. |
| 22 |
19 |
 |
Jeff Burton |
He announced an initiative at Bristol where he is promoting defensive driving and accident avoidance for teen-agers. And it only took Kyle Busch one week to take advantage of it. |
| 23 |
NR |
 |
Sterling Marlin |
Man, Sterling, you can’t run into Scott Riggs! Or maybe he can. Maybe Sterling is trying to make sure that team has all-new cars for his debut in that car in 2006. |
| 24 |
22 |
 |
Kevin Harvick |
Did you hear that crazy rumor that he is replacing Jamie McMurray for next season? I doubt he will, but there’s no way he can wear McMurray’s helmets. He’d look like Marvin the Martian. |
| 25 |
24 |
 |
Michael Waltrip |
We are not surprised that Mikey was one of the first guys to donate to the relief effort, and between all the drivers and teams – from Jimmie Johnson to Carl Edwards to Kyle Busch to all the others – it was nice to see the NASCAR community make such a nice push to help. |
