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Power Rankings: Lowe's
By Ryan Smithson, NASCAR.COM
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June 1, 2006
10:31 AM EDT (1031 GMT)

Biggest Gain this week: Jeff Gordon, up eight spots

Biggest Drop this week: Carl Edwards, down six spots

New this week: Reed Sorenson (24), J.J. Yeley (25).

Dropped out: Sterling Marlin (19), Martin Truex Jr. (25).

Week 12 of 36, Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Rank Prev Number Driver Comments
 1  3 Jimmie Johnson Jimmie Johnson Dude, please don't win the Coca-Cola 600, OK? We know you probably will, but please don't. Not sure we can bear FOX and NASCAR.COM proclaiming it "Jimmie's house" for the 48th race in a row.
 2  1 Tony Stewart Tony Stewart He had the quote of the weekend:
"That's the first time I actually got to sit in the truck and watch the other guy [Matt Kenseth] in the interview."
 3  2 Kevin Harvick Kevin Harvick He is getting pretty combative with reporters nowadays. He even calls them by name. Saturday's quote:
"Lee Spencer must not be in the press box if we have no questions, so I guess I won't take a ration from her this week. She is at home? Oh, maybe we should write a letter to her telling her how she should be here covering this race since she is the master of opinions. What was the question? I forgot."
 4  4 Matt Kenseth Matt Kenseth Report: Katie Kenseth urging Stewart to get married so she can confront the wife during Kenseth-Stewart clashes
 5  5 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Right on the heels of SportsCentury, this coming up:
7 Days: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s dog, Killer
 6 14 Jeff Gordon Jeff Gordon Actual press release last week: "Paint scheme could lead to reversal of fortune for Gordon." Heck, if fresh colors are all that it takes, then someone give Dave Blaney's car a special scheme.
 7 13 Greg Biffle Greg Biffle Conversation overheard last weekend:
"Boy, that commercial where the sandwich hangs in front of Biffle’s car is amazing."
"Why? Because of the cool special effects used to make the sandwich appear?"
“No, I was amazed they found footage of Biffle leading at a road course."
 8  7 Jeff Burton Jeff Burton This guy is on fire. No finish worse than 15th in the last five races. He is making enough money for him and Wawd.
 9 10 Mark Martin Mark Martin Report: Martin hoping aggressive driving in All-Star Challenge increases street cred, rap album sales
10  9 Kyle Busch Kyle Busch He was fined $150 for his speeding ticket in Richmond last month and forbidden from wearing any hideous sunglasses for 11 months and 29 days.
11 12 Denny Hamlin Denny Hamlin If you look closely during Denny's lawnmower commercial, it says, "Professional Driver. Do not attempt." If you do, you might wind up with 19 stitches in your left hand.
12  6 Carl Edwards Carl Edwards Carl is nuts. Two weeks ago, we mentioned his hilariously talkative spotter, Bobby "Keep it gooooooing thar, Car-ul" Hudson. And Carl told Hudson all about his Power Rankings mention. At Darlington. During a green-flag run.
13 20 Ryan Newman Ryan Newman Snoop Dogg called that one crewmember that jumped in the crowd (Trent Cherry). He wants his hat back, or there is going to be a fashizzle in the garazzizle
14  8 Kasey Kahne Kasey Kahne Report: Teenage girls churning out Mark Martin piñatas by the thousands
15 17 Scott Riggs Scott Riggs Barney Rubble brought Bam-Bam with him to Victory Lane. Nice.
16 15 Dale Jarrett Dale Jarrett Report: Jarrett already bragging about the gas mileage on his new Prius
17 11 Kurt Busch Kurt Busch If you think his $1 million donation to Victory Junction was mere public relations, consider Kyle Petty's quote: "Kurt has been [at the camp] every year."
18 22 Bobby Labonte Bobby Labonte On Kyle Petty’s "vote me in" Web site last week, they spelled Bobby’s name as "LaBonte." Now, that seriously drives me nuts. It reminds me too much of the Del Monte food cans in the grocery store.
19 18 Clint Bowyer Clint Bowyer Almost seen on Jayski: ONE OF BESTEST BUSCH DRIVERS EVER TO BE BOWYERS SPOTTER? Hearing Tim Fedewa (a Jayski fave) will be Clint Bowyer spotter. UPDATE YES GOOD NEWS: Fedewa was spotted spotting for Clint, no idea how this affects his driving plans, don't e-mail/ask.
20 16 Jamie McMurray Jamie McMurray Report: McMurray to buy Martin's rap album in hopes the disturbing lyrics will reveal why he was wrecked
21 23 Jeff Green Jeff Green Something you're not going to hear in your lifetime:
"Hi, I am Jeff Green, and I am hosting Saturday Night Live."
22 21 Elliott Sadler Elliott Sadler He just hasn't had a good month. At Darlington, here was what his spotter said all night: "Inside. Inside. Inside. Oh no, here comes the 32. Inside."
23 24 Casey Mears Casey Mears www.hirecaseymears.com/sections/prospectiveemployers/ openthecheckbook.html
24 NR Reed Sorenson Reed Sorenson He completed every dadgum lap at Darlington even though he slapped the wall on half of them.
25 NR J.J. Yeley J.J. Yeley Boy, quit confusing me by running that car with Boniva on the hood. It sounds like a new Pontiac.

The Power Rankings are written by Ryan Smithson and the opinions listed here are solely those of the writer. To email Ryan about the Rankings, click here.
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