Media favors Gordon to win 2006 championship

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Stung by last season's inconsistency, four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon has been clear about his intent to return to the top of his sport.

He's already made one on-track statement by earning the No. 2 starting spot for Sunday's 48th Daytona 500. Now, media voters have echoed his optimism, selecting him as the favorite to win the 2006 Nextel Cup.

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Gordon -- the defending and three-time Daytona 500 champion -- heads the 2006 NASCAR Preseason Top 10 poll. A total of 247 votes were cast. Drivers received 10 points for first place, nine points for second place, eight points for third place, seven points for fourth place, six points for fifth place, five points for sixth place, four points for seventh place, three points for eighth place, two points for ninth place and one point for 10th.

Gordon received 1,748 points and 57 first-place votes -- 51 points more than second-place Tony Stewart, the two-time and defending series champion. Stewart received 1,697 points and 48 first-place votes. Jimmie Johnson is third with 1,691 points and 43 first-place votes -- only six points behind Stewart.

Rounding out the top five in the NASCAR Preseason Top 10 are Greg Biffle and Roush Racing teammate Carl Edwards. The 2005 runner-up, Biffle received 1,490 points and 44 first-place votes. Edwards, who finished third in last year's points, received 1,309 points and 19 first-place votes.

The rest of the NASCAR Preseason Top 10 includes sixth-place Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 853 points and six first-place votes; seventh-place Ryan Newman with 774 points and three first-place votes; eighth-place Mark Martin with 668 points and seven first-place votes; ninth-place Kurt Busch with 665 points and six first-place votes; and 10th-place Matt Kenseth with 580 points and three first-place votes.