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DARLINGTON

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  • Who's Up

Biggest Gain this week:

Kurt Busch: 10th to 6th

New This Week :
Mark Martin

  • Who's Down

Biggest Drop this week:

Juan Montoya: 16th to 22nd

Dropped Out :
Kasey Kahne

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 1
    CHANGE : 0

  • 1

  • Jeff Gordon

    Another strong performance, another week at the top. Gordon fends-off field for another week, but if Jimmie Johnson wins at Darlington the winds of change will be blowing next week.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 2
    CHANGE : 0

  • 2

  • Jimmie Johnson

    Four victories -- and now second in the point standings -- Johnson already has 40 Chase bonus points in the hopper. He'll need that head start to beat-back Gordon down the stretch.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 5
    CHANGE : +2

  • 3

  • Denny Hamlin

    He's finished third in each of the past three COT races; stands to reason he'd be third here, too. If the kid could catch a break, he'd already have a win (or two) this year.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 4
    CHANGE : 0

  • 4

  • Matt Kenseth

    Ho-hum, another top-10 finish for the No. 17 team. Another scoop of vanilla, anyone?

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 3
    CHANGE : -2

  • 5

  • Jeff Burton

    OK, so the engine dropping a valve at Richmond wasn't Burton's fault but someone had to shuffle back this week.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 10
    CHANGE : +4

  • 6

  • Kurt Busch

    In only his second season with the team, he's already the face of Penske Racing. Well, it's either him or Ryan Newman, which begs the question: When will Sam Hornish Jr. arrive?

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 11
    CHANGE : +4

  • 7

  • Kyle Busch

    Speaking of faces, we just cannot get enough of this picture. It's one that only a mother can love. Happy Mother's Day.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 8
    CHANGE : 0

  • 8

  • Dale Earnhardt Jr.

    The Nation is getting antsy for its driver to return to Victory Lane. It's been 37 races since his last win. ... Imagine being a Ken Schrader fan (529 races -- and counting).

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 6
    CHANGE : -3

  • 9

  • Tony Stewart

    Smoke has to catch a break at some point -- and when he does, don't be surprised if he gets on a top-five roll. He's in the same boat with Hamlin: woulda, coulda, shoulda had a checkered flag or two by now.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 7
    CHANGE : -3

  • 10

  • Jamie McMurray

    Hands down the comeback driver of the year through 10 races. And you'll hear this many times before it finally comes to pass: "He's due for his second win."

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 13
    CHANGE : +2

  • 11

  • Kevin Harvick

    Another of the Bowtie Brigade who could use a shot of good fortune. If it's possible for someone to "sneak up" and win the Cup, it's Harvick.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 9
    CHANGE : -3

  • 12

  • Clint Bowyer

    Finished ninth at Richmond and remains in the top 12, but the heat is on. There are several drivers within hailing distance of the Chase cutoff who already know their way to Victory Lane and that will keep the pressure on Bowyer.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 15
    CHANGE : +2

  • 13

  • Greg Biffle

    Was chatting with a buddy about the series' five best drivers and Biffle was on both our lists. In fact, we had the same five guys: Johnson, Gordon, Kyle Busch, Smoke and Biffle. We still believe in The Biff.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : NR

  • 14

  • Mark Martin

    Finished a season-worst 17th at Richmond but still sports a 7.7 average finish in seven starts. Do you wonder if Martin thinks about what 2007 could have been while he's watching the races on his couch? He still says there are no regrets ...

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 14
    CHANGE : -1

  • 15

  • Martin Truex Jr.

    He's playing Nicky Hilton to Junior's Paris. Junior gets the pub (and rightfully so), but Truex is looking better as time goes on.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 12
    CHANGE : -4

  • 16

  • Carl Edwards

    Edwards is one of those drivers just inside the top 12 who could make a run or fall to the wayside. Would anyone be surprised if Roush put four cars in the Chase: Kenseth, McMurray, Biffle and Edwards? Me neither.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 18
    CHANGE : +1

  • 17

  • Tony Raines

    It's been six races since Raines finished outside the top 25. No, that won't get you into title contention, but for a second-year team that's running in the right direction.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 22
    CHANGE : +4

  • 18

  • Ryan Newman

    Back-to-back top-10s for the first time since Richmond-Darlington last spring. He hasn't had three in a row since Loudon-Dover-Talladega in Fall 2005.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 19
    CHANGE : 0

  • 19

  • Bobby Labonte

    He's 18th in points and 117 out of 12th ... it's about time to fish or cut bait. I don't believe the Petty folks have their scissors in hand.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 17
    CHANGE : -3

  • 20

  • Elliott Sadler

    His average start is 20th. His average finish is 20th. Yeah, 20th feels about right -- but he'd feel a lot better if he can end his three-race stretch of twentysomething finishes at Darlington.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 20
    CHANGE : -1

  • 21

  • David Stremme

    He's up a series-best 20 positions in the points compared to this time last year (17th vs. 37th). ... And if Stremme is "fat," Kasey Kahne is anorexic. What's next, insulting each other's mom at recess by the merry-go-round?

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 16
    CHANGE : -6

  • 22

  • Juan Montoya

    JPM is the best thing going for Carolina sheet metal providers. In fact, shops in Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia are upping production in hopes of meeting the demand. ... Keep an eye on Ryan Newman; there could be fireworks between Mr. Juanderful and the Rocketman on Saturday night.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 23
    CHANGE : 0

  • 23

  • Reed Sorenson

    Sorenson has posted decent runs in five of the past six races, and if you take out the three DNFs his season average finish is a respectable 18.8.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 21
    CHANGE : -3

  • 24

  • Jeff Green

    Text book bump 'n' grind racing at Richmond. Well, someone's text book. ... That doesn't do a lot for building friendships with other drivers but hey, how many times did you hear "Jeff Green" on the highlight reels this week? Uh huh -- any publicity is good publicity.

  • Rank

    PREVIOUS : 25
    CHANGE : 0

  • 25

  • Sterling Marlin

    And if there aren't fireworks between Juan Montoya and (insert driver here), expect Ward Burton to live up to his threat of retaliation against ol' Sterling. ... Maybe he should go have his piece vacuumed so it'll look nice on TV.

    Happy Mother's Day to Mama and Mandy; I love you both. And here's hoping y'all remember mom this weekend; we'd be nowhere without 'em.

2007 Power Rankings

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