Cross' Words: Phoenix (cont'd)

Half a dozen of the other ...
And six drivers who need a jump start:

• Jamie McMurray -- Entered Phoenix riding a streak of five consecutive top-15 finishes, including three top-10s in a row. Then he qualified second. And he finished 23rd. Time to get back on the beam.

• Juan Montoya -- Two thirtysomething finishes in the past four races, including a season-worst 33rd-place finish at PIR. But now it's on to 'Dega, where he can mash the gas and enjoy 500 miles of chasing the checkers.

• David Stremme -- It's been a stretch of highs and lows for Stremme: three consecutive top-20s, a 35th, a 10th and now a 43rd at Phoenix.

• J.J. Yeley -- It's been six races since he finished on the lead lap, and his 21st-place run in the desert was his best finish since Las Vegas (18th).

• Ryan Newman -- Did you know: He has as many DNFs (2) as he does laps led? Lady Luck isn't on his side, either -- or teammate Kurt Busch's.

• David Ragan -- There was reason for optimism after his fast start. Now that he's settling in, the realities of life in the fast lane are rearing. And now, welcome to Talladega. This should be, ummm ... interesting.

Feel the power
Three names you'll see in the Power Rankings' top 10 on Wednesday:

1. Jeff Gordon -- Lead dog for the Bowtie Brigade and poised to surpass Dale Earnhardt on the all-time victories list at the track Big E held the deed to.

3. Matt Kenseth -- For a guy who isn't considered the "face" of Roush Racing, he's doing one heckuva impersonation.

5. Denny Hamlin -- Question: Which would you rather have -- Hamlin's future or any other current driver's past?

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.