Cross' Words: Michigan (cont'd)

Six of one ...
Drivers with momentum heading to Sonoma:

• Martin Truex Jr. -- The crown fits him nicely; the new prince at DEI has finished 11th, 16th, first, third and second since Dale Earnhardt Jr. made the announcement that he's leaving the company.

• Casey Mears -- Another driver who seemingly has gotten a shot of adrenaline since Junior hit the open market: first, 13th, fourth and fourth since Charlotte, where Kyle Busch threw a nutty in the hauler after the All-Star race and sealed his fate with HMS.

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- The epicenter of Silly Season is on a solid run -- six top-15 finishes in the past seven races -- and has moved into the 12th spot in the point standings.

• Robby Gordon -- Two top-15s in three races and now he's off to Sonoma? Sounds like the perfect storm; he has three top-10s, including a win, at the serpentine track.

• Denny Hamlin -- He has one -- one! -- DNF in 58 starts (crashed out on April 2, 2006, at Martinsville). He can't be very popular with the sheetmetal union.

• Michael Waltrip -- The last time Mikey had a top-10 finish? ... Would you believe June 19, 2005, at Michigan (seventh). Next on the to-do list: qualify for consecutive races.

• Bill Elliott -- The last time Dawsonville's favorite son had a top-15 finish? ... Would you believe Aug. 21, 2005, at Michigan (11th). Of course that was a span of only 16 starts for Bill.

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

• Jeff Burton -- You make the call ... average finish before AT&T Mobility: 12.2; average finish since AT&T Mobility: 18.2.

• Matt Kenseth -- Finished 42nd on Sunday, only the 12th time in 271 starts he's finished 40th or worse.

• Kasey Kahne -- If you're keeping score at home (and I know many of you are), it's 14 races and counting since his last top-10 (seventh at Daytona).

• Elliott Sadler -- Sunday was his 300th start, good for 66th on the all-time list. Up next: Tiny Lund and Dick Trickle (303 starts).

• Jeff Green -- During the past six races his average finish is a woeful 31.0, including a 36th-place run at Michigan, with only one lead-lap finish.

• J.J. Yeley -- Congrats on the first career pole, but history suggests top-10 starts aren't in his best interest:

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.