NASCAR Horsepower Rankings

"Hmmm ... what should I ask him?" (ASP, Inc.)

1. Jimmie Johnson  Denny Hamlin may be the hottest driver on the Cup circuit at the moment, but Johnson’s team will still be the one everyone keeps an eye on going into the Chase.

2. Denny Hamlin  Became the first driver since Tony Stewart in last season’s playoffs to score consecutive wins on the Cup circuit, with victories at Bristol and Atlanta. This is not the Denny Hamlin of 2011, folks.

3. Brad Keselowski  Throw out Keselowski’s disastrous night in Bristol (which is a real rarity) and you’ll find a driver with eight straight runs of ninth or better. Along with Johnson and Hamlin, he has to be a title favorite.

4. Dale Earnhardt Jr.  Persevered for a respectable seventh-place showing on what was shaping up to be an off night in Atlanta. The consistency is unquestioned, but can Junior post a couple wins in the Chase?

5. Greg Biffle  Was expecting more out of the points leader at the fast and slick Atlanta track. That said, his team of intermediate-track specialists will be ready for the Chase kickoff at the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway.

6. Martin Truex Jr.  Victory slips through Truex’s fingers once again. He and the No. 56 team’s performance in the closing laps at Atlanta are what separate the “title contenders” from the “playoff participants.”

7. Matt Kenseth  One has to wonder how his Roush Fenway bunch will react now that Kenseth has walked the halls and officially announced his Joe Gibbs Racing relationship.

8. Clint Bowyer  Moved into the top 10 from a rear-of-the-field starting spot at Atlanta before battery issues cost him three laps. Could Bowyer be a guy who breaks up the Kyle Busch/Jeff Gordon battle royal in Richmond?
 

Truex's 2013 Toyota. Pretty spiffy. (ASP, Inc.)

9. Kasey Kahne  Looking to make up the 19 points he’ll need to slide ahead of Tony Stewart in the standings and take advantage of the bonus points he’ll receive for the two wins. That may be a lot to ask.

10. Jeff Gordon  Gordon regretted not putting the fender to Hamlin on the final lap at Atlanta. Considering all that’s riding on a win, I’m scratching my head as to why he didn’t, either.

11. Kyle Busch  Busch can win at Richmond, no doubt. But can JGR give him a piece that lasts the whole race?

12. Kevin Harvick  The last couple of weeks makes me wonder why Harvick and Gill Martin split up in the first place.

13. Tony Stewart  Point to ponder: Danica Patrick is currently the only driver at SHR with full sponsorship for 2013.

14. Marcos Ambrose  Valiant performances by Ambrose and the team over the last month is example of too little, too late.

15. Paul Menard  Here’s betting the “Paul Menard Empire” is the only group that knew he has three straight top 10s.

Just off the lead pack: Carl Edwards, Sam Hornish Jr., Joey Logano, Mark Martin, Ryan Newman

by Matt Taliaferro
Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattTaliaferro