NASCAR Horsepower Rankings

"Hey Carl, my new crew chief drinks your sponsors product to help him fall sleep." (ASP, Inc.)

1. Jimmie Johnson  A Daytona crash is the only blemish on Johnson’s stat sheet since mid-May. Indianapolis is typically the event that Johnson, Chad Knaus & crew use as a jumping off point for the Chase.

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.  According to Junior's buddy Mike Davis, Earnhardt has completed the first 5,488 laps this season, a record in NASCAR’s Modern Era. He also has 20 consecutive lead lap finishes, dating back to 2011.

3. Matt Kenseth  No flashy stats for Kenseth, just a stream of steadiness for the points leader. His 13th at Loudon, along with a 13th at Sonoma, are his worst showings since a 16th way back in March.

4. Tony Stewart  Stewart, Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski are closing the gap on the Big Three of Johnson, Earnhardt and Keselowski, although Smoke’s Loudon performance was disappointing after winning there last year.

5. Denny Hamlin  “Hit or Miss” Hamlin was a hit on Sunday, despite falling short in the end due to miscommunication with the crew chief. Hamlin’s last six races: Three top 5s, three finishes of 25th or worse.

6. Brad Keselowski  May deserve to be higher on the list, as BK and the boys appear to be gaining steam — which says something since they’re already weekly contenders.

7. Kasey Kahne  Was Sunday’s win what we’ll look back on as his Chase-clinching run? Impossible to say, but suddenly, the heat is turned up on about five drivers clawing for a wild card slot in the Chase.
 
8. Greg Biffle  His ninth-place finish in New Hampshire led the Roush Fenway contingent — odd in that the “Fenway” in the race team’s name is the same associated with a certain New England sports franchise.

"Hey Martin, I hear Carl has some badass new crew chief." (ASP, Inc.)

9. Clint Bowyer  Back on track to the tune of a third-place run at Loudon after two hangover-esque weekends that proceded the Sonoma victory.

10. Jeff Gordon  Gordon and crew chief Alan Gustafson are obviously going all-out for wins at this point, which explains his frustration after finishing a respectable sixth in Loudon. Those wins are now imperative.

11. Kevin Harvick  Harvick’s eighth in Loudon was his best showing in over a month. A win would cinch things for him.

12. Martin Truex Jr.  Has 50 points on 11th-place Carl Edwards. And at this rate — without a win — he’ll need ’em.

13. Ryan Newman  Baby news for the second straight week: Ryan and Krissie welcomed Ashlyn Olivia on Monday.

14. Joey Logano  Currently in a log jam with Newman and Kyle Busch for that second Chase wild card spot.

15. Kyle Busch  Maybe if he went back to racing three times a weekend ... ?

Just off the lead pack: Marcos Ambrose, Carl Edwards, Mark Martin, Jamie McMurray, Paul Menard

by Matt Taliaferro
Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattTaliaferro