Horsepower Rankings: Talladega

1. Kyle Busch 

2. Jeff Burton  Despite last lap melee, JB notches a 12th at Talladega. That keeps the top-15 streak alive at nine races in 2008. Going back to ‘07, it’s 15 in a row.

3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.  He’s taking a lot of heat for not winning yet, but no one cares to mention that Junior and the boys are leading the circuit with seven top 10s. Popularity is a double-edged sword.

4. Denny Hamlin  Fourth on the list may be low for Denny. He hasn’t finished worse than sixth in the last five events and a win at Richmond is certainly a possibility. Kid has averaged a 6.5-place finish there.

5. Carl Edwards  Still in our top 5 despite the poor showing in Alabama, which is not unusual for this bunch. Don’t fret Carl, Darlington and Lowe’s are right around the corner.

6. Clint Bowyer  Like Burton and Junior, Bowyer has a streak of his own going. With his ninth-place showing at ‘Dega, he now has five top 10s in a row.

7. Tony Stewart  The best car doesn’t always make the trip to Victory Lane. Such was the case of Tony at Talladega. Again.

8. Jimmie Johnson  Top-5 streak ends at three races after last-lap crash at Talladega. Even still, he came home a respectable 13th after hooking up with Michael Waltrip late and giving it a go.

9. Kevin Harvick  Burned late in the going two races in a row now. This team is stronger than the results are showing at the moment. Still, a dip in production from the 29 usually lasts a month or so before they get it turned around.

10. Ryan Newman  Had the engine not gone sour at Phoenix, Newman and crew would most likely have three straight top 10s to their credit.

11. Jeff Gordon  Typically the punter and not the punted, Gordon had a top 5 sown up at Talladega until he was booted out of the draft at the end. How often does that happen?!

12. Greg Biffle  Biffle isn’t a plate racer and it showed last weekend. Was this team a flash in the pan or do they have the moxy to go Chasin’?

13. Casey Mears  As Stewart explores options, Mears turns up the performance level. His seventh at Talladega was the third top-12 run in the last four races.

14. Juan Pablo Montoya  Ranks just above Kevin Lepage on the popularity scale with fellow drivers following Talladega.

15. Brian Vickers  Big top 5 for Vickers and his Red Bull team after a month’s worth of down races. Anyone notice he’s sitting just 35 points out of 12th in the standings?

Just off the lead pack: Martin Truex Jr., Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and David Gilliland.