1. Kyle Busch  Who saw that one coming? Once Kyle took the lead at Infineon he was gone. He’s now won on an intermediate, plate and road course in 2008.

2. Carl Edwards  Make it 10 top 10s in his last 11 races. It’s really hard to top that — unless you’re Kyle Busch, of course.

3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.  Holding serve. Junior salvages a respectable 12th-place run at a place he really doesn’t like.

4. Jeff Burton  Another top 15? Of course. Make it 22 straight for the points runner-up.

5. Kasey Kahne  The pole win at Infineon was a pleasant surprise. The tumble through the field wasn’t. Kahne’s just not a road racer yet, regardless of what Boris says.

6. Matt Kenseth  Kenseth isn’t a road ace either, but credit him for a smooth eighth-place finish in Sonoma.

7. Jimmie Johnson  JJ and the boys got burned about midway through the race at Infineon but managed to work themselves back up and into the top 15 by race’s end.

8. Greg Biffle  Best run you didn’t see. Biffle hung tough all day and brought her home 11th.

9. Jeff Gordon  Gordon was simply amazing at Infineon. He turned absolute junk into a third-place finish. That’s why he’s about the best there is, folks.

10. Tony Stewart  Stewart had a top 3 wrapped up until he got spun. Then he blasted through the field in five laps for an improbable 10th-place finish.

11. Brian Vickers  Anyone notice Vickers’ quiet 14th-place showing at Infineon? This team is a legit contender these days.

12. Denny Hamlin  Rough outing for Denny at Infineon. He’ll be back at Loudon.

13. Kevin Harvick  “Bonzai” Harvick not the most popular driver in the garage after Sunday’s kamakaze run into Turn 4.

14. David Ragan  Still learning this road course thing. He’s a short-track ace, after all.

15. Martin Truex Jr.  Fantasy tip: Keep an eye on this bunch at Loudon.

Just off the lead pack:  Clint Bowyer, David Gilliland, Travis Kvapil, Mark Martin, Casey Mears

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