1. Mark Martin  You have to figure Martin doesn’t mind that half the media have already anointed Johnson the 2009 champ. Lest we not forget that Mark is averaging a 1.5-place finish so far in this young — very young — Chase.

2. Jimmie Johnson  That said, the 48 team’s Chase performance is like clockwork.

3. Denny Hamlin  Only thing missing from his 22nd-place run at Dover was a tiff with Kyle Petty in the garage.

4. Jeff Gordon  A 122-point hole is not insurmountable, but will Martin and/or Johnson falter enough for "Four Time" to make it up?

5. Juan Pablo Montoya  What’s so amazing is that JPM’s history at a track is irrelevant at this point — he’s a threat every single week, regardless.

6. Tony Stewart  “Sorry Joey. Here, have a Whopper … the grease helps with hangovers, maybe it’ll do the same for that next-morning crash headache.”

7. Kurt Busch  I’d be on the bandwagon if not for that damned lame-duck crew chief deal.

8. Ryan Newman  Might Newman outlast instead of outplay? It could happen, but if that's the case, this group gets no mulligans.

9. Brian Vickers  Did they expend all their energy just getting here?

10. Greg Biffle  Whether Johnson’s tire test at Dover helped him win or not, it doesn’t change the fact that you finished 13th.

11. Kasey Kahne  The sponsor now hails from Belgium and the owner may soon hail from Saudi Arabia; wouldn’t Montoya make more sense as the driver?

12. Kyle Busch  Loudon and Dover performances are the 18 team’s season in a nutshell.

13. Carl Edwards  Here’s where they’re at: Carl’s 11th at Dover was his best run since a fourth at Michigan in mid-August.

14. Clint Bowyer  You have to wonder if Jack Daniel’s would be on its way out had Bowyer remained in the 07 car.

15. Kevin Harvick  Waiting anxiously for video of Harvick’s next prank via Twitter.

Just off the lead pack: Marcos Ambrose, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Casey Mears, David Reutimann.

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