2. Mark Martin  Of course someone just barely nicked his bumper just 200 yards for the finish line … this is Mark Martin, after all.

3. Jeff Gordon  Quote of the weekend: “At least we were able to run out of gas in time [so] we could get to the pits, get back out on the track and destroy our car.”

4. Juan Pablo Montoya  Lost another 39 points to Johnson even after running 20-some positions better than him all day. Until the money was on the line, of course.

5. Tony Stewart  I’m still not sure Newman’s wreck was Stewart’s fault. We’ll call that inaccurate broadcasting.

6. Denny Hamlin  If this bunch could build an engine that lasted 500 miles Denny might be leading the point standings right now.

7. Kasey Kahne  “Ford decals? My runner-up car don’t need no stinkin’ Ford decals!”

8. Ryan Newman  Glad to see he walked away from that one.

9. Kurt Busch  His new teammate was said to be at the heart of Kurt’s wreck in the tri-oval. Kurt vs. Kes … wonder who’d win the battle of the string beans?

10. Matt Kenseth  It’s bound to get better, Matt … Texas is up next!

11. Greg Biffle  Bad pit stop and all, Biff and the boys survive for a fourth-place finish at Talladega.

12. Kyle Busch  I bet he was a real pleasant guy to be around after that race on Sunday. And yes, I say that with every ounce of sarcasm in my body.

13. Clint Bowyer  Crashes in practice, crew works like mad to get car repaired, survives Sunday mayhem for a 12th-place run. All-in-all, not bad. Or maybe it could’ve been a lot worse … it’s hard to tell at Talladega.

14. Carl Edwards  A 14th in your seat is better than a 24th on your feet, right Carl?

15. Brian Vickers  Sorry Sherriff, but I’m fingering you as the guilty party in the last-lap melee. I think Brad’s bad rep burned him this time.

Just off the lead pack: Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Casey Mears, Bobby Labonte.