The NASCAR Sprint Cup 2008 season is now 5 weeks old and will now finally go on this years drivers/owners points for the reaminder of the season. With the Easter weekend break let’s take a look at the driver points heading into Martinsville.
1—-Kyle Busch 782 1-pole, 1-win, 3-Top 5’s, 3-Top 10’s
2—-Greg Biffle -30, 3-Top5’s, 4-Top 10’s
3—-Kevin Harvick -33, 2-Top 5’s, 4-Top 10’s
4—-Jeff Burton -37 +1, 1-Win, 2-Top 5’s, 4-Top 10’s
5—-Dale Jr, -96, +1, 3-Top 5’s, 4-Top 10’s
6—-Kasey Kahne -108, +1, 4-Top 10’s
7—-Tony Stewart -126, +1, 2-Top 5’s, 3-Top 10’s
8—-Ryan Newman -147, -4, 1-win, 1-Top 5, 2-Top 10’s
9—-Clint Bowyer -176, +7, 1-Top 5, Top 10’s
10—Kurt Busch -177, 1-Top 5, 1-Top 10
11—Matt Kenseth -178, 1-Top 5, 3-Top 10’s
12—Martin Truex Jr -187, 1-Top 10
13—Jimmie Johnson -201, 1-pole, 1-Top 5, 1-Top 10
14—Jeff Gordon -208, +1, 1-pole, 2-Top 5’s, 2-Top 10’s
15—Denny Hamlin -214, +4, 2-Top 10’s
16—Carl Edwards -234, +1, 2-wins, 2-Top 5’s, 2-Top 10’s, (docked 100 points)
17—Brian Vickers -245, -8, 1-Top 10
18—Bobby Labonte -271, -4,
19—Juan Montoya -273, +4
20—Elliott Sadler -274, 1-Top 10
21—David Ragan -284, 1-Top 10
22—David Gilliland -292, +6, 1-Top 10
23—Robby Gordon -307, +1, 1-Top 10
24—Scott Riggs -316, +2,
25—Reed Sorenson -321, -3, 1-Top 5, 1-Top 10
26—David Reutimann -321, +1,
27—Paul Menard -333, -2,
28—Travis Kvapil -354, +1, 1-Top 10
29—Mark Martin -361 -11, 1-Top 10
30—Michael Waltrip -380, +3,
32—Jeremy Mayfield -408, +2,
33—Casey Mears -414, -3,
34—Dale Jarrett -415, -2,
35—Sam Hornish Jr -426, +1
36—Jamie McMurray -430, -5,
37—Dave Blaney -448
38—Dario Franchitti -463
39—Regan Smith -465
40—Kyle Petty -486
41—Joe Nemechek -568
42—Mike Skinner -584
43—Aric Almirola -640, 1-Top 10 (1-start)
The biggest surprises this season so far as been the performance of the Toyota’s and the Dodge’s. I am not surprised about the Toyota performance and I predicted they would be running up front this season. I am surprised about the overall Dodge performance. Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman have done better than expected as has Robby Gordon who made the move from Ford to Dodge when I am still questioning why. RCR has started strong once again, but look for Harvick and Burton to fade as usual by the Chase. DEI is toast for the 2008 season, Truex is in 12th at the moment but I think it is going to be hard for them to stay in that position. With Mark Martin running only a limited schedule, and with mediocre drivers Paul Menard and Regan Smith it is going to be a long year. HMS is struggling on a whole with the exception of Dale Jr, and his crew chief will kill him before the end of the season. Ganassi will continue to struggle, GEM is overall not very good and somehow Kasey Kahne has managed to run decent. MWR’s best driver just retired nad he was running very mediocre equipment, and with his current drivers and equipment I think they will have a hard time staying in the Top 35. Dave Blaney has struggled this season which I didn’t expect, and HAAS is running about where they were last year, however I would take Scott Riggs and Jeremy Mayfield over Johnny Sauter and Jeff Green anytime. The Wood Brothers are in trouble. Joe Nemechek has missed some races, and ken Schrader had a great run going at Bristol in the underfunded BAM Dodge. Jamie McMurray is struggling once again and how long will Roush stay with him? Sam Hornish Jr, is still in the Top 35, but for how long? I love Kyle Petty has a person, but the time as come for retirement. Looking forward to the next race.

sportingnews.com