Those who are on top are not hot. Well, Denny Hamlin has not been. In fact, he has been downright frigid, at least until the last couple of weeks. Win one and finish second in the other, and all of a sudden one’s prospects begin to pick up.
Win a race but have an illegal car, and the prospects head the other direction. Clint Bowyer lost 150 points, his crew chief, and his car chief as the car failed to pass post-race inspection coming out of New Hampshire. He tumbles to 12th in the Chase and from second to a tie for ninth on our charts. Sometimes when you leave Kansas you wind up in Oz, or the one with ruby red slippers under a house.
Carl Edwards is the current belle of the ball, but has anybody noticed Juan Pablo Montoya recently? The Columbian might have missed a place in the Chase but, along with Jamie McMurray, might be in line to make as much news as the title contenders before they close the season.
Here is a look at the hot 20 drivers over the past 10 events…
*Those in bold blue are Chasers.
1 (1) Carl Edwards – 1542 pts – 5 Top Fives, 8 Top Tens
Is the Cup trophy bigger than the Nationwide one he already has on the shelf?
2 (7) Juan Pablo Montoya – 1395 pts – 1 Win, 1 Top Five, 5 Top Tens
Chase? I don’t need no stinkin’ Chase.
3 (3) Kevin Harvick – 1389 pts – 2 Wins, 5 Top Fives, 6 Top Tens
You notice how Delana looks hotter in her firesuit?
4 (2) Tony Stewart – 1355 pts – 1 Win, 3 Top Fives, 6 Top Tens
Well, he was good to the last drop.
5 (5) Jeff Burton – 1349 pts – 3 Top Fives, 5 Top Tens
Like Stewart, Burton was driving a chitty-chitty-cough-cough
6 (6) Jeff Gordon – 1346 pts – 2 Top Fives, 6 Top Tens
Figures Junior had his car, and Mark Martin got Junior’s at Loudon.
7 (9) Jamie McMurray – 1321 pts – 1 Win, 4 Top Fives, 5 Top Tens
After Daytona and Indianapolis, is Jamie just marking time until Talladega?
8 (8) Kyle Busch – 1305 pts – 1 Win, 3 Top Fives, 5 Top Tens
How can a 25 year old with 80 NASCAR wins not be considered a contender?
9 (4) Clint Bowyer – 1262 pts – 1 Win, 4 Top Fives, 6 Top Tens
Clint, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas any more.
9 (11) David Reutimann – 1262 pts – 1 Win, 2 Top Fives, 3 Top Tens
It truly is becoming a dream machine.
11 (10) Matt Kenseth – 1236 pts – 1 Top Five, 2 Top Tens
Has not yet begun to fight. I mean, he couldn’t have.
12 (13) Ryan Newman – 1216 pts – 3 Top Tens
Unlike his boss, he remembered the most important ingredient of an internal combustion engine.
13 (16) Denny Hamlin – 1208 pts – 1 Win, 4 Top Fives, 5 Top Tens
Knows the secret of the Chase is to have everyone chasing you.
14 (17) Kasey Kahne – 1207 pts – 2 Top Fives, 3 Top Tens
If driving a Hendrick car is heaven, does that mean he’ll be in purgatory next season?
15 (14) Kurt Busch – 1173 pts – 1 Top Five, 5 Top Tens
Discovered what happens when they play tag during a race.
16 (15) Greg Biffle – 1163 pts – 1 Win, 3 Top Fives, 5 Top Tens
The Biff beat Matt in New Hampshire, but Roush hopes ride with Carl.
17 (12) Jimmie Johnson – 1131 pts – 2 Top Fives, 3 Top Tens
I’m afraid if I look into my toilet, I’ll see Jimmie.
18 (19) Martin Truex Jr – 1115 pts – 2 Top Tens
Who thought the star of this team would be Reutimann?
19 (18) A.J. Allmendinger – 1097 pts – 1 Top Five, 2 Top Tens
We would change his name to Pettydinger if we thought it would help.
20 (23) Dale Earnhardt Jr – 1051 pts – 2 Top Fives, 2 Top Tens
Remember when a mere top five for Junior was a disappointment?
