So, who is the hottest driver thus far this season? Well, that would be 20-year old Trevor Bayne. The kid wins the Daytona 500 his first time out, but he is slated to be a Nationwide driver this season, so he got the win but no points. Is that fair? Is it fair to have Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski the junior series champs these past five years? No, so let the young man and those like him have a shot at attaining glory amongst their peers before reaching for the brass ring. Of course, one of them already has one sitting in his pocket.
As for the hottest driver over the past ten events run in Cup, that would remain five-time champ Jimmie Johnson. As they move on to Phoenix for this Sunday’s event, each driver would need to match his efforts of ten races ago, in Dover, to maintain their pace. For Johnson, that would mean winning.
Pos – Driver – Points – (Pts at Dover in Sept)
1 (1) Jimmie Johnson 385 pts (48 at Dover)
“I am the champion, my friends, and I’ll keep on fighting til the end.”
2 (3) Denny Hamlin -25 (35 at Dover)
Always a Chaser, never a Champ.
3 (2) Kevin Harvick -34 (29 at Dover)
Had one of the best damn engines out there…for 20 laps.
4 (5) Mark Martin -36 (32 at Dover)
Has a decent start to his final year with Hendrick
5 (4) Carl Edwards -39 (40 at Dover)
With Bayne still in diapers, it is Cousin Carl who leads the standings
6 (6) Joey Logano -59 (42 at Dover)
Now has company at the kiddie’s table
7 (7) Matt Kenseth -82 (29 at Dover)
Not miffed that he got Biffed at Daytona
8 (11) Tony Stewart -89 (23 at Dover)
Where, oh where, can his Junior be?
9 (9) Jamie McMurray -92 (31 at Dover)
Eight cylinders beat seven every time.
10 (14) Paul Menard -95 (37 at Dover)
Daddy has some money, Sonny has some momentum
11 (12) A.J. Allmendinger -97 (36 at Dover)
Sitting in a car fit for a King.
12 (9) Ryan Newman -104 (36 at Dover)
Adequate start, unfortunate Daytona finish
13 (10) Greg Biffle -111 (25 at Dover)
Daytona? He thought it was Demo Derby.
14 (16) Kurt Busch -111 (41 at Dover)
Brother, where art thou?
15 (15) Kyle Busch -116 (39 at Dover)
The driver was stable, the car was not.
16 (18) Juan Pablo Montoya -116 (30 at Dover)
The march to the top has begun.
17 (17) Clint Bowyer -121 (19 at Dover)
Second in the Nationwide race, no points. Knows how Bayne feels.
18 (13) Jeff Gordon -128 (33 at Dover)
Winning five titles apparently aint easy.
19 (19) David Ragan -131 (20 at Dover)
When you re-start to the right, you need to stay to the right
20 (20) Regan Smith -132 (18 at Dover)
The folks at Furniture Row are riding their own Rocky Mountain high.
Race Talk Radio’s Dennis Michelsen and Lori Munro host a weekly poll of the top 20 drivers, as selected by pundits that include yours truly, Bob Dillner, Monte Dutton, Tom Bowles and a host of others. Check it out at racetalkradio.com
