While most expect Jimmie Johnson to either claim his 6th straight title, or someone like Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, or Kyle Busch to upset his apple cart, there is a 27 year old from Rochester Hill, Michigan who has his own agenda. Brad Keselowski has been nothing short of amazing over the past ten events, winning a pair and adding an additional five Top Fives to his resume. In fact, he has been in the top dozen of each of those races with the lone exception being his 20th place result at Dover to average 39.9 points per race. It is one of the most impressive streaks of the season, and couldn’t come at a better time. Well, better for him, though not so much for the opposition.
[media-credit name=”Kirk Schroll” align=”alignright” width=”218″]
[/media-credit]The only good news for the rest is that when it comes to Charlotte, his best finish there was 12th two years ago, with an average over four starts of almost 20th. Saturday night should give us an idea as to whether Keselowski is a true contender for the title or just a hot pretender.
Here is a look at our hot 20 (and Denny Hamlin) over the past ten events…
Pos (LW) – Driver – Pts/10 races – (W-T5-T10)
1 (1) Brad Keselowski – 399 pts – (2-7-8)
Is he peaking or just warming up?
2 (4) Jimmie Johnson – 370 pts – (1-6-8)
Just great. It was tough enough to catch him when he wasn’t winning.
3 (5) Carl Edwards – 354 pts – (0-5-8)
Continues to turn crap into roses.
4 (3) Kyle Busch – 353 pts – (1-3-5)
Wins 30% of truck races, over 20% in Nationwide, less than 10% in Cup.
5 (2) Jeff Gordon – 347 pts – (1-4-6)
If win #1 came at Charlotte, why not #86?
6 (6) Kevin Harvick – 345 pts – (1-2-6)
Expect him to be running at the end Saturday, but in what place is anybody’s guess.
7 (7) Matt Kenseth – 333 pts – (0-2-6)
As long as Fluidmaster remains the sponsor, and not what lies under the car, things could go well.
8 (8) Tony Stewart – 321 pts – (2-3-5)
Hey, Danica can be a tough interview, too, just much easier to look at.
9 (9) Ryan Newman – 308 pts – (0-2-5)
Has all sorts of luck, but it just keeps biting him in the ass.
10 (10) Kurt Busch – 306 pts – (1-4-5)
Things are starting to Addington up.
11 (12) Dale Earnhardt Jr – 293 pts – (0-1-2)
Since he has last won, Jimmie has claimed 21. Just saying…
12 (11) A.J. Allmendinger – 291 pts – (0-0-2)
Last victory was 5 years ago, beating 16 other guys while driving a Champ car.
13 (17) Jeff Burton – 281 pts – (0-0-1)
Tip: Paint it Caterpillar yellow, jack weight to 50 tons, add tracks and dozer, then do your worst.
14 (22) Marcos Ambrose – 277 pts – (1-1-4)
We got Ambrose by trading D.W. to Australia…but he came back.
15 (15) Clint Bowyer – 274 pts – (0-0-4)
Soon to be driving for the best owner ever in NASCAR…and it’s worst ever driver?
16 (14) Mark Martin – 273 pts – (0-1-4)
Old man Martin, that old man Martin, he must know something, but don’t say nothing
17 (23) Kasey Kahne – 266 pts – (0-2-3)
Could he turn out to be a spoiler for his future mates at Hendrick?
18 (19) Greg Biffle – 266 pts – (0-1-3)
Needed more speed at Kansas, but unfortunately found it on pit road
19 (13) Martin Truex Jr – 264 pts – (0-2-2)
Driving the Cup race while 19-year old brother competes in Friday’s Nationwide event.
20 (21) Juan Pablo Montoya – 261 pts – (0-0-2)
Hell, I hear even a blind man can drive around Charlotte.
25 (27) Denny Hamlin – 239 pts – (0-0-3)
What #$%&*! Chase?
