Post by labontefanboy on Nov 17, 2013 14:29:09 GMT -5
2007 Nextel Cup Power Rankings
***All rankings are solely my predictions and any correlation to the results of the 2007 season that has not been started are will be purely coincidental.
45. #02 Ward Burton - Only 15 races scheduled for the vet, but should post decent results when he races.
44. #74 Derrike Cope - Full time this year for the '90 Daytona 500 champ. Most likely will DNQ at nearly half of the events with the level of competition this season.
43. #92 Ken Schrader - Only 28 races scheduled for Kenny this year with Front Row Motorsports. No sponsor but owner Jenkins has the funds that will keep this team alive at a minimum.
42. #09 Denny Hamlin - Former JGR development driver goes full-time with James Finch's single car team. Weak funding plus inexperienced driver plus subpar equipment equals a lack of success.
41. #45 Kyle Petty - Kyle's days of competitiveness are long gone. Expect him to continue to struggle to make races as his career winds down.
40. #22 Aric Almirola - Another former JGR driver leaves a top notch team for a low level also-ran. Expectations should not be high for the 22 team, though they could surprise us occasionally.
39. #1 Paul Menard - Busch Series tenure was not spectacular. Given the lack of top 35 standings, qualifying for races early on will be the telltale sign of his success.
38. #40 David Stremme - Can't have a sophomore slump considering how dismal his rookie season was. Nowhere to go but up. Hopefully.
37. #4 Mike Wallace - McClure team merges with BAM. Still nowhere near the mid 1990s glory for the 4 team, unfortunately.
36. #41 Reed Sorenson - See David Stremme.
35. #43 Dave Blaney - Famed #43 car likely won't see any more success than it did last season. Blaney's a wheelman, but won't be the guy taking it back to Victory Lane.
34. #00 Kenny Wallace - Top Toyota team should help Kenny consistently qualify. When he did make the show last year he didn't run too badly, with 3 top 10s in 15 starts.
33. #91 Scott Riggs - Riggs takes his unused potential to Evernham, leaving behind MB2. Evernham equipment likely won't take him too that success he was supposed to find.
32. #34 Bobby Hamilton Jr. - Can Braun Racing finally find success in the Cup Series after merging with CEM? They essentially bought the team's points but left the driver and crew that found modest success in '06 in place.
31. #19 Jason Leffler - Quietly led Evernham with a 23rd place points finish last season, but benefited greatly from good luck. Take away that good luck and he didn't run very well.
30. #78 Johnny Sauter - After toiling with Phoenix Racing for 2 years Sauter returns full-time. MB2 may give him the best chance for success and be most patient with him.
29. #42 Jamie McMurray - Two abysmal seasons have left many wondering if the excellent 2004 season was a fluke for McMurray. Time is running out for him to prove his worth in the Cup Series.
28. #9 Kasey Kahne - Another driver whose results have tanked since '04. Kahne was a rookie then but came back to earth in a bad way the last two seasons. Is he anything special or was it just beginner's luck?
27. #15 Martin Truex Jr. - Dale Jr.'s reported interest in an open seat at RCR may leave him as top dog at an uncompetitive DEI if/when the announcement is made during the season.
26. #55 Michael Waltrip - Mikey brings his baby to the Cup Series, headlining the list of Toyota drivers. The company will give him all the support necessary to run well, but it may not be enough.
25. #0 Mike Bliss - Stunning 2005 victory at Richmond likely won't be replicated in 2007 just like it wasn't replicated in 2006.
24. #18 Bobby Labonte - Wheels have fallen off the track since a midseason slide in '05 dropped him well out of Chase contention. Smoke has taken over at JGR.
23. #21 Jon Wood - Wood Brothers could be rejuvenated with the solid grandson behind the wheel. Having Roush Racing's owner points doesn't hurt either.
22. #11 J.J. Yeley - Very underwhelming rookie season. Didn't give any indications of significant improvement or decline for 2007.
21. #7 Robby Gordon - Upset victory at Sonoma launched team into a solid second half of the season. Could very well be the strongest Toyota team, but needs a sponsor.
20. #01 Joe Nemechek - Front Row Joe couldn't replicate his 2005 Chase season. 1 out of 3 in Chase attempts thus far. This will be the year to prove the MB2 is legit.
19. #8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Family tensions and off-track contract situation will likely dominate the headlines this season. And probably Little E's on track product, too.
18. #25 Brian Vickers - Make or break year. With Hendrick power under the hood, it's time for Vickers to prove he is a legitimate contender for the Chase.
17. #5 Kyle Busch - Will he ever be able to match big brother Kurt's success? Winning his first career race will have to come first. It needs to happen early this season.
16. #6 Todd Kluever - Favorite for Rookie of the Year already. Showed remarkable poise in limited action in '06, will likely steal a victory at some point.
15. #2 Casey Mears - Incredibly consistent year put him in the Chase. Unfortunately, the lack of top 5s eliminated his championship aspirations. He'll need to get a victory this year or Miller Lite will be pressuring Penske big-time.
14. #07 Clint Bowyer - Solid rookie season, winning at a plate track and a road course. Expect Bowyer to continue to develop and prepare for a Chase run in '08.
13. #38 Elliott Sadler - Will late season letdown and missed championship opportunity crush the 38 team's spirits? They say it won't affect them, but we're not convinced.
2007 Chase
12. #88 Jeremy Mayfield - Bud Shootout winner showed ability with a part-time RCR ride and earned his ride at Yates. He'll be the surprise among Chase drivers.
11. #77 Travis Kvapil - Came out of nowhere to contend for the championship. A repeat may be asking too much, but Kvapil is too talented to miss the Chase with Penske power.
10. #99 Carl Edwards - It's time for Cousin Carl to make the leap into the Chase. Two solid seasons have passed with a victory each year, but this could be the breakout season.
9. #20 Tony Stewart - Letdown season after missed championship may have been the harshest reality check ever. JGR is struggling, but Smoke is too good to miss the Chase again.
8. #31 Jeff Burton - Only RCR driver in a contract season. Despite his great success last season he may be shown the door in order to make room for Little E. That situation will almost certainly be a distraction.
7. #33 Kurt Busch - Two missed Chases after winning the title in '04. With a new team and a high-profile sponsor, Kurt will be back.
6. #17 Matt Kenseth - Most consistent driver on the circuit will have another successful season. He's too good to go winless again, but almost certainly will not be the guy to post 7 or 8 wins.
5. #12 Ryan Newman - Disappointing follow up to solid '05 campaign, but Rocket Man has gotten into better shape and appears to be serious about contending for the championship once again.
4. #29 Kevin Harvick - UPS is the new sponsor, but no, he will not race the truck. He could be headed for a big year, however, after having a disappointing finish to '06.
3. #16 Greg Biffle - Defending champ has all the necessary tools in place for a repeat, but there is too much competition to expect it. He'll certainly not go down without putting up a solid fight though.
2. #24 Jeff Gordon - Drive for Five continues on. A solid year in '06 has him primed to return with a vengeance in '07. Unfortunately for Jeff, we think he falls just short.
1. #48 Jimmie Johnson - This guy is just too doggone good to not ever win a title. We think this year will be the one. Chad Knaus and co are purportedly still steaming after missing big-time on the setup in the finale at Homestead last year.
***All rankings are solely my predictions and any correlation to the results of the 2007 season that has not been started are will be purely coincidental.
45. #02 Ward Burton - Only 15 races scheduled for the vet, but should post decent results when he races.
44. #74 Derrike Cope - Full time this year for the '90 Daytona 500 champ. Most likely will DNQ at nearly half of the events with the level of competition this season.
43. #92 Ken Schrader - Only 28 races scheduled for Kenny this year with Front Row Motorsports. No sponsor but owner Jenkins has the funds that will keep this team alive at a minimum.
42. #09 Denny Hamlin - Former JGR development driver goes full-time with James Finch's single car team. Weak funding plus inexperienced driver plus subpar equipment equals a lack of success.
41. #45 Kyle Petty - Kyle's days of competitiveness are long gone. Expect him to continue to struggle to make races as his career winds down.
40. #22 Aric Almirola - Another former JGR driver leaves a top notch team for a low level also-ran. Expectations should not be high for the 22 team, though they could surprise us occasionally.
39. #1 Paul Menard - Busch Series tenure was not spectacular. Given the lack of top 35 standings, qualifying for races early on will be the telltale sign of his success.
38. #40 David Stremme - Can't have a sophomore slump considering how dismal his rookie season was. Nowhere to go but up. Hopefully.
37. #4 Mike Wallace - McClure team merges with BAM. Still nowhere near the mid 1990s glory for the 4 team, unfortunately.
36. #41 Reed Sorenson - See David Stremme.
35. #43 Dave Blaney - Famed #43 car likely won't see any more success than it did last season. Blaney's a wheelman, but won't be the guy taking it back to Victory Lane.
34. #00 Kenny Wallace - Top Toyota team should help Kenny consistently qualify. When he did make the show last year he didn't run too badly, with 3 top 10s in 15 starts.
33. #91 Scott Riggs - Riggs takes his unused potential to Evernham, leaving behind MB2. Evernham equipment likely won't take him too that success he was supposed to find.
32. #34 Bobby Hamilton Jr. - Can Braun Racing finally find success in the Cup Series after merging with CEM? They essentially bought the team's points but left the driver and crew that found modest success in '06 in place.
31. #19 Jason Leffler - Quietly led Evernham with a 23rd place points finish last season, but benefited greatly from good luck. Take away that good luck and he didn't run very well.
30. #78 Johnny Sauter - After toiling with Phoenix Racing for 2 years Sauter returns full-time. MB2 may give him the best chance for success and be most patient with him.
29. #42 Jamie McMurray - Two abysmal seasons have left many wondering if the excellent 2004 season was a fluke for McMurray. Time is running out for him to prove his worth in the Cup Series.
28. #9 Kasey Kahne - Another driver whose results have tanked since '04. Kahne was a rookie then but came back to earth in a bad way the last two seasons. Is he anything special or was it just beginner's luck?
27. #15 Martin Truex Jr. - Dale Jr.'s reported interest in an open seat at RCR may leave him as top dog at an uncompetitive DEI if/when the announcement is made during the season.
26. #55 Michael Waltrip - Mikey brings his baby to the Cup Series, headlining the list of Toyota drivers. The company will give him all the support necessary to run well, but it may not be enough.
25. #0 Mike Bliss - Stunning 2005 victory at Richmond likely won't be replicated in 2007 just like it wasn't replicated in 2006.
24. #18 Bobby Labonte - Wheels have fallen off the track since a midseason slide in '05 dropped him well out of Chase contention. Smoke has taken over at JGR.
23. #21 Jon Wood - Wood Brothers could be rejuvenated with the solid grandson behind the wheel. Having Roush Racing's owner points doesn't hurt either.
22. #11 J.J. Yeley - Very underwhelming rookie season. Didn't give any indications of significant improvement or decline for 2007.
21. #7 Robby Gordon - Upset victory at Sonoma launched team into a solid second half of the season. Could very well be the strongest Toyota team, but needs a sponsor.
20. #01 Joe Nemechek - Front Row Joe couldn't replicate his 2005 Chase season. 1 out of 3 in Chase attempts thus far. This will be the year to prove the MB2 is legit.
19. #8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. - Family tensions and off-track contract situation will likely dominate the headlines this season. And probably Little E's on track product, too.
18. #25 Brian Vickers - Make or break year. With Hendrick power under the hood, it's time for Vickers to prove he is a legitimate contender for the Chase.
17. #5 Kyle Busch - Will he ever be able to match big brother Kurt's success? Winning his first career race will have to come first. It needs to happen early this season.
16. #6 Todd Kluever - Favorite for Rookie of the Year already. Showed remarkable poise in limited action in '06, will likely steal a victory at some point.
15. #2 Casey Mears - Incredibly consistent year put him in the Chase. Unfortunately, the lack of top 5s eliminated his championship aspirations. He'll need to get a victory this year or Miller Lite will be pressuring Penske big-time.
14. #07 Clint Bowyer - Solid rookie season, winning at a plate track and a road course. Expect Bowyer to continue to develop and prepare for a Chase run in '08.
13. #38 Elliott Sadler - Will late season letdown and missed championship opportunity crush the 38 team's spirits? They say it won't affect them, but we're not convinced.
2007 Chase
12. #88 Jeremy Mayfield - Bud Shootout winner showed ability with a part-time RCR ride and earned his ride at Yates. He'll be the surprise among Chase drivers.
11. #77 Travis Kvapil - Came out of nowhere to contend for the championship. A repeat may be asking too much, but Kvapil is too talented to miss the Chase with Penske power.
10. #99 Carl Edwards - It's time for Cousin Carl to make the leap into the Chase. Two solid seasons have passed with a victory each year, but this could be the breakout season.
9. #20 Tony Stewart - Letdown season after missed championship may have been the harshest reality check ever. JGR is struggling, but Smoke is too good to miss the Chase again.
8. #31 Jeff Burton - Only RCR driver in a contract season. Despite his great success last season he may be shown the door in order to make room for Little E. That situation will almost certainly be a distraction.
7. #33 Kurt Busch - Two missed Chases after winning the title in '04. With a new team and a high-profile sponsor, Kurt will be back.
6. #17 Matt Kenseth - Most consistent driver on the circuit will have another successful season. He's too good to go winless again, but almost certainly will not be the guy to post 7 or 8 wins.
5. #12 Ryan Newman - Disappointing follow up to solid '05 campaign, but Rocket Man has gotten into better shape and appears to be serious about contending for the championship once again.
4. #29 Kevin Harvick - UPS is the new sponsor, but no, he will not race the truck. He could be headed for a big year, however, after having a disappointing finish to '06.
3. #16 Greg Biffle - Defending champ has all the necessary tools in place for a repeat, but there is too much competition to expect it. He'll certainly not go down without putting up a solid fight though.
2. #24 Jeff Gordon - Drive for Five continues on. A solid year in '06 has him primed to return with a vengeance in '07. Unfortunately for Jeff, we think he falls just short.
1. #48 Jimmie Johnson - This guy is just too doggone good to not ever win a title. We think this year will be the one. Chad Knaus and co are purportedly still steaming after missing big-time on the setup in the finale at Homestead last year.