NASCAR Top 10 Power Rankings: Week 5

The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Jimmie Johnson — Johnson retains the top spot, in the power rankings and the points standings, by virtue of his sixth-place finish at Bristol.

"A top-10 finish is what we reasonably expected in Bristol," adds Johnson. "I'm not complaining. We also got five bonus points for leading one lap of the race, and, as another bonus, I triggered a crash that knocked my chief rival, Kurt Busch, out of the race. Sorry about that, Kurt."

"Also, my apologies to Jeff Burton, for spinning you into Busch. You were driving that No. 31 Cingular Wireless orange car, so, naturally, I thought you were that jerk Robbie Gordon. I figured everybody would be happy if I took him out. These driver changes confuse me. Again, sorry about that, J.B. I guess now I have to be on the lookout for you, your brother Ward, and the rest of the South Boston posse wanting to open up a can of 10W-40 whoop ass on me."

Always remember, Jimmy, don't fear the reaper, but fear the Burtons.

With top-10 finishes in every race this year, and four top five's, Johnson certainly looks like the man to beat. And he's always strong at Martinsville — last year, he finished fourth in the spring race, and won in the fall. His points lead will grow.

2. Greg Biffle — Biffle holds steady at number two with a ninth-place finish at Bristol that could have been much better. During the final caution on lap 425, Biffle stayed on the track while most of the leaders pitted for fresh tires. The No. 16 car's strategy backfired when Kevin Harvick passed Biffle just two laps after the restart.

"Talk about a sinking feeling," moans Biffle. "To remain on the track and then see everyone dart into the pits behind you; I really felt stupid. I felt like I just shot the ball in the wrong basket, or ran the wrong way for a touchdown, or left my fly open for weeks at a time. All of those things I've done; why do you think I took up racing?"

Tough break, Biffle. Just remember in the future what the late, great Johnny Cochran once said: "If the tires fit, you must pit."

3. Tony Stewart — Stewart survived a 360° spin after a tap from Rusty Wallace, and finished in third place, his best finish at Bristol since winning there in August 2002.

"I kind of felt like Danny Sullivan at Indianapolis in 1985," says Stewart, "except he saved a 360° spin and actually won the race. It's really kind of cool to spin like that and not crash. People always say, 'Wow! What a piece of driving. It really takes a special driver to control a car in that situation.' Honestly, I had my eyes closed and was screaming like a baby. Uh oh. Did I say that out loud?"

You sure did, Tony. But you've always been outspoken, haven't you?

Stewart is up to third in Cup points, but hasn't put the No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet Monte Carlo in victory circle yet. He's done it in Martinsville before, but that was back in 2000. A top ten finish would be a more likely goal.

4. Carl Edwards — It was quite an eventful weekend for Edwards at Bristol.

"Yeah, but it wasn't eventful in an Atlanta kind of way," explains Edwards, "where I won my first Cup race as well as the Busch race. But eventful as in 'I wrecked my car in qualifying and had to start the race from the back of the field-eventful."

Tough break there, Boy Wonder. But that wasn't all of Edwards' troubles. The No. 99 Scott's car suffered damage in an early race wreck, and Edwards had to go behind the wall for repairs. He returned to the field in 41st position, and eventually scrambled his way to a 26th-place finish.

It's all part of the ups and downs of NASCAR, so get used to it. It's not every week you can win two races at the same track. Just chalk it up to experience. But that experience at Bristol will serve you well in Martinsville. If Edwards can survive this stretch of two consecutive short track races and maintain his top-five position in points, I would say he'd be happy.

5. Kevin Harvick — Harvick bursts into the power rankings with a win captured under the most unlikely of circumstances. After qualifying 13th, Harvick was forced to start at the rear of the field after his crew made an unapproved repair to his car after it sprung a power steering leak hours before the race. If that's not enough, Harvick had to compete without crew chief Todd Berrier, who started serving a four-race suspension for cheating at the Las Vegas race last month.

"Sure, it sounds like the deck was stacked against us," explains Harvick, "but let's examine the situation. I started 43rd in a 43-car field. As the two-bit journalist who writes these power rankings has said on numerous occasions, qualifying means nothing in NASCAR. He's right. And, as far as running without a crew chief: big deal. Those guys just sit in an elevated chair, protected by an umbrella, and try to look cool in their Oakley shades and Motorola communications headsets. To be honest, I don't even listen to my crew chief or my spotters. Their endless chatter annoys me."

To top off his amazing weekend, Harvick won the rain-delayed Busch race on Monday, duplicating Carl Edward's feat in Atlanta. He won't pull the double in Martinsville — there is no Busch race. But Harvick is a hard charger, which sometimes puts him up front, while other times, it puts him, or someone else, into the wall.

6. Elliot Sadler — Sadler almost did the unthinkable: starting on the pole and actually winning the race. However, he didn't have the car to chase down Harvick late in the race, and settled for the runner-up position.

"Yeah, I almost proved wrong the two-bit journalist who writes these power rankings by winning the race from pole," says Sadler. "As it is, I'm perfectly happy with second place. Over the last two races, we've gained eight places in the Cup points standings. I'm pleased with the way this team is operating now. The last time I can remember being this happy was as a kid in Emporia, Virginia, blowing up piles of cow crap with a Black Cat firecracker."

Sadler lead the way in the best day yet for Robert Yates Racing. Teammate Dale Jarrett finished fifth to give Yates two top-five finishes, by far their best team showing of the year. Is it enough to mention Yates Racing in the same breath as NASCAR's two superpowers, Roush and Hendrick?

"Sure, you should be able to say all of those in one breath," says Sadler, "unless you're a heavy smoker. But until we duplicate the consistency we showed in Bristol, we'll have to rank ourselves below Roush and Hendrick. But don't tell Robert I said that."

7. Kurt Busch — Two straight below-30 finishes have dropped Busch to seventh in the points, 200 behind Johnson. After three top three's to open the season, Busch has suffered a spell of bad luck in the last two races. In Bristol, Busch was KO'ed when he slammed into Jeff Burton, who bounced off the wall after Jimmie Johnson cut in too soon on Burton.

"I hate to utter the most overused cliché in racing," says Busch, "but, 'That's racing.' I'm sure, somewhere, probably over a large plate of food, Jimmy Spencer is chuckling. In a way, I guess you could call it 'NASCAR-ma.' I've wrecked plenty of people at Bristol. It's only fair that I get taken out a few times."

Busch will no doubt hope to be up front in Martinsville, away from any trouble that may occur on the shortest of short tracks. But to make up significant ground, he would have to finish well ahead of Johnson, which is unlikely at Martinsville.

8. Rusty Wallace — If a 13th-place finish at Bristol can be labeled disappointing, Wallace has plenty of reasons to explain why. After qualifying third, Wallace was cruising in front of the pack, leading 157 laps, 48 more than eventual winner Harvick, until a cut tire on lap 294 ruined his day. The No. 2 Miller Lite car fell two laps down, and probably could have fought back on the lead lap, but a penalty for passing the pace car dashed those hopes.

"Man, talk about kicking a brother when he's down," laments Wallace. "Damn it! I'm Rusty Wallace. I'm a legend. I've got tenure. You'd think those geezers who play NASCAR officials could look the other way on occasion, and give me a break. After all I've done for this sport. If any of those officials ever need a ride somewhere, they can forget about asking me. They'll never set foot in my car, my helicopter, or my jet plane. But if they ever need a gentle push down an elevator shaft, I'm their man."

Cheer up, Rusty. You and your car obviously have the short track mojo going on, and you won the spring Martinsville race last year. What better way to salute your fans in your final full-time year in NASCAR than with a win in the Advance Auto Parts 500?

"The heck with the fans. I need to win one for Rusty."

9. Dale Jarrett — After winning the pole at Daytona in February, Jarrett really hadn't accomplished anything of significance until his fifth-place finish at Bristol in the No. 88 UPS Ford, which vaulted him seven places to No. 8 in the points.

"Until Bristol," says Jarrett, "I was seriously considering racing the truck. I'd been asking myself often, 'What can brown do for me?' And I'd been answering, "Well, apparently not winning races.' Now, with that fifth-place and Elliot's second, we've got a lot of confidence heading to Martinsville. This is a statement race for us. We've got to prove whether we're contenders, or just pretenders."

Jarrett isn't a short track racer in the caliber of Wallace or Jeff Gordon, but experience alone should carry him to a top-15 result at Martinsville, barring mechanical issues or serious wrecks. The again, this is Martinsville. Expect the unexpected.

10. Jeff Gordon — Gordon and Kurt Busch are running neck and neck at the head of the pack — in the race of bad luck. In Atlanta, Gordon's day was ruined in a lap one accident. In Bristol, a tire/steering issue nine laps from the finish wiped out what looked to be a certain third-place finish at worst.

"In this business, luck works both way," says Gordon. "We've had a run of bad luck, so I'm expecting some good luck in Virginia. Whether that luck manifests itself on the track at Martinsville, or in the 50 tickets I plan to play in the Virginia lottery, remains to be seen."

Normally in Martinsville, Gordon relies on skill more than luck. Last year, Gordon recorded two top-10s and a pole. In 2003, he swept qualifying and the race in both Martinsville races. If Gordon is lucky enough to avoid a major wreck and car problems, he could get himself back on track with a high finish.