Round 6 - Martinsville Speedway (Goody’s Cool Orange 500)

[kup]

Power Rankings: Momentum not just about victories
http://msn.foxsports.com/name/public.../Cup/PowerPoll
by JORGE A. MONDACA, FOXSports.com * Updated: March 19, 2008, 9:05 PM EST

Since taking over Power Rankings this season, I have gotten many notes from fans (both via e-mail and in the message boards below) asking why in the world their driver isn't ranked higher (or isn't included) in the Power Rankings.

Luckily for me, Jeff Burton gives me the perfect excuse to explain my madness.
Each week's Power Rankings are based on how a driver is performing this season, not how they have done in previous years. The driver rating is based on several factors, not just a particular driver's average finish.

Case in point, Mr. Burton.

Could the argument be made that the driver of the No. 29 AT&T Chevrolet was tops at Bristol? Of course, he took the checkered flag.

But would I be crazy in suggesting that Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer each were superior to Burton? If you look at the big Bristol picture, I wouldn't say I'm too far off base. Not only did each of those three drivers have a better average running position throughout the day, but they also set fastest lap more times and also spent more time overall in the top 15 during race day.

Yes, the only thing that matters in racing is winning the race, but when judging who has the best potential to score positive results in the coming weeks, you have to look at the bigger picture and not just the results.

But guess what? Because Burton was better than a lot of other people overall on Sunday, he did rise a few notches in this week's Power Rankings from his position last week (when he was ranked 10th). So if you are looking for a favorite at Martinsville on March 30, then he is not a bad pick at all — especially when you look at the bigger picture.

Power Rankings after the Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway
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1. Kyle Busch — 119.6 driver rating: Sound the alarms, Shrub only led seven laps and finished 17th at Bristol. AHHHHH!!!! Just kidding.

2. Carl Edwards — 107.8 driver rating: Conspiracy theorists can talk all they want about Carl Edwards sputtering ever since his crew got busted for cheating after Las Vegas — I'm not buying it.

3. Kevin Harvick — 104.4 driver rating: What a few days Happy has experienced. At least he got to have a good time Monday night when he got to wax Stewart's back (for charity, of course).

4. Jeff Gordon — 102.9 driver rating: Because of his past successes, we simply expect perfection from the 4-time Cup champion. Guess what, it will likely get better at Martinsville Speedway.

5. Greg Biffle — 102.1 driver rating: In case you haven't noticed Greg Biffle this season, here's a tip: don't start quite yet. I'll say it now — if Biffle can make noise and keep his spot in the standings after Talladega, he will win a championship come year's end.

6. Tony Stewart — 101.3 driver rating: Calling Stewart unlucky at Bristol is the understatement. That should change come Martinsville, where he has two victories and an average finish of 12.3 in 18 starts. With Stewart being more aerodynamic (see Kevin Harvick), watch out for him to come back with a vengeance after the off-week.

7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. — 99.9 driver rating: At first, Dale Jr.'s start was impressive. Now he is simply proving that strong runs are no longer the exception, they are the norm. Martinsville has been good to Earnhardt in the past, as he has seven top-five results in 16 starts and an average finish of 14.8.

8. Jeff Burton — 97.0 driver rating: Is eighth the correct spot in this week's rankings for a race winner? I still argue yes.

9. Matt Kenseth — 96.8 driver rating: Solid showings on race days continue to be Kenseth's M.O., and his 10th-place finish at Bristol did not disappoint. So would it be any surprise to see another top-10 run at Martinsville? Actually, maybe.

10. Kasey Kahne — 89.9 driver rating: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is deserving of the attention he is getting, but if you want a turnaround driver of the year, people should really pay attention to the guy who is driving the Budweiser car this year — Kasey Kahne. In 2008, he is already at 4 top 10s.

Dropped out: Ryan Newman