Preseason power rankings

[JohnMickish]

I found this interesting so I thought I'd pass it on. It is from CBS sports. I think it's about as accurate as a preseason guess can get.

Preseason Power Rankings:

POWER RANKINGS

Current Driver Previous

1 Tony Stewart

He's the defending champion and there's no reason to think he won't be back in the mix for his second consecutive title -- and third overall -- this season.

2 Jeff Gordon

Anybody who doesn't think Gordon will rebound from last season's disappointment is fooling himself. Ended last season with three top fives and four top 10s in the final five races.

3 Carl Edwards

Key to his championship hopes will be improving on the short tracks and restrictor-plate tracks.

4 Greg Biffle

Problem for him last year was that his bad days turned into really bad days. He had 15 finishes outside the top 10 in 2005 and 10 were 20th or worse. During the Chase, three of his four finishes outside the top 10 were 20th or worse.

5 Kyle Busch

He had nine top-five finishes in 2005, which tied him for seventh among all drivers. What hurt him in the standings were his 13 finishes of 31st or worse, which he should cut down on this year.

6 Ryan Newman

Could this be the year this team puts all the pieces together and dominates? Eight pole wins in 2005, but only one race victory.

7 Jimmie Johnson

After three years of close calls in the championship race, this could be one of those rocky years that come along every once in awhile.

8 Matt Kenseth

Don't expect him to start this season like he started last season (only one top 10 in the first 12 races).

9 Mark Martin

Well, he's back for another year, and this time there is no doubt it will be his final season. Could he get that storybook ending?

10 Kurt Busch

Talk about your questions marks. It'll be interesting to find out if he enjoys as much success at Penske as he did at Roush.

11 Dale Earnhardt Jr.

He's talking a big game, but, even with Tony Eury Jr. back in the fold, we're not ready just yet to put the No. 8 back up there in the mix for the title.

12 Casey Mears

Some think this could be the season Mears finally breaks out.

13 Kevin Harvick

The talent and passion are there, but he needs RCR to start rolling out some more competitive cars.

14 Jamie McMurray

New team, new car, new model. While it's not out of the question he can make the Chase, of the five Roush cars he's the most likely to miss out.

15 Jeff Burton

If RCR has indeed improved, he'll be racing up front on a weekly basis with his teammate Harvick.

16 Elliott Sadler

Major changes at Robert Yates Racing during the offseason after Sadler plummeted after a promising start to last season.

17 Denny Hamlin

In a limited schedule last year he showed the ability to keep his car clean and out of trouble, which is usually a problem for rookies.

18 Kasey Kahne

He slumped badly -- though he did pick up his first win -- in his sophomore campaign.

19 Brian Vickers

Hendrick has been patient with him, but it's time for him to prove he can win and consistently finish up front in 2006.

20 Jeremy Mayfield

He has made the Chase both seasons by being consistent ... consistently average that is. That doesn't hold much water in the Power Rankings.

[ryan_plante]

I would say that is a fairly accurate preseason ranking, except I don't think Kyle busch will even finish in the top 20. Wasn't Kasey Kahne supposed to have a huge year last year,I think this year will be about the same for Kyle.

[eyepatrol]

I would have to agree with most of that list, although I think Jr. will be somewhere between 7 and 10. If Jr's team could figure out the 1.5 mile tracks, I'd put him in the top 5. I'd take Newman out of the top 10. McMurray & Kahne might score a little higher this year too. But, for what everyone did last year, my opinion is it's a pretty good list except that Gordon and Stewart should be switched around!

[NAPAFISH]

#55 Napa Dodge coming to a race track near you!!!!!

He is gotta be top 20

[OUTDOORNUT]

That is crud!! It looks more like "Who is my top 15" Power rankings have to come from the latest past performances. I understand J. Gordon is a good driver, put you can't just throw him into second after the dismal second half of the season they had, what did he do to vault him to second.....finish 11?? Kyle Busch in the top 10? CBS shows whey they are the turd tier of media coverage!

[lawdog]

Quote:

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That is crud!! It looks more like "Who is my top 15" Power rankings have to come from the latest past performances. I understand J. Gordon is a good driver, put you can't just throw him into second after the dismal second half of the season they had, what did he do to vault him to second.....finish 11?? Kyle Busch in the top 10? CBS shows whey they are the turd tier of media coverage!

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Well, once again you show how your hatred for the #24 clouds your responses. NASCAR.com's power rankings put him second too and you seem to forget the huge turn around they had after Loomis got dumped, guess they are "turds" at NASCAR for knowing anything about NASCAR too huh??? Many are picking him as the favorite to win this year and you can't see how he even gets ranked in the power rankings. Sorry your blue ovals aren't up there, but deal with it!!!!

[harvey lee]

I would agree that Gordon had a very lackluster season last year untill the changes towards the end of the season and then he looked much better.

One has to believe that he will be a contender this year as he has alot of talent and they are much better of this year.

Even though im a Jr fan,you have to believe that Gordon will be there at the end.For Jr,I believe he will have a better year,but not as good as the 24.Jr will make the top 10.

[OUTDOORNUT]

[quoteWell, once again you show how your hatred for the #24 clouds your responses.

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I don't even hate the 24! The 5, 29, Chad Knaus, Toyota...them I hate. I just think that the "Power Rankings" should be based off of the most recent past performances. If he finished 11th how do you put him into 2nd right off the bat?

Would you put the MN Vikings in the Top 5? I mean they had a decent second half of the season??

[lawdog]

You put him second because, A) he finished 11th when he was 17th just a few weeks from the end, because his "Most recent performance" was exceptional during the chase races, and he's been kicking butt in pre-season testing, and C) EVERYBODY to a person believes last year to have been an anomoly with that team...

IF you want the rankings to just be the same as where they finished last year in points, then why even bother with a ranking at all??? Its a prediction after all, not a look back.