Apologies to Q4G readers for missing week 3. Here are your week 4 rankings!
Credit: David Banks/Getty Images for NASCAR
| DRIVER | POINTS POSITION | RATING | |
|
Kevin Harvick |
2 |
1 |
Once again, Harvick and the 29 find themselves in first in the Q4G Chase Rankings. They turned what could have been a dismal finish at Kansas into a 6th and are 2nd in points. Anything can happen, but look for Harvick and Company to remain strong at Charlotte. |
|
Brad Keselowski |
4 |
2 |
Keselowski may be 4th in points, but, at the moment, he is still the 29’s biggest threat. Will he stay this high in the coming weeks? It’s hard to tell. If the pressure continues to mount, the 2 could fall apart. Look for another strong run at CMS, however. |
|
Carl Edwards |
1 |
3 |
First in points coming out of Kansas is a nice place to be (just ask Jimmie Johnson). If Edwards and the 99 team can continue to pull good finishes out of bad starts, they are going to be sitting pretty in Homestead. Another solid top 10 in Charlotte will help their chances. |
|
Matt Kenseth |
5 |
4 |
With two steps forward to 5th in the standings, Kenseth continues to remain the silent threat in this championship Chase. The 17 should easily have another solid top 5 in Charlotte. |
|
Jimmie Johnson |
3 |
5 |
The 48 jumps quite a few spots in the Chase Rankings this week. Johnson didn’t just win in Kansas, he dominated. The problem is that he still finds himself in an unfamiliar spot. Not leading the points coming out of Kansas. If Johnson and team can pull off another dominating performance at CMS, they may be hard to beat for the rest of the season. |
|
Kyle Busch |
8 |
6 |
Another somewhat decent finish for the 18. They are going to need a lot more than decent finishes if they want to move up in the points. They are still in the hunt, but KyBu is going to have to work harder at CMS to make it happen. |
|
Kurt Busch |
6 |
7 |
While KuBu’s attitude has seen a little improvement, it’s going to take more than that for the 22 to get back in the hunt. It’s hard to imagine the 22 climbing back up the standings at this point. Look for a someone decent finish in Charlotte, but nothing spectacular. |
|
Tony Stewart |
7 |
8 |
The 14 dug themselves a serious hole in Kansas by finishing 15th. They will have to show better at CMS or their championship hopes are over. |
|
Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
9 |
9 |
Without a win, Junior and the 88 will not only not move up in points, they may find themselves slipping out of the top 10 altogether. In spite of a turnaround season, if the 88 doesn’t step it up at CMS, this will be another disappointing season for Junior Nation. |
|
Jeff Gordon |
10 |
10 |
A blown engine has blown the hopes of the 24 for another championship. This is a hole that, unfortunately, Jeff Gordon won’t be able to dig his way out of. Gordon and the 24 desperately need a good finish at Charlotte to keep from slipping out of the top 10. |
|
Ryan Newman |
11 |
11 |
Kansas was really just more of the same for Newman. Subpar finishes don’t get the job done. Look for the 39 to continue to languish at CMS. |
|
Denny Hamlin |
12 |
12 |
Not surprising, Hamlin and the 11 are still 12th in points and going nowhere fast. A turnaround is unlikely to happen before the 2012 season. |