Power Rankings: Back where we began
Jimmie Johnson led the point standings entering the 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup after the fall Richmond race, but he wasn't necessarily the favorite to win the championship.
Johnson's status certainly changed at the halfway point of the postseason when he set a blistering pace that included four consecutive victories. It's no surprise that J.J. jumped over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon in the Power Rankings following his second straight Chase win — and sweep at Atlanta Motor Speedway — even though the No. 48 still trailed the No. 24 team in the point standings. Johnson then triumphed at Texas and Phoenix — tracks where he had fallen short in the past.
Little did anyone know that Johnson would mount such a convincing charge through the Chase. With the NASCAR placing a greater emphasis on victories, the No. 48 stepped up and embraced the challenge, inevitably winning its second consecutive championship.
Here's how the final Chasers ranked in the point standings:
1. Jimmie Johnson: A remarkable season run with 10 wins, 20 top fives, 24 top 10s and an average finish of 5 during the Chase turned Johnson into the first driver since Jeff Gordon in 1998 to put up double digits in the win column as well as run off a string of four straight victories. Definitely on the way to establishing a new Hendrick dynasty.
2. Jeff Gordon: Despite six wins during the year, an average finish of 5.1 in the Chase and a new modern era record of 30 top-10 finishes, Jeff Gordon's "Drive for Five" was denied yet again. Jeff Gordon's disappointment was short-lived, as he found solace with his new family and in owner/friend Rick Hendrick's happiness.
3. Clint Bowyer: Bowyer's breakout season was one of the highlights of the year. He started the Chase from the last position, by virtue of being the only driver to qualify for the playoff without a victory to his record, but put his competition on notice by scoring his first career Cup victory at New Hampshire in Round 1 of the Chase. Bowyer jumped into the top five and maintained third place throughout the postseason without a single DNF all year.
4. Matt Kenseth: Had the Chase started at Martinsville, it might have been a three-man race. Matt Kenseth averaged a third-place finish in the final five races and capped off 2007 with a win in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway — a fitting send-off for crew chief Robbie Reiser, who was promoted to Roush Fenway Racing's GM position.
5. Kyle Busch: Who knows what "Rowdy" might have accomplished under different circumstances? Still, he won the first Car of Tomorrow race at Bristol earlier this year, posted 11 top fives and 20 top 10s and finished a career-high fifth in the point standings. Kyle Busch will race with a vengeance in 2008, as he makes way for Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick by switching to Joe Gibbs Racing, and could quite possibly be on the road to his first title.
6. Tony Stewart: After a strong summer run, Tony Stewart was a favorite entering the Chase. His postseason stalled at Kansas, where he was leading the race when the skies opened and stopped the event. Smoke scored two more top 10s and a fourth at Phoenix but lost his momentum. I wonder what's holding up Tony Stewart's contract with Joe Gibbs Racing?
7. Kurt Busch: The tandem of Busch and crew chief Pat Tryson eased the driver's second season with Penske Racing. The organization — and teammate Ryan Newman — showed marked improvement down the stretch with the COT. A second-place finish at Miami gained Busch three positions in the season finale.
8. Jeff Burton: Two engine failures — including one in the Chase — drained the energy from this team. The veteran from the Richard Childress Racing stable had problems running at the point. He led just 79 laps for the entire season. Without track position, it was impossible for Jeff Burton to contend for wins, but he posted six top 10s in the Chase nonetheless.
9. Carl Edwards: He won the last Busch Series title (next year the series will be sponsored by Nationwide) but sacrificed strength in the Chase. Edwards' reunion with crew chief Bob Osborne paid dividends in 2007. He led the Ford and Roush Fenway family with three wins but endured three engine failures along the way.
10. Kevin Harvick: After claiming one of the most scintillating Daytona 500 victories ever, Happy fizzled in the next three events and lost any momentum he earned. Although he qualified for the Chase, Kevin Harvick started from 11th position and went on to record just four top 10s in the postseason and not a single top five. Kevin Harvick was never a factor in the championship despite completing all but 101 laps of competition this season.
11. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex stepped up into a leadership role at a time when the Dale Earnhardt Inc. organization needed it most. Who would have thought he'd be the top-finishing Junior? Sans engine woes and "tire"-some pit decisions, it's likely that Truex would have improved upon his single win, seven top fives and 14 top 10s.
12. Denny Hamlin: Denny Hamlin was doomed after his run-in with Kyle Petty at Dover. After a strong rookie run, 2007 can't be considered a "sophomore slump" type of year, but there are definitely growing pains that need to be addressed in the off-season. Denny Hamlin's sole win came at Loudon in July, but his pit crew wasn't contention-worthy.
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