Bristol marked the fifth race of the season and the last race using last season's owner points for a guaranteed starting position. The qualifying criteria going forward is based on the current top 35 positions in owner points. Here are your 2007 Top 5 teams:1. Rick Hendrick: Heads to Martinsville in the same position he finished at the end of last season, having taken back the lead following Bristol, but this time it's with the #24 car. In addition to the #24, he has two more care in the top 10 with the #48 in 4th and the #5 in 7th. His fourth team, the #25 car, is in 27th.
HMS has dominated this season so far having won three of the first five Cup races in 2007. (Johnson: Vegas, Atlanta; Busch: Bristol). Mr. H. has seen two major milestones already--his 150th Cup race (Johnson, Las Vegas) and his 200th NASCAR race (Busch, Bristol).
Barring the endless possibilities of unforeseen circumstances, expect to see three HMS drivers in the Chase for the Championship.
2. Bobby Ginn: Slipped from 1st to 3rd with Regan Smith behind the wheel of the #01 car in Bristol, but that's a nice cushion Mark Martin gave the team. Ginn's other two teams are also in the top 35: #13 in 26th and #14 in 31st.
More than respectable showing for the new incarnation of this team. Will Martin run more races to keep this team in contention for the Chase?
3. Richard Childress: Like Mr. H., he has three cars in the Top 10 with the #31 in 2nd, the #29 in 6th and the #07 in 8th. One win this season (Harvick, Daytona).
Consistency is the name of their game. It's good to see that the sponsorship issues are not affecting the teams on the track. Expect to see two cars in the Chase.
4. Jack Roush: All five of his teams are in the top 35 with two in the top 10: #17 in 5th, #99 in 10th, #16 in 16th, #26 in 18th and #6 in 22. One win this season (Kenseth, California).
By 2010, he'll have to reduce his team by one driver. The pressure is on for all to keep performing. Expect to see one or two cars in the Chase.
5. Joe Gibbs: All three teams in the top 35, one in the top 10. #11 in 9th, #20 in 12 and #18 in 15th. Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have logged the most laps led of any Top 5 team--most of them coming at Bristol where all three drivers lead--collectively 443/504 laps--but none of them won the race.
J.J. Yeley has finished every race running so far this season and has no major "incidents." If JGR had nothing else going on, this would be still be something to write home about. Expect to see two cars in the Chase.
Next: From An Owner's Standpoint: Middle of the Road
