CUP: Kentucky Power Rankings

Sprint Cup

CUP: Kentucky Power Rankings

Kyle Busch tops the FOXSports.com/SPEED.com Power Rankings...

Tom Jensen | Posted July 10, 2011 Charlotte, NC

It was a great night for Kyle Busch at Kentucky Speedway. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Kyle Busch was the big winner in the first visit of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to Kentucky Speedway.

And 20,000 fans who had tickets but no place to park were the losers, as traffic nightmares ruined what should have been a triumphant night, but instead triggered a debacle some were calling “Carmaggedon.”

For Busch, though, it was all smooth sailing, as he led 125 of 267 laps to win the Quaker State 400 and move atop the FOXSports.com/SPEED.com Power Rankings.

This week’s list:

1. KYLE BUSCH — The younger of the Busch brothers administered an old-fashioned butt-kicking on the field to take over the points lead for the first time since Phoenix in February. Previous rank: 3.

2. CARL EDWARDS — A solid fifth-place finish for Edwards, who ran well but did not have the pace of Busch or several other top drivers. Previous rank: 2.

3. KURT BUSCH — Although he faded a little at the end of the race, Kurt was fast all night, as he continues to look like a championship contender. Previous rank: 5.

4. JIMMIE JOHNSON — Five-Time had a last-lap brain fart that allowed David Reutimann to pass him for second place, but he was otherwise good all race long. Previous rank: 7.

5. KEVIN HARVICK — It was a hugely disappointing night for Richard Childress Racing, as Harvick’s 16th-place finish was best of the four RCR Chevys. Previous rank: 1.

6. MATT KENSETH — Like his former teammate Kurt Busch, Kenseth looks like he’s ready to go the distance and take the title fight to Johnson. Previous rank: 4.

7. JEFF GORDON — If you ask Gordon, he’d probably tell you that he and his team made chicken salad by finishing 10th. Previous rank: 6.

8. RYAN NEWMAN — After consecutive finishes outside the top 20, Newman earned his first top five since Darlington with a great fourth-place run. Previous rank: 11.

9. DENNY HAMLIN — Not a stellar weekend for Hamlin, who lost an engine in practice and finished a so-so 11th in the race. Team has work to do. Previous rank: 9.

10. DALE EARNHARDT JR. — A flat tire proved to be Earnhardt’s undoing, as he finished 30th. His average finish over the past four races? 27.75. Ouch. Previous rank: 8.

11. TONY STEWART — Still waiting for Stewart to go on one of his patented summer hot streaks. Finished 12th on Saturday night. Previous rank: 12.

12. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA — Although he finished just 15th at Kentucky, he still is in good Chase shape with the Brickyard and Watkins Glen on the schedule. Previous rank: 14.

13. DAVID RAGAN — On the heels of his Daytona victory, Ragan finished eighth and moved up two more spots in points to 15th. Previous rank: 13.

14. CLINT BOWYER — A train-wreck night from start to finish for Bowyer who was not happy to find his team missed the setup yet again. Previous rank: 10.

15. GREG BIFFLE — A 21st-place finish was worst of all four Roush Fenway Racing Fords. Previous rank: 15.

16. KASEY KAHNE — After qualifying fourth, you had to figure Kahne was expecting to finish higher than 13th. Previous rank: 18.

17. PAUL MENARD — One of the fastest cars in practice, Menard had a disheartening 24th-place finish. Previous rank: 17.

Mark Martin is in his final season with Hendrick Motorsports. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

18. MARK MARTIN — In his final year with Hendrick, it’s hard to watch Martin struggle week after week after week. Previous rank: 19.

19. BRAD KESELOWSKI — He should have finished higher than seventh, but Keselowski led more laps than anyone except race-winner Kyle Busch. Previous rank: Unranked.

20. AJ ALLMENDINGER — How bad was Alllmendinger’s 28th-place run? He got out of the car and the first thing he did was apologize to his fans and sponsors. Previous rank: 16.

Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief of SPEED.com, Senior NASCAR Editor at RACER and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. You can follow him online at twitter.com/tomjensen100.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Jensen

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