JENSEN: New Hampshire Power Rankings

Sprint Cup

JENSEN: New Hampshire Power Rankings

Jimmie Johnson leads the FOXSports.com/SPEED.com Power Rankings...

Tom Jensen | Posted September 23, 2012 Loudon, NH

Brad Keselowski (Left)talks with Jimmie Johnson (Right) in the garage during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. (Photo: Getty Images)

Jimmie Johnson hasn’t won a race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup yet, but he’s finished second in each of the first two to move to the top of the FOXSports.com/SPEED.com Power Rankings.

The new list, following Sunday’s Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway:

1. JIMMIE JOHNSON — Two Chase races, two runner-up finishes and Five-Time is back atop the points standings. Be afraid, be very afraid. He’ll be a favorite next week at Dover, too. Last week: 2nd.

2. DENNY HAMLIN — After a bad start in Chicagoland, Hamlin serves notice that will be tough to beat with a dominating victory in New Hampshire. Last week: 5th.

3. BRAD KESELOWSKI — He didn’t win again this week, but Keselowski ran strongly at what historically is one of his weaker tracks and is only 1 point back of Johnson. Last week: 1st.

4. KASEY KAHNE — Another strong run at New Hampshire for Kahne, as he comes home fifth. Last week: 4th.

5. TONY STEWART — Last year, Stewart opened the Chase with consecutive victories. This time it’s consecutive top 10s. Last week: 3rd.

6. CLINT BOWYER — Once again, Bowyer’s speed and consistency is rewarded with a good finish. Last week: 7th.

7. JEFF GORDON — A third-place finish for Gordon has to have him wondering what might have been last week at Chicago. Last week: 12th.

8. DALE EARNHARDT JR. — Not a good points day for Earnhardt, as he finishes 13th. Last week: 6th.

9. KEVIN HARVICK — Once again Harvick is consistent. Once again, Harvick has no speed in his car. Last week: 10th.

10. MATT KENSETH — Things are not looking good for Kenseth’s hopes for a second championship. Last week: 11th.

11. MARTIN TRUEX JR. — Ouch. Truex finishes 17th, which is going to really hurt his chances going forward. Last week: 8th.

12. GREG BIFFLE — Unless Biffle has a sudden and substantial reversal of fortune, he looks like he’ll finish in the back half of the Chase. Last week: 9th.

13. RYAN NEWMAN — Almost always good at New Hampshire, Newman finishes a respectable 10th. Last week 14th.

14. JOEY LOGANO — A nice run for the New England native, as he comes home eighth in the race. Last week: 15th.

15. KYLE BUSCH — Nothing at all to smile about for Busch, as an ailing Toyota leaves him 27th. Last week: 13th.

16. PAUL MENARD — All in all, 12th place wasn’t bad for Menard on the day. Last week: 17th.

17. BRIAN VICKERS — A top-10 finish for the MWR super sub, who’s done well for himself this year. Last week: Unranked.

18. CARL EDWARDS — What in the heck has happened to this team? Edwards barely makes the top 20, finishing 19th. Last week: 18th.

19. MARCOS AMBROSE — Not a great day for Ambrose, who fails to crack the top 20. Last week: 19th.

20. JEFF BURTON — 2013 can’t get here soon enough for Burton. And come to think of it, for RCR, too. Last week: 20th.

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.

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Jensen

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