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Yahoo Power Rankings
http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/nextel/powerrankings;_ylt=ApqmvCMeRB5YXAG6BqZc_vfov7YF?race=21
1. Jeff Burton - Sure, the key now is simply to not mess it up, but Burton and Co. put themselves in that position with some terrific performances.
2. Matt Kenseth - We admit, it was tempting to skip the No. 2 spot again this week. But a hot No. 17 team still would be within striking distance.
3. Kevin Harvick - He's got his Busch championship; can a Cup title follow? Maybe, but this team's sub-top 10 finishes need to disappear fast.
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - What a difference a third place at Talladega would have made. It's too bad, as Junior seems to be turning it on when it counts.
5. Mark Martin - He'd be second on this list if not for the wreck with J.J. Yeley. This team can be streaky; it must hope a bad streak didn't just begin.
6. Jimmie Johnson - What a difference a win or second place at Talladega would have made. Is too much faith being put in the 48's comeback ability?
7. Kasey Kahne - How to execute an unlikely comeback? It starts with back-to-back finishes of second and first. There still is a very long way to go.
8. Denny Hamlin - It was a gutsy effort just to finish 28th after wrecking Saturday at Lowe's, but his Chase finishes have been getting worse every week.
9. Brian Vickers - If he and the No. 25 car had been putting together streaks like this all year, would Vickers be sticking with Hendrick Motorsports in 2007?
10. Carl Edwards - Edges Bobby Labonte and Kyle Busch here. Hot streak surprising because 99 hasn't been doing it all year. Labonte, meanwhile, is ready for '07.