BIG TEAM RANKINGS: Week 1
Loyal readers of this space (Hi, mom! Hi, dad!) will remember my ramblings from last week about how NASCAR has become a team sport and should be treated as such. I'd like to thank Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch for proving me 1,000 percent correct on that point.
Still, Kurt Busch didn't look all too happy with second. Lucky for Roger Penske, Big Busch's meds kicked in at the right time and he said all the right things about his teammate. But I wouldn't have wanted to be Busch's dog or a sheriff's deputy who pulled him over after the race. Guy looked like he felt he's been screwed out of the biggest race win of his life. I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
Anyway, now for the Big Team Rankings after Week 1.
Remember that I'm trying something a little different here: team rankings, based on NASCAR's driver ratings, which take into account a lot more factors than just where a driver finishes. (A list of factors is at the bottom of the chart here.) For this particular exercise, I'm averaging the ratings for each team. Single-car teams (like Robby Gordon) take just that driver's rating. I'm also averaging in a big fat -0- where a car expected to race a full season didn't qualify. That's why the rankings for Evernham (Carpentier), Bill Davis (Villeneuve) and Red Bull (AJA) are going to look depressed.
I'm also splitting the teams into two groups: the Big Teams (three or more cars) and the Small Teams (two or fewer). Remember, Sprint Cup is actually Grand Am where the cars all look alike.
So here goes, and let what you think in the comments.
(1) JOE GIBBS RACING
BTR: 111.4
My take: What?! Not Penske? Go back and click on that earlier link about driver rating. This time, pay attention to the fine print that says "average running position while on lead lap" and "led most laps." That's why Gibbs gets the top spot. The Gibbs trio led two-thirds of the 500. Hamlin had more fast laps than anyone else. Kyle had the best average position (fourth). But again, it's a team sport, and neither Busch nor Stewart could get it together at the end. (Think David Tyree, but this time the ball bounces off of his helmet. If I wanted to be more subjective, I would swap the top two spots. But I'm going to stand by the numbers, at least for this week, and see how it sorts itself out over the next few races.
(2) PENSKE RACING SOUTH
BTR: 90.4
My take: Maybe I was too fixated on Junior (and too happy that his new BFFs did so badly - I still have trouble accepting the fact that Lil' E is on the Hendrick payroll.)Whatever it was, I never really saw Newman or Busch coming. Heck, the Dodges had stunk all weekend, and like everyone else I figured it would be a Chevy-Toyota tussle up front at the end. That said, it's Daytona, which means about the best thing you can do to get ready for the race is tape a horseshoe to your dashboard, smash the pedal and hold on.
(3) HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS
BTR: 87.3
My take: When they were running, the Hendrick Quads were running up front. But Sunday just didn't go right for them at all. I can't say I'm surprised.One, it's luck, and Hendrick didn't have it Sunday. Second, Two-Time isn't that far removed from his reckless driving days when Tony Stewart was convinced JJ was going to kill them all on the plate tracks. Anyway, California is Sunday, and all should be right then with the Hendrick crew.
(4) RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING
BTR: 83.0
My take: Man, I was really hoping that Jeff Burton was going to pull this thing off. And did anyone see Harvick all day?
(5) ROUSH FENWAY RACING
BTR: 74.1
My take: One Ford (Don't Hit Me Carl!) in the top 18? Yeah, I know what I said earlier about Daytona and luck. But Ford needs to be a lot luckier this year.
(6) MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING
BTR: 63.0
(7) GILLETTE EVERNHAM RACING
BTR: 60.05
(8) DALE EARNHARDT INC.
BTR: 58.6
(9) CHIP GANASSI RACING
BTR: 57.9
Some useful links:
NASCAR standings after Daytona.
NASCAR box score.
Tomorrow or the next day:
The Small Team Rankings.
Wednesday update: In case anyone wants to argue over rankings (and so far no one has), check out these Sports Illustrated power rankings. I'm a Junior fan, but there's no way he's three spots higher than the guy who won the 500.
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