We're roughly a third of the way into the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, and there have certainly been some surprises. Four wins for Toyota, and only one for Hendrick, just to name a couple. So, as we head into the All-Star Race, (which, you will recall, is "only on SPEED"), let's break it down with the top 12 drivers, and a couple of notable selections.
1. Kyle Busch Grade: A
Call him "Rowdy," "Wild Thing," or anything else you can think of, just remember to call him a winner. Three victories, seven top-5's so far, including Toyota’s first win at Atlanta. The junior Busch proves week in and week out he's a favorite to win the race--F he doesn't wreck the field first.
2. Jeff Burton Grade: A
Can anyone be sitting second in points, with 1 win under his belt, and be this quiet? Being in the right place at the right time helps, so does having no finishes worse than 13th.
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Grade: B
Despite not winning a points race so far in 2008, Junior Nation has to be happy with the driver of the 88 Chevy. His move to Hendrick Motorsports started with a win at the Bud Shootout and a Gatorade Duel, but bad luck (and help from Kyle Busch) has kept NASCAR's Most Popular Driver from visiting Victory Lane. Don't worry Junior fans, he'll be there soon.
4. Denny Hamlin Grade: B+
After a win at Martinsville, followed by a heartbreaking finish at Richmond, Virginia's new favorite son finds himself in the top four of the Sprint Cup standings. A 41st place finish at California is the only blemish to his great start so far.
5. Clint Boyer Grade B
Boyer's having a great run during his third full season in NASCAR’s biggest series. A 1st, 2nd and a 3rd in just the first 11 races, the future is bright for one of NASCAR's up and comers.
6. Jimmie Johnson Grade B-
The two-time defending champion is finding things are not that easy in 2008. His fuel mileage victory at Phoenix is Hendrick Motorsports' only victory. But if history has taught us a lesson, you don't want to see the 48 team on the ropes come Chase time, because watch out, they know how to roll.
7. Carl Edwards Grade: A-
One of the big surprises this season. Three quick wins, but the suspension of Crew Chief Bob Osborne is what everybody will remember. How can you feel bad for this team, when they got Robbie Reiser for six races?
8. Tony Stewart Grade: C+
Smoke has to be one of the biggest disappointments of the season. The leader of Joe Gibbs Racing has yet to visit Victory Lane, while his teammates already have four wins. Smoke is making more headlines for his comments about Goodyear than for his racing. Maybe driving an eggplant-colored car would make him the bold racer he's been in the past.
9. Kevin Harvick Grade: C-
"Happy" Harvick cannot be smiling so far in 2008. Just two top-5's and five top-10's--that's not what you would expect from last year's Daytona 500 champ. And Lowes Motor Speedway has not been kind to the 29 crew.
10. Jeff Gordon Grade: C+
Is it surprising that in the first 11 weeks of the season, the four-time champ has only been in the top 12 for two weeks? It's been a rough couple of months for the leader of the "Hendrick Superstars." Maybe that hard hit during the Las Vegas race knocked the wind out of this team.
11. Greg Biffle Grade: C
A couple of third and fourth place finishes for "Biff" have him sitting just inside the top 12. He's been falling back after a strong start, but don't expect this NASCAR free agent to sit back and relax--he's got something to prove.
12. David Ragan Grade: B+
His could be the best story of the early season. Ragan was 42nd in points after the Daytona 500, and look where he is now. Jack Roush should be pleased. Ragan just needed time to grow. Could he be this season's Casey Mears?
Other Notables
17. Brian Vickers Grade: B+
Quite a turnaround in 2008. After missing several races last year, Team Red Bull has kept the 83 car in the top 20, to the surprise of many. If they can duplicate their early successes, look for this car to be locked into the 50th running of the Great American Race.
Michael Waltrip Racing (29-David Reutimann, 32 -Michael Waltrip, 43-Michael McDowell, 44-Dale Jarrett) Grade: B-
Another success story. This team knows nothing but controversy, but somehow Mikey and company have a new attitude. The question is, just how long will all the cars stay in the top 35?
39. Kyle Petty Grade: F
It may be a good thing Petty is taking several weeks off this summer. It's been quite a shock, watching NASCAR races without a Petty in the field. You have to wonder how much longer Kyle is thinking of racing.
All the Open-Wheel Racers (16-Juan Pablo Montoya, 34-Sam Hornish, Jr., 40-Dario Franchitti, 63-Jacques Villeneuve) Grade: Inconclusive
NASCAR has been a wake-up call to some of these drivers. Montoya is having a good sophomore season. But the way things are going for Hornish, Jr. and Franchitti, the former Indy stars could find themselves watching the races on Memorial Day instead of running in them.