TOP DRIVERS IN 2006 AND 2007





By Jody Mace
Travel and Lifestyle Writer, and Petty Driving Experience Survivor
Top Finishers in 2006

1. Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson started 2006 with a bang. In the first three races, he grabbed two wins and a second-place finish, propelling himself to the top of the standings. He made himself at home there, leading the point standings for 25 weeks. When he held the NEXTEL Cup over his head, it was a fitting ending for a season that included winning both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400, as well as three other wins and 24 top-10 finishes.

2. Matt Kenseth
The Chase wouldn’t be the same without Kenseth. Doggedly consistent, he’s been one of the top-10 competitors every year since the Chase was instituted, and 2006 was a year of career highlights for him. He led 1,132 laps, posted four wins, 15 top-5 finishes and 21 top-10 finishes. By the time the final checkered flag waved, Kenseth had earned 6,419 points, second only to NEXTEL Cup champion Jimmie Johnson.

3. Denny Hamlin
The first race of 2006, the Budweiser Shootout, may not have counted for points, but it served a purpose for Denny Hamlin. When he won the race (the first rookie ever to do so), he effectively informed the rest of the NASCAR competitors that he was for real. The rest of his season lived up to the early promise. He won two more races, both at Pocono Raceway, and finished third in the standings — the best rookie finish in NASCAR’s modern era. It came as no surprise when he was named Rookie of the Year.

4. Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick was a busy guy in 2006. Not only did he place fourth in the NEXTEL Cup series, but he also blew away the competition on Saturdays in the Busch Series, winning nine races and placing in the top 10 in 32 of 35 races. At just 78 points behind Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, Harvick came close to achieving the unprecedented feat of winning both the NEXTEL Cup and the Busch Series championship the same year.

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Finishing fifth in the standings and bringing home over $7 million in on-track earnings, Junior found 2006 to be another productive year. One of the most recognizable names and faces in NASCAR, due in part to his family’s racing history, he was also voted the NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver for the fourth straight year.

6. Jeff Gordon
A season that includes finishing sixth in the points standings, two wins and 18 top-10 finishes wouldn’t be considered an average year for most drivers. But Jeff Gordon isn’t most drivers. Winning four Cup championships and holding the modern-day record for the most wins (13) in a single season raises the bar. But don’t feel too bad for Gordon. In 2006 he won his first owner’s championship, as part owner of the No. 48 car that Jimmie Johnson drove to win the NEXTEL Cup.

7. Jeff Burton
When Burton won the Dover 400 in September, he finally snapped a 175-race winless streak. He also won four poles and 20 top-10 finishes to coast into seventh place in the points standings for another successful season. Look out — Burton’s back!

8. Kasey Kahne
After being named Rookie of the Year in 2004, 2005 was a bit of a letdown for Kahne, who finished in 23rd place. The pressure was on in 2006 to prove that he was a serious contender. He met that challenge, not only making the Chase, but also winning six races — more than any other NEXTEL driver.

9. Mark Martin
To give an idea of Mark Martin’s longevity in racing, consider that he was racing against guys like Rusty Wallace and Bobby Allison when some of his current competitors were pedaling Big Wheels. In 2006, he started his 617th consecutive Cup race, and earned another top-10 finish — his 16th in 18 years. That’s staying power.

10. Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch has left no doubt that he’s not in big brother Kurt’s shadow. Just 20 years old when the 2006 season started, he became the youngest driver to make the NEXTEL Chase for the Cup, finishing in 10th place. A highlight of Busch’s 2006 season was winning the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 in New Hampshire.
Who to Watch in 2007

Denny Hamlin — Standout Sophomore
After a sizzling rookie year in 2006, Hamlin has started 2007 strong, with two third-place finishes and one pole, in just the first six races. Keep your eye on him in 2007 and beyond.

Juan Pablo Montoya — Jumping Tracks
Colombian native Montoya is a NASCAR rookie, but no stranger to the racetrack. He’s a Formula 1 veteran, posting wins at the Monaco Grand Prix and Indianapolis 500 and twice being voted top Latin American driver at the Premios Fox Sports awards. He’s off to a great start in 2007, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing. Watch the No. 42 Dodge to see how Montoya adjusts to stock car racing.

Jeff Burton — Still Battling for Wins
Burton has been a NASCAR stalwart for 14 years, but 2006 was his first top-10 finish since 2001. This year he’s off and running, wrestling with Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon for a spot near the top of the rankings. Could he be 2007’s comeback kid?

Mark Martin — Last Laps
Keep your eye on the No. 1 Army Chevrolet this year. It will probably be your last chance to see legend Mark Martin drive in NASCAR races. His career has spanned 25 years and includes 35 wins. He is splitting driving duties with Regan Smith as he transitions into a mentor role, working with the developing drivers at Ginn Racing.

Casey Mears — Switching Gears
Mears switched teams this year, joining Hendrick Motorsports, whose drivers, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch, dominate the top 10. Mears flirted with the top 10 last year. Will he join his new teammates in the Chase? Stay tuned.

Toyota Teams — New Cars on the Block
The year 2007 marks the debut of the first three teams driving Toyotas in NEXTEL races. The most experienced of the three teams is Michael Waltrip Racing, which includes Michael Waltrip, Dale Jarrett and rookie David Reutimann. They’ve gotten off to a rocky start, getting penalized for using a fuel additive in Waltrip’s car and finishing poorly in the first few races. But keep checking back. It will be interesting to see how Toyota’s first Cup series develops.