It’s the beginning of July and we are just beyond the halfway mark of NASCAR season. At this point in time you either love or hate Jimmie Johnson for his continued dominance in the sport. But any true race fan knows there is all too much track left to cover before that final flag falls in Miami. Here’s a look at where the most notable drivers rank at this point in the series and what their chances are looking like down the road:
Favorite
Jimmie Johnson– Many columnists say that a kryptonite for NASCAR’s Superman has finally been found this season. With three botched restarts in 2013 one has to wonder whether or not these setbacks are getting into his head. While many “experts” say they could jeopardize his chances for a 6th championship when things get tight in November, the fact that not even a horrible restart could stop him cracking the Top 10 in Kentucky speaks volumes for how well he is driving right now. With 3 wins and a series-leading 11 Top 10 finishes the cup appears to be Johnson’s to lose.
Contenders
Matt Kenseth-Do we hear anybody citing the “Matt Kenseth Rule” now when describing the “Chase Era”? With 4 wins, Kenseth leads the field this year and though he’s had a few rough races, the most valuable currency in the “Chase Era” is wins. All 4 of Kenseth’s Top 5 finishes so far this year are wins. This tells me that if Kenseth can smell the finish line he’s gonna close out strong. I expect him and Johnson to be neck and neck towards the end this year.
Kevin Harvick-With his last season driving for RCR halfway done, Harvick is in prime position to contend for his first championship. His races might not always be pretty but his consistent placement in the Top 10 will keep that top spot within his sights.
Dark Horses
Kyle Busch-With a series-leading 8 Top 5 finishes, Busch remains consistent. One has to wonder where he’d be had it not been for his engine dropping out on him or the crash with Joey Logano earlier this year. Barring catastrophe he seems to be driving well enough to keep himself in prime position to make a run for the cup in the fall. Now if he can just learn proper etiquette when passing the pace car.
Clint Boyer-He may be in 3rd place but I’ll have trouble calling him a legitimate contender until he can get a win. Him and teammate Kenseth owned the Kentucky track finishing 1st and 3rd respectively. His average finish of 5.0 over the past three races and 7.8 over the past seven has him in prime position for contention. Let’s hope the sting of last year’s 2nd place finish has him motivated to make things interesting in the second part of the season.
Surprise
Joey Logano– Arguably NASCAR’s most talented young star, Logano sits on the verge on the elite at number 10. His crash with Busch is definitely a black mark on his season but at least right now the 23 year-old can relish in the fact that he is Penske’s top driver, however short-lived it may be.
Notable
Danica Patrick-First woman ever to win a pole position in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Still hot, still criticized, still quite possibly the most popular driver currently in NASCAR.
Jack Payton is a car nut and motorsports fanatic in the purest form. He loves to write about everything gear related, and rebuilt his first engine at 15. He works as a freelance writer for the online tire retailer Tires Easy. In his spare time he enjoys cruising, following NASCAR, and collecting vinyl.