|
Rk
|
Driver |
Car No.
|
Team |
2010 Driver Rating
|
Stock |
|
1
|
Jimmie Johnson |
48
|
Hendrick Motorsports |
107.7
|
Has averaged 7.0 wins and 23.4 top-10s during five-year title streak |
|
2
|
Denny Hamlin |
11
|
Joe Gibbs Racing |
96.2
|
Missed out on the title but still led series with eight wins |
|
3
|
Tony Stewart |
14
|
Stewart-Haas Racing |
91.2
|
Should only get better in third year as owner/driver |
|
4
|
Carl Edwards |
99
|
Roush Fenway Racing |
91.8
|
Looked like a title contender at the end of 2010 |
|
5
|
Kevin Harvick |
29
|
Richard Childress Racing |
98.0
|
Led the series in top-10s and average finish in 2010 |
|
6
|
Jeff Gordon |
24
|
Hendrick Motorsports |
98.5
|
Still good but just one win last three seasons |
|
7
|
Kyle Busch |
18
|
Joe Gibbs Racing |
98.2
|
Incredible talent but maturity always an issue |
|
8
|
Matt Kenseth |
17
|
Roush Fenway Racing |
86.0
|
Roush Fenway, Kenseth primed for big season |
|
9
|
Clint Bowyer |
33
|
Richard Childress Racing |
91.7
|
Just needs to perform all year like he does in the Chase |
|
10
|
Greg Biffle |
16
|
Roush Fenway Racing |
88.4
|
Runs hot and cold, but usually puts up solid numbers in the end |
|
11
|
Mark Martin |
5
|
Hendrick Motorsports |
82.8
|
Expect a bounce-back year from the veteran |
|
12
|
Kurt Busch |
22
|
Penske Championship Racing |
91.0
|
Should be fine as long as he can shake Chase hangover |
|
13
|
Jeff Burton |
31
|
Richard Childress Racing |
96.2
|
Starting to get the feeling his best years are behind him |
|
14
|
Joey Logano |
20
|
Joe Gibbs Racing |
80.3
|
He is only going to get better in the coming years |
|
15
|
Jamie McMurray |
1
|
Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing |
86.5
|
Coming off his best season since 2004 |
|
16
|
Juan Pablo Montoya |
42
|
Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing |
82.7
|
He had 14 finishes outside the top 25 last season |
|
17
|
Ryan Newman |
39
|
Stewart-Haas Racing |
82.2
|
Has just 11 top-five finishes the last three seasons |
|
18
|
Brian Vickers |
83
|
Red Bull Racing |
74.8
|
Don't forget that he made the Chase in his last full season |
|
19
|
Kasey Kahne |
4
|
Red Bull Racing |
82.8
|
One-year deal with RBR likely to have some ups and downs |
|
20
|
David Reutimann |
00
|
Michael Waltrip Racing |
82.7
|
Starting to show success outside of the intermediate tracks |
|
21
|
A.J. Allmendinger |
43
|
Richard Petty Motorsports |
79.1
|
He's now RPM's No. 1 driver |
|
22
|
Martin Truex Jr. |
56
|
Michael Waltrip Racing |
82.2
|
Had a rather lackluster debut season with MWR |
|
23
|
Paul Menard |
27
|
Richard Childress Racing |
70.9
|
1.5-mile track ace should only improve at RCR |
|
24
|
Brad Keselowski |
2
|
Penske Championship Racing |
65.1
|
Expect more growing pains but improvement in 2011 |
|
25
|
Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
88
|
Hendrick Motorsports |
75.7
|
Not sure if there is a light at the end of this tunnel |
|
26
|
Marcos Ambrose |
9
|
Richard Petty Motorsports |
68.9
|
Has plenty to prove after a miserable 2010 season |
|
27
|
David Ragan |
6
|
Roush Fenway Racing |
66.2
|
Probably won't ever return to '08 form |
|
28
|
Regan Smith |
78
|
Furniture Row Racing |
58.4
|
No one did more with less in 2010 than Smith |
|
29
|
Bobby Labonte |
47
|
JTG Daugherty Racing |
45.9
|
He will be better in the No. 47, but that's not saying much |
|
30
|
Travis Kvapil |
34
|
Front Row Motorsports |
41.8
|
For what it's worth, he's Front Row Motorsports' top man |
|
31
|
David Gilliland |
38
|
Front Row Motorsports |
43.2
|
Should be in the field every week, which makes him worth owning |
|
32
|
Trevor Bayne |
21
|
Wood Brothers Racing |
65.9
|
Being tabbed as NASCAR's next young star, scheduled for 18 starts |
|
33
|
Casey Mears |
13
|
Germain Racing |
49.6
|
No longer has a top ride but could provide a decent run or two |
|
34
|
Bill Elliott |
09
|
Phoenix Racing |
50.8
|
Chevy man for the first time in 2011 |
|
35
|
Dave Blaney |
36
|
Tommy Baldwin Racing |
34.2
|
Has some stability with part-time ride for Tommy Baldwin |
|
36
|
Robby Gordon |
7
|
Robby Gordon Motorsports |
47.3
|
Dropping down to part time hurts his alreay shaky value |
|
37
|
Joe Nemechek |
87
|
NEMCO Motorsports |
33.2
|
Usually starts at parks but almost always qualifies on time |
|
38
|
J.J. Yeley |
46
|
Whitney Motorsports |
33.8
|
Has a full-time ride but sponsorship issues loom |
|
39
|
Boris Said |
TBD
|
TBD |
51.6
|
One of the top road course ringers no matter that car |
|
40
|
Terry Labonte |
TBD
|
TBD |
26.8
|
Still unclear how many races he will attempt in 2011 |
|
41
|
Mike Bliss |
TBD
|
TBD |
38.9
|
"Mad" Max is a road course sleeper at best |
|
42
|
Andy Lally |
TBD
|
TBD |
36.8
|
Showed some promise but slim chances of landing a decent ride |
|
43
|
Tony Raines |
TBD
|
TBD |
35.2
|
FRM's downsizing leaves him searching for a ride |
|
44
|
Ron Fellows |
TBD
|
TBD |
45.4
|
Potential road course option if he lands a ride |
|
45
|
Elliott Sadler |
TBD
|
TBD |
58.9
|
Racing Nationwide in 2011 but could easily get back into Cup |
|
46
|
Michael McDowell |
TBD
|
TBD |
31.8
|
Likely to keep finding rides thanks to great qualifying efforts |
|
47
|
Sam Hornish Jr. |
TBD
|
TBD |
61.5
|
Currently not slated to run any Cup races |
|
48
|
Scott Speed |
TBD
|
TBD |
57.3
|
Odd man out at RBR and still searching for a Cup ride |
|
49
|
Reed Sorenson |
TBD
|
TBD |
52.9
|
Always on call to fill in for Cup drivers |
|
50
|
Kevin Conway |
TBD
|
TBD |
32.5
|
From Rookie of the Year to potentially jobless |
|
51
|
Michael Waltrip |
TBD
|
Michael Waltrip Racing |
56.1
|
Worth a look at plate tracks if he decides to race |
|
52
|
Max Papis |
TBD
|
TBD |
34.4
|
Days in the Cup Series may be numbered after losing ride to Mears |
|
53
|
Scott Riggs |
TBD
|
TBD |
41.5
|
Will make occasional appearances in the Cup Series |
|
54
|
Aric Almirola |
TBD
|
TBD |
54.5
|
Set up for success in Nationwide but may get a Cup start or two |
|
55
|
Patrick Carpentier |
TBD
|
TBD |
43.1
|
Hindered by inexperience and poor equipment |
|
56
|
David Stremme |
TBD
|
TBD |
43.3
|
Probably going Nationwide only in 2011 |
|
57
|
Todd Bodine |
TBD
|
TBD |
32.3
|
Two-time Truck champ will make occasional Cup start |
|
58
|
Terry Cook |
TBD
|
TBD |
30.0
|
Rookie year cut short but got his feet wet in Cup Series |
|
59
|
Jeff Green |
TBD
|
TBD |
41.3
|
Has just three Cup starts since start of '08 season |
|
60
|
Landon Cassill |
TBD
|
TBD |
33.3
|
Always seems to qualify no matter what car he drives |
|
61
|
P.J. Jones |
TBD
|
TBD |
29.2
|
Got some oval experience in 2010 but remains a road course guy |
|
62
|
John Andretti |
TBD
|
TBD |
44.6
|
Veteran gets a Cup start every now and then |
|
63
|
Robert Richardson Jr. |
TBD
|
TBD |
40.1
|
Only raced at plate tracks in 2010 |
|
64
|
Johnny Sauter |
TBD
|
TBD |
33.2
|
Tough to find much value in a part-time start and park driver |
|
65
|
Scott Pruett |
TBD
|
TBD |
NA
|
Road course stud but rarely has a ride |
