Yahoo Power Rankings
http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/nextel/powerrankings;_ylt=ApqmvCMeRB5YXAG6BqZc_vfov7YF?race=21
1. Jeff Burton - Sure, the key now is simply to not mess it up, but Burton and Co. put themselves in that position with some terrific performances.
2. Matt Kenseth - We admit, it was tempting to skip the No. 2 spot again this week. But a hot No. 17 team still would be within striking distance.
3. Kevin Harvick - He's got his Busch championship; can a Cup title follow? Maybe, but this team's sub-top 10 finishes need to disappear fast.
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - What a difference a third place at Talladega would have made. It's too bad, as Junior seems to be turning it on when it counts.
5. Mark Martin - He'd be second on this list if not for the wreck with J.J. Yeley. This team can be streaky; it must hope a bad streak didn't just begin.
6. Jimmie Johnson - What a difference a win or second place at Talladega would have made. Is too much faith being put in the 48's comeback ability?
7. Kasey Kahne - How to execute an unlikely comeback? It starts with back-to-back finishes of second and first. There still is a very long way to go.
8. Denny Hamlin - It was a gutsy effort just to finish 28th after wrecking Saturday at Lowe's, but his Chase finishes have been getting worse every week.
9. Brian Vickers - If he and the No. 25 car had been putting together streaks like this all year, would Vickers be sticking with Hendrick Motorsports in 2007?
10. Carl Edwards - Edges Bobby Labonte and Kyle Busch here. Hot streak surprising because 99 hasn't been doing it all year. Labonte, meanwhile, is ready for '07.
Montoya completes first Nextel Cup test session
http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/10/19/jmontoya.homestead.test.3/index.html