This time I will take it down to a “Top 5 Surprises So Far” list for Sprint Cup drivers. The list doesn’t follow just the race standings, it’s individual for driver and the team depending on what to expect from them.
1. Martin Truex Jr. – #78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
Without any doubt the most positive single-car team in Sprint Cup so far. Truex Jr, age 35, drives the #78 car with such a authority and power at the track. With 9 races so far, Truex Jr has 1 Top 5 and 8 Top 10 – that’s impressing! Avg start: 11.0 and Avg finish: 9.4
2. Kevin Harvick – #4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
The Sprint Cup leader Kevin Harvick, age 39, has been very dominant so far. It seems that everything is working perfectly in #4 team right now. I think the cooperation between crew chief Rodney Childers and Harvick is a strong part of the team success. With 9 races so far, Harvick presents impressing 2 Wins, 7 Top 5, 8 Top 10, 1 Pole and led 952 laps. Avg start: 6.9 and Avg finish: 6.4.
3. Kurt Busch – #41 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
Only three words are needed; what a comeback! After a three race suspension, K.Busch, age 36, has founded the “old magic” once again with Stewart Haas Racing. Leading 291 laps and winning at Richmond last weekend, Busch can be a strong chase contender this season. With 6 races so far, Busch has 1 Win, 3 Top 5, 3 Top 10 and 2 Poles. Avg start: 7.7 and Avg finish: 8.7.
4. Joey Logano – #22 Team Penske Ford
The Sprint Cup runner-up in points performs solid race after race. Logano, age 25, already has 3 poles in 9 races and a average start of 4.1. Not so many drivers can show that kind of stats after 9 races. Logano has 1 Win, 5 Top 5, 8 Top 10 and avg finish: 9.1. A strong chase contender.
5. Jamie McMurray – #1 Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
McMurray, age 39, is in position 9 in Sprint Cup total. Many thought, me included, that the other Chip Ganassi car of #42 Kyle Larson, would be the team dominant car. We were wrong so far. McMurray may not attract the full attention from the tv-commentators all the time, but he performs very solid at the track. Position 9 in Sprint Cup total is impressing for #1 car. With 9 races so far, 2 top 5, 4 top 10, avg start: 11.7 and avg finish: 15.0.
(JS)
I'm not that surprised The list above is about the same teams and drivers that where in the mix at the end of last year, with the exception of Truex Jr or perhaps Kurt Busch. Most of the surprises this year has been on the negative side Top dog teams that not hade the race finishes or consistency that we expect from them. If you are looking for surprises perhaps we need to look at some of the smaller teams like the 51 team of Justin Allgaier that IMO stepped it up a notch. .