NASCAR
awarded Kurt Busch the 2004 Nextel Cup Championship on Sunday but the final
power rankings for the 2004 season reveals a much different story. The battle
between Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson in the power rankings continued thru
the final weeks and after the checkered flag dropped on Sunday, Jeff
Gordon managed to hold the lead in the final power poll as a result of
his 3rd place finish in the season ending Ford 400. Jeff
Gordon wins the 2004 Power Polling for the Best
Driver. Despite a tremendous stretch run by Jimmie
Johnson, that included 4 wins in the last 6 races and finishing 2nd in
Sunday's race, Johnson finished the year in second place, just 6
points behind Gordon.
Dale
Earnhardt Jr. once again had lots of problems at Homestead, finishing the
day 23rd in the race, but still managed to finish in 3rd place in the final
power poll. Kurt Busch, whom NASCAR awarded the championship, could do
no better the finish 4th in the final power poll. He also overcame a
number of setbacks during the Homestead race but was still able to finish
5th. Jamie McMurray closed the season with a tremendous second
half effort but didn't even crack the Top 10 in the current points NASCAR
points system.The final power poll however shows a much different
story and establishes McMurray as the 5th strongest driver in the series
during the 2004 season.
Tony
Stewart finished 4th in Sunday's race and jumped a spot to 6th place in
the power rankings while Mark Martin fell into 7th place. Ryan Newman
finished Sundays race in 30th and that caused him to fall to 8th in the final
2004 power poll. Kasey Kahne closed a great rookie season staying in
the 9th slot while Matt Kenseth stayed in the in the 10th spot
after finishing the Ford 400 in 19th place. The final 2004 power rankings
following this weeks race at the Homestead-Miami are as listed below:
