We're down to NASCAR's Final Four...races left until the Chase that is!  The next stop is round #2 at Michigan.  Last time, Dale Jr. broke his 2-year winless streak when he coasted across the line on fumes.  Who's hot and who's not after oen of the craziest road course races in recent memory?

NEW THIS WEEK: Martin Truex Jr.,  & Juan Montoya
DROPPED OUT: Mark Martin & Travis Kvapil

Note that Mark Martin drops out of this week's rankings thanks to Almirola driving the 8 car combined with top-5s for both Truex & Montoya.

Before we check out this week's rankings, let's give one final honorable mention to the Bloke who almost made history this past weekend, Marcos Ambrose!  The Tasmanian Devil deserves a shout-out this week for the awesome show he put on for the fans at Watkins Glen, started dead last on the field, and finishing 3rd.  He earned his first Sprint Cup top-10 and top-5 in just his 3rd start in NASCAR's top division.  He came up just 2 spots short of joining Kevin Harvick as one of a select few drivers to win a race in just their 3rd career start, and also Carl Edwards who became the last driver to win his first career race in NASCAR's top TWO divisions in the same weekend.  Here's looking forward to next year, when Ambrose goes full-time, and should be a delight to watch.

Now, without further adieu, here are this week's power rankings...

20. David Ragan (-5): Ragan finished 30th at The Glen...luckily for him AAA insures lousy races and keeps you in the hunt for the Chase.  After such a miserable weekend, he's still 115 points ahead of Ryan Newman!

19. Brian Vickers: Vickers didn't have a total bomb, but when the 2 newcomers to this week's rankings both got a top-5 and you just barely cracked the top-20, you're not moving up.  One more bad finish and this Bryan leaves YOU, Brian, off next week's rankings!  You're my dark horse to make the Chase, now quit playing around!

18. Ryan Newman (-4): Newman went WHEEEE through turn 1, along with half the field.  But then he stalled his car, and he stalled it again...then he stopped to avoid the big wreck in turn 11 and stalled it again!  Somehow he still managed to finish on the lead lap.  Note to Ryan: the Kodak colors haven't been any good since Sterling Marlin drove the #4!

17. Jamie McMurray: Jamie Mac had a so-so run at Watkins Glen.  Maybe he could've had a top-10 if he wasn't spotted drinking shots of Crown before the National Anthem.

16. Martin Truex Jr. (previously NR): Truex looked like his shot at the Chase took a final blow after the penalty in Daytona, but low and behold Truex is back within striking distance.  Keep your eye on DEI's anchor.  He may prove me wrong yet.

15. Juan Pablo Montoya (previously NR): Montoya was looking to avenge last year's debacle with Truex and Harvick.  He did that with a 4th-place finish...but guess who finished right behind him...Truex and Harvick.  I don't know about the rest of you folks, but I was praying those 3 didn't get together again in the final laps!

14. A.J. Allmendinger (+2): Allmendinger continues to impress.  He nearly got a career-best, but had to "settle" for 11th.  Considering last year at this time he was lucky to even make the race...what a turnaround!  I say this every week about A.J., but you've got to admit he's getting better, he's getting better all the time!

13. Clint Bowyer (-4): Clint was in and needed a win to keep the Kenseth behind him.  Kenseth got 12th and now is IN 12th, and Bowyer must start to pursue him.

12. Greg Biffle (-1): Once again the Biff goes home without a trip to victory lane.  If he plans on making the Chase, a win is key before Richmond.  He's dropped 3 spots in the last 2 races, and teammate Ragan was denied his request to AAA ton insure Biffle some Chase Rewards Points.

11. Matt Kenseth (+1): Kenseth got himself back into the top-12 with a top-12 finish.  Mr. Consistency needs a couple victories though!  Let's get working on that, Matt, time is running out.

10. Denny Hamlin (+3):  Hamlin completed the top-10 run for JGR.  When asked by FedEx customers if he likes road racing, Denny replied "I should've spun out Gordon."  Only this time he didn't have to...

9. Jeff Gordon (-5): 29th on a road course?  No, it's not a typo!  Gordon had quite possibly the worst road racing day of his 16-year Sprint Cup career.  The 9-time road race winner couldn't get anything to go right.  This just goes to show that even the best drivers have bad days, and yes even Jeff Gordon can have a screwed up day on a road course!

8. Jeff Burton (-3): Burton didn't have a finish worse than 15th before the (former) Pepsi 400 in Daytona...now he's struggling to finish in the top-20.  He better be thanking his lucky stars for the start he had to this season, otherwise he'd be battling his teammates for the final Chase spot.

7. Kasey Kahne (-1): The Allstate girls couldn't help Kasey get a top-10 finish.  Maybe he was driving cautiously due to nightmares of hitting a pole and blowing up a firewroks stand.

6. Kevin Harvick (+4): Happy was certainly happy that A) he didn't get into a shoving match with Montoya again, and B) he has a tiny, and I do mean a tiny bit of breathing room over 13th in the standings.

5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (-2): Don't stop refueling, you will keep on losing...

4. Kyle Busch (+5): Shrub completes the 2008 road course sweep...although it's pretty hard to jump back to the top of the rankings when your closest competitors all finished within striking distance!

3. Tony Stewart (+4): Smoke finished 2nd yet again.  Will we see the fat man climb another fence soon?

2. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson gained a ton of confidence running the Nationwide race on Saturday.  It paid off big time on Sunday as he was actually competitive and got a well-earned top-10 finish.  He still doesn't have a road course victory, but that's okay, Earnhardt didn't either until 1995.  Jimmie is working on it, and after 7 years he finally seems to be headed in the right direction for that coveted win.

1. Carl Edwards: Squeegee Backflip Boy keeps his place atop the rankings for a solid top-10 run.  Even though he didn't lead a lap, he's now 2nd in the points behind that guy who is my age...yeah you know, that Kyle Busch kid.  Edwards now heads to the race that started it all.  This weekend's race in Michigan will mark 4 years in Spirnt Cup competition for Cousin Carl.  Let's see if he can snag a win when he returns to the beginning.

Don't miss Michigan this Sunday, and keep it tuned here to The Blitzburgh Pit Stop for your weekly NASCAR power rankings on Q!

BK over and out