Its hard to believe, but the 2008 Sprint Cup seasons starts again in less than two weeks.  The Budweiser Shootout is this Saturday night, kicking off the most fun week of the season.  This means its time to start looking at who should be contending for the title this year.   For those of you who have forgotten, the first 26 races are spend racking up enough points to qualify for the Chase.  The top 12 in points at that point will qualify for the 10 race Chase.  Those 12 are "seeded" by wins, with each win courting for a 10 point bonus.   That said, here are my top 5 contenders for the 2008 Sprint Cup.

5. Clint Bowyer, #07 RCR Chevy

Bowyer surprised many with his Chase performance last year coming in at 3rd in the standings.  He had a solid regular season bringing in many top 10 and top 15 finishes.  He took off in the Chase though, winning his first career race at Kansas.  I expect him to continue his ascent and be Richard Childress's best driver this year.  His consistency will keep him in contention and his aggressiveness will push him towards the top.

4. Jimmie Johnson, #48 HMS Chevy

Johnson is now the 2-time defending Cup champion.  He actually had a disappointing regular season, finishing light years behind points leader Jeff Gordon.  However, he had one of the most amazing 10 race stretches in NASCAR history with 4 wins, 6 top 5s, and 8 top 10s.  The only reason I don't have him higher on list is history; only one person in NASCAR history has won back to back to back titles.

3. Greg Biffle, #16 Roush Racing Ford

Biffle is one of the most underrated drivers in the sport.  He finished in 2nd place in 2005, and has since had 2 disappointing seasons in a row.  That's going to end this year.  Roush Racing has built his team back up, and the former Craftsmen Truck Series and Nationwide Series champ will be at the top of his game.  Look for him to put up 3 or 4 wins this year and put up a serious run at the title.

2. Matt Kenseth, #17 Roush Racing Ford

Kenseth might be the most consistent, if not most boring, driver in the series.  He hasn't finished out of the top 10 in points since 2001, including one title in that span.  His generally conservative driving style keeps him out of trouble for the most part, but often times keeps him from getting the extra points he needs to win the title.  Expect another solid season from Matt.

1. Jeff Gordon, #24 HMS Chevy

Gordon had one of the greatest seasons ever last year, setting a new record for top 10s with 30 for the season.  He had an almost 400 point lead going into the 10 race Chase, but started the Chase 10 points behind teammate Jimmie Johnson due to the seeding rules.  While Gordon had a very good Chase himself, notching two wins, it wasn't enough to win the title.  Expect the 4-time Cup champion to be hungry this year and accept nothing less than the title.

Maybe the most noticeable name I left off this list is Tony Stewart.  He's obviously a great driver, but with Joe Gibbs Racing's move to Toyota, I expect a drop off in performance this year from that team.  Who do you have as your top 5 title contenders for this season?