NASCAR Power Rankings: New Hampshire

(Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

"But people can 'Say, Say, Say,' what they want, because I'm not going to change my style of driving. The Busch boys have hard heads. We all know Kurt can take a punch. Me? I'm just incredibly stubborn."

8. Ryan Newman

Along with Joey Logano, Newman gambled when rain threatened, staying on the track while the leaders pitted during green flag stops with about 65 laps remaining. Newman ran out of fuel before the rains came and was forced to pit on lap 264, giving Logano the lead and eventually the win when rain halted the race nine laps later.

Newman finished 29th and is now seventh in the Sprint Cup point standings, 397 out of first.

"I think we showed a lot of heart gambling for the win," Newman said. "Too often, drivers race for points instead of going for the win. There's nothing wrong with making a bold push for the win. Unfortunately, in my case, push came to shove when I ran out of gas and my crew had to shove me to my pit stall."

"But that's not very important when compared to the death of Michael Jackson. Not many people realized this, but Kyle Busch graciously honored Jackson when he plowed Martin Truex's No. 1 car. That paid homage to Jackson's numerous No. 1'hits.'"

"And, if I'm not mistaken, one of those chart toppers was 'Rock(et) With You.'"

9. Kasey Kahne

Following up his win at Sonoma, Kahne finished 10th at Loudon, the third time this year he has posted back-to-back top 10's. He also inched closer to cracking the top 12 in the Sprint Cup point standings, where he trails Juan Montoya in 12th by a single point.

"Let's not all get caught up in 'Logano-mania,'" Kahne said. "Logano's win was basically a fluke. Usually, when you spin, puncture two tires, and fall a lap down on two occasions, you don't get a win; you get a drug test."

"Don't forget, while I'm no spring chicken, I'm still a youthful 29 years of age. And the Richard Petty Motorsports team is hot right now. Were Michael Jackson still alive, he'd no doubt call me a 'P.Y.T.,' 'Petty Young Thing.' And with the right amount of 'T.L.C.,' tender loving care,' I'll take me there, to the Chase For the Cup.'"

10. Juan Montoya

Montoya started 12th and finished 12th in the Lenox Indistrial Tools 301. More importantly, he led six laps, and was rewarded with five bonus points, which allowed him to hold off Kasey Kahne for 12th in the point standings. Montoya leads Kahne by a single point.

"As a native of the country of Colombia," Montoya said, "I'm well aware of the importance of drug tests. I passed all of mine, which was why I was forced to leave the country."

"And here in NASCAR, Jeremy Mayfield's drug saga continues. Mayfield has reiterated that he did not take methamphetamines. He also adamantly denies that he inhaled, or had sex with that woman."

"But with a mountain of evidence against him, and NASCAR's high-priced lawyers refuting his every defense, it looks like Mayfield's chances for redemption are slim. So, as for the rap against him, I don't think he'll 'Beat It.'"

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