Samsung 500: Winners and Losers

Winners

Jeff Gordon

Talk about killing two birds with one stone. Not only did he end his 40-plus race winless streak, but he also notched his first career win at Texas Motor Speedway.

Not only does this extend his current points lead, but this also means 10 bonus points come time for the Chase.

This could very well be a precursor to Gordon being a factor all season to win his fifth Cup championship.

Texas finish: winner

Points: first (1154)

David Reutimann

That No. 00 car seems to find a way to find the spotlight on qualifying day at Texas, between Michael Mcdowell's tumble through Turns Three and Four last year, to Reutimann taking the pole for last Sunday's race.

Reutimann took his front row starting position and was able to translate it into another top 15 finish and retain his current spot in the top 12 in points.

As it stands now, Reutimann looks like a great underdog pick for the 2009 Chase, but until he can find Victory Lane, don't count on him being a serious contender for the title.

Texas finish: 11th

Points: 11th, 845, (309 behind Gordon)

Tony Stewart

Another great top five for the owner/driver is helping to continue to build confidence in the Stewart Haas Racing shop.

Stewart's team, which most said would not be a contender until at least their second season of competition, is proving all the critics wrong. Back in a Chevrolet after a season with Toyota, Stewart reminds me of the Stewart of old that won two titles for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Climbing up to fifth in the current points rundown, Stewart looks to be a threat in this year's Chase.

Texas finish: fourth

Points: fifth (+2), 963, (191 behind Gordon)

Juan Pablo Montoya

The last three weeks have been very kind to Montoya. After finishes of ninth at Bristol, 12th at Martinsville, and seventh at Texas, Montoya finds himself 13th in points—a mere 16 points out of a spot in the Chase.

Montoya, with the newly formed Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, is looking to have a turn around season. He is having all these impressive finishes and the series hasn't even visited a road course yet!

Look for this run to continue and possibly include at least one win at the road course, if not next week at Phoenix.

Texas finish: seventh

Points: 13th(+1), 819, (335 behind Gordon)

Matt Kenseth

After a red-hot start, winning the first two races of the season, it looked like Kenseth had lost the momentum. But after an impressive top five at Texas, Kenseth gained back three spots in the points, and things may be coming back.

Roush Fenway Racing, who has collectively struggled as a team of late, will be looking to veteran Kenseth to lead a team resurgence during the middle part of this season.

Texas finish: fifth

Points: ninth (+3), 864, (290 behind Gordon)

Losers

David Gilliland

After a 29th place finish at Texas, Gilliland finds himself still on the outside looking in and possibly out of a ride come next race at Phoenix.

The No. 71 TRG Motorsports team—36th in owner points—is rumored to be a no show at Phoenix unless sufficient sponsorship comes along.

Texas finish: 29th

Points: 36th (+1), 462, (692 behind Gordon)

Joey Logano

Getting dangerously close to being out of the top 35 in owner points, and already the rumors have started of the possibility of Logano being replaced in the No. 20 entry for Joe Gibbs Racing come 2010.

Luckily for Logano, JD Gibbs has denied such possibility and has stated that the only way a new driver will come to JGR in 2010 is to fill a potential fourth entry—possibly the No. 02.

After a 30th place finish at Texas, the last few weeks have been very unkind to the young rookie. The off week could not be better timed for Logano and I look for the team to settle this young rookie down and get him on the right track come Phoenix in two weeks.

Texas finish: 30th

Points: 35th(-1), 510, (644 behind Gordon)

Dave Blaney

I don't know how you can put up with the apparent start and park mentality that is controlling the pit box for that No. 66 car, but you continue to follow along.

You had a great chance on Sunday to gain spots in the owner points, at least up to 39th, and get closer to a locked in spot in the top-35. But once again you parked it on your own, very early in the race.

Sure you look at the race results and there is something there (brakes, steering, fuel pump, etc.), but is that really the truth as to what is going on?

You have completed 262 laps of the nearly 2,000 laps of scheduled distance in the races you've competed in. That is just barely over 10 percent.

Whatever the reason is, just do all the fans and fellow competitors a favor and take a good hard look in the mirror and think about the way you want to be remembered and take solace in the fact you still have a sponsor, while drivers like Travis Kvapil, Aric Almirola, and Gilliland are losing rides due to lack of sponsorship.

Texas finish: 43rd

Points: 44th (41st in owner points), 187, (967 points behind Gordon)

Aric Almirola

After a 33rd place finish at Texas, Almirola and the No. 8 team find themselves facing the potential axe, due to being 37th in owner points and currently without sponsorship.

Does Almirola deserve to get to finish out the season?

The answer is definitely yes, because the kid has the potential and if some luck will turn his way he could be racking up top 15 finishes and earning himself a spot in the top-35 in owner points.

Texas finish: 33rd

Points: 37th(-1), 451, (703 behind Gordon)

Scott Speed

First career Sprint Cup DNQ doesn't look good for anyone, especially someone fighting for Raybestos Rookie of the Year, and a spot in the top-35.

Speed, who didn't lose any spots in the owner points, did however lose a lot of ground as he is now 96 points behind 35th currently held by the No. 20.

Take advantage of this off week to get your cool back and get ready for a lot of hard work at the next few races with tough qualifying tracks Phoenix, Talladega, and Richmond next on the schedule.

Texas finish: DNQ(45th)

Points: 38th, 386, (768 behind Gordon)

Texas truly was a test on drivers and crews with the long green flag runs, multiple green flag pit stops, and the need for strategy on and off pit road to gain every tenth of a second on the competition.

All teams will take great advantage of the off week and will come back with a vengeance at the short track in the desert, PIR.