It’s Looking Like A Season-Long Standings Battle

Over the last few years, the first five races of the season haven’t presented many surprises as far as the driver or owner standings. The driver leader had a hefty advantage at that early stage – since 2005, an average of 71 points over second place and an average of 152 points over fifth. The top 30 in owner points, after the switch from the previous season’s owner standings, didn’t have any ah-hah moments, either.

But this year, although Carl Edwards remains the leader, Brad Keselowski is 16 points behind in second – the closest second place has been after five races since 2002 (Greg Biffle led Jeff Green by seven). Meanwhile, only 61 points separate first from fifth in the driver standings.

On the owner side, Roush Fenway Racing, with seven wins at Phoenix – including the last three consecutive – has two of its four full-time teams on the outside of the top 30. Rookies Colin Braun (34th) and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (36th) are now forced to qualify on time along with Phoenix native Michael McDowell. McDowell is only three points out of 30th, however, while Braun (27) and Stenhouse (64) are within striking distance of a top 30-standing.