Grading the Field: Part One

Nascar has 7 races left until the Chase field is officially locked in for a 10 race sprint to become 2013 Nascar Sprint Cup Champion. Every driver has different expectations on the season and those same drives may have changed there expectations for these next 7 races depending on where they stand.

This article will take a look at how the drivers "grade" out on how their season has gone compared to what they were looking at for the beginning of the 2013 season. This is also a "Part One" because we will most likely take a look back and regrade the same drivers towards the end of the season (if not once right before/during the Chase).

**Starting with current standings and going down in order until around 20th, or most the guys with at least a slim chance at the Chase.**


Jimmie Johnson- Grade: A

• JJ has a Sprint Cup best 13 top 10's and also is tied for the lead with 4 wins. Those 4 wins mean he has one less then he had all last year (5 wins). While he is on pace for more wins and top 10's JJ is behind on his top 5 marks which shows that other drivers have a shot at the Cup (8 top 5's or pace of 15 to 16. 18 total in 2012).

Clint Bowyer- Grade: A-

• Bowyer finished 2012 with a chance at the Cup until he and Gordon had a spat. It was his first year at MWR and he exceeded expectations when he finished the season 2nd. This season the expectation's in the #15 camp was to contend again for a Title. So far so good for Bowyer who is 2nd in the standings, has 7 top 5's, and virtually a lock for the Chase. Only thing holding him back is the fact he doesn't have a win in 2013.

Carl Edwards- Grade: B

• Last year Carl struggled and missed the Chase just a season after finishing 2nd in the standings. Im sure the 99 team was looking to bounce back and regain form in 2013. The season started out well with an early season win at Phoenix but he hasn't found his 2011 form when he finished with 19 top 5's (6 so far in 2013). Overall it hasn't been a bad start to 2013 but Carl would love to be a contender for more wins week to week or at least a front runner (top 5's).

Kevin Harvick- Grade: A+

• Hold ground, run well, and keep sponsors happy. I'm sure that was what was on Harvicks mind, and possibly the entire #29 teams mind for the 2013 season. RCR already knew Harvick had a foot out the door yet he is looking as good as ever. Kevin has more Wins (2), as many top 5's (5), and only 3 less top 10's (11) as his entire 2012 season. Not only that, Harvick's worst finish is 14th if you take out restrictor plate races where he got caught up in wrecks. He is a guy to watch when it comes to the Chase.

Dale Earnhardt Jr- Grade: B-

• Last season Jr was making a huge push in the Chase but he ended up on the wrong end of a wreck that left him sitting out with a concussion and ruining any hope he had. Expectations have always been high for JR but I think this season he was hoping to find that late season form and turn it into s full season form. Well so far he has been on about par for that course with an outlook of about as many top 5's and top 10's as last years totals. Unfortunately their is still more to be desired and Jr is once again looking for a win in 2013 (Maybe Michigan in Aug).

Kyle Busch- Grade: B+

• These grades are where they're right now. As of now Kyle hasn't hit a late season, or Chase, slide yet (which is one of his downfalls so far in his career). This grade can and will go up if he actually makes a Chase run this season instead of falling apart down the stretch. He is in position though to have his best standings finish of his short career.

Matt Kenseth- Grade: B+

• Kenseth entered 2013 with a new team and new gels that needed to bond (if it wasn't for this fact he would grade a B). He and JGR showed that chemistry and click right away and not hold down Kenseth. Matt has 4 early season wins but consistency is still desired from the #20 team if they want to contend for a title. He is behind pace for top 5's and right on for top 10's compared to last season.

Greg Biffle- Grade: C+

• Entering 2013 Biffle was looking for some consitency after a rocky 2011 and a bounce back 2012, but at the same time to make a leap forward and become a contender after not finishing above 5th in the standings since 2008. Biffle as of late has found a little consistency but he lacked it early in 2013 and he also needs to heat up if he wants to contend for the Cup come Chase time.

Brad Keselowski- Grade: D+

• BK came into 2013 as the defending Champ and he showed just that to start the year. His 2013 aspirations were to contend again in 2013. As of right now he hasn't shown (in long, consistent runs) that he is capable of doing that. He does get a pass from receiving a lower grade 1) because much has been bad luck just piling up and 2) he just had a good run at NH for a 4th place finish and a Pole showing life. He is still somehow in 9th in the standings even though he has been terrible as of late.

Kasey Kahne- Grade: C

• Last year Kahne finally had an impact during the Chase. After finishing 4th in points in 2012 Kahne had to be looking at continuing that streak into 2013. 2013 started off well for Kahne and he jumped to a hot start where he was fast at almost every track Nascar visited but he has been up and down as of late making him teeter tottering on the edge of the Chase standings.

Martin Truex Jr- Grade: B+

• Truex and his teammate at MWR Bowyer made the Chase last year but Bowyer fared better as Truex finished 11th (Only ahead of Dale Jr who missed two races). This season the goal was to get back into the Chase again. That is left to be determined but right now he has the 11th spot and the WC spot because of a win. Yes, Truex had his first win since 2007 this year which helps his grade.

Jeff Gordon- Grade: C-

• He is 12th in points but does not have the WC spot because he doesn't have a win yet in 2013. Gordon entered 2013 as he does every year, with his sights set on a return to glory. This season has been anything but that. He has yet to notch a win and is just on the outside looking in when it comes to the Chase. Luckily for the #24 team their is time to get it going and sneak in.

Tony Stewart- Grade: C+

• Smoke is tough to grade right now because he seems to always go on a "Summer Run" when it starts to get hot out. He could start that at anytime but as of now he is in the last WC spot that could be stolen from him at any moment. He is a year in year out contender so he has to be disappointed as of right now.

Kurt Busch- Grade: A-

• To no ones surprise he has a high grade. He has taken this small one car team and shown them it is possible to be in Chase contention. Unfortunately he is sometimes guilty of over driving the car or the team has made a questionable call during the race that holds him back from the highest ranking. You still can not put him down for the work he has done as they're sitting 14th in points.

Jamie McMurray- Grade: A-

• Well McMurray entered 2013 just looking to find some good runs. In his career he has a 19.2 average finish position so he obviously didn't enter 2013 thinking of winning a title (I know everyone wants to, but they can be realistic as well). But as of right now McMurray is make a great run to at least get to the Chase which was a realistic goal for the #1 team. Having his best year since 2010 McMurray sits 15th in points and is currently on a hot streak. 

Aric Almirola- Grade: B+

• The #43 team came into 2013 with high expectations for improvement out of there young driver after he finished just outside of the top 20 in his first full season (21st). 2013 has been just the step the team was looking for as he has more top 10's and as many top 5's as all of last season. Not only that, but Aric is in 16th right now and has an outside shot at the Chase which has to be above expectations for the #43 team.

Jeff Burton- Grade: B

• Well Burton's career has been slowly running a downhill course as of late (finishing 19th and 20th the past two years). He isn't too much farther off the pace this season (17th in standings) but his averag finish is better and he has as many top 5's and 1 less top 10 as all of last season.

Burton, the last driver grade, is 21 points from 12th place Jeff Gordon, but both need to be chasing win's to have a chance at the 11th or 12th WC spots. I ended with Burton because I don't see much hope for the Chase beyond them unless it comes off of multiple wins from Logano, Newman, or even Menard.