I'm for anybody but a Busch. Am so glad Jr. and Kyle won't be teammates next year. Course if Kyle wins the Chase in 2008 I may just have to, oh I don't know, do something harmful to myself. (kidding) But that is how much I can't stand Kyle or his bro.
I wouldn't be surprised if Tony Stewart finishes near the top this year if not on top. He is running well and I think his win at Indy may have given him a huge boost, we'll see.
Gordon definitely has the potential to take it all this year, but I'm not sure he will, especially if Stewart goes on a roll. Gordon hasn't won since he became a father and am wondering if he is driving a little more conservative now that his daughter has arrived. I did predict at the beginning of the season we would see a change in his racing after her birth.
And of course there are my two favorites, Jr. and Jeff Burton, both of whom I think will be in the Race for the Chase - though Jr. by the skin on his chinny chin chin, i.e. he'll barely make it. I'd really like to see Jeff Burton take it all this year, partly because he's such a gentleman and partly because he's a Duke fan.
Of the 13-18 drives you noted, I really don't see any of them making it to the Race for the Chase. Well perhaps Ryan Newman. Though definitely not Montoya. Haven't really been impressed with him even though he's won a race.
How bout that analysis for a Harvard gal?