MidSeason Review: 2006 NASCAR Preseason Top 10 Jimmie Johnson Unseats Jeff
Gordon at Top of Chart

Media fine-tunes finishing order of 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 13, 2006) -- With the first half of 2006 a memory,
and the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup looming closer, media voters recently
re-assessed their choices in the 2006 NASCAR Preseason Top 10.

The original poll was conducted in February; the latest was conducted after
five months of competition. The updated result has Jimmie Johnson (No. 48
Lowe's Chevrolet) unseating his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon
(No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) at the top of the list, plus the appearance of
three drivers not selected in the 2006 NASCAR Preseason Top 10 poll.

The most recent poll results echo -- but don't mimic -- current standings as
the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series heads into week three of the Race to the Chase,
the 10-event span that culminates in race No. 26 at Richmond International
Raceway on Sept 9, the cutoff point to make the Chase.

A total of 79 votes were cast; voting began June 26 and ended July 3. Drivers
received 10 points for first place, nine points for second place, eight
points for third place, seven points for fourth place, six points for fifth
place, five points for sixth place, four points for seventh place, three
points for eighth place, two points for ninth place and one point for 10th.

Johnson, picked third in the preseason poll, received 721 points and 56
first-place votes -- 164 points more than second-place Matt Kenseth (No. 17
DeWALT Power Tools Ford), who in February was picked to finish 10th. Kasey
Kahne (No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge), who wasn't in the NASCAR Preseason Top
10 poll, is third in the most recent poll. Mark Martin (No. 6 AAA Ford),
originally picked to finish eighth, is fourth. And reigning series champion
Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet), picked to finish second behind
Gordon in the preseason poll, is fifth in midseason results.

The rest of the midseason NASCAR Top 10 follows: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8
Budweiser Chevrolet) remains in sixth place. Greg Biffle (No. 16 National
Guard Ford), originally picked fourth, is seventh in the midseason poll.
Gordon is eighth, and Jeff Burton (No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet), who
wasn't selected in the NASCAR Preseason Top 10, is ninth. Kevin Harvick (No.
29 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet) -- also not selected in the preseason poll -- is
10th.

Three drivers selected in the 2006 NASCAR Preseason Top 10 didn't make the
midseason poll. They are Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford), who was
selected fifth in February, Ryan Newman (No. 12 Alltel Dodge), who was
selected seventh, and Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge), who was selected
ninth.

2006 Preseason NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Top 10
1. Jeff Gordon
2. Tony Stewart
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Greg Biffle
5. Carl Edwards
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
7. Ryan Newman
8. Kurt Busch
9. Mark Martin
10. Matt Kenseth

2006 Midseason NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Top 10
1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Matt Kenseth
3. Kasey Kahne
4. Mark Martin
5. Tony Stewart
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
7. Greg Biffle
8. Jeff Gordon
9. Jeff Burton
10. Kevin Harvick

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