| NASCAR Power Rankings | |
The 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season is underway and now we can start to get a feel for who is fast and who isn't. One bad race can confuse the points while we wait for the cream to rise to the top but true power is still the key. Here are the early-season 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup power rankings.
Updated: March 14, 2005
| Rank | 2004 Finish | Driver | Comments |
| 1 | 2 | Jimmie Johnson | Picked up right where he left off in 2004 and there's no end in sight. |
| 2 | 1 | Kurt Busch | 2004 Champ has cleaned up his image form a couple years ago and is getting the job done on the track. |
| 3 | 3 | Jeff Gordon | The Hendrick teams have their act together this season. If he can keep his teammates behind him he's got a shot at his fifth title. |
| 4 | 7 | Ryan Newman | Speed is not a problem for Ryan, if he can avoid the gremlins he can win. |
| 5 | 4 | Mark Martin | Wants to go out on top, and he's got a good chance to do it. The Viagra team is focused and they believe they can get it done. I tend to agree. |
| 6 | 6 | Tony Stewart | The Gibbs guys are off to a bad start in '05 but they won't stay down for long. |
| 7 | 5 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Currently 27th in points after a string of bad luck. Junior won't win the title this year, but he's not THAT bad. |
| 8 | 37 | Carl Edwards | Off to a fast start with his Roush teammates. He's not flashy, but solid and fast is what it takes to win and Carl can do that. |
| 9 | ** | Kyle Busch | This kid is incredibly talented and has a strong Hendrick team behind him. His first win isn't too far away. |
| 10 | 14 | Kevin Harvick | Just can't decide if he wants to be a superstar or not. Some weeks he's great, other times not. |
| 11 | 8 | Matt Kenseth | Bunching the rest of the Roush guys together here. The 2003 Champ gets the nod by a nose. |
| 12 | 17 | Greg Biffle | What will Greg bring to the table for his sophomore effort? Hard to see him improving more than a few spots. |
| 13 | 11 | Jamie McMurray | Finished 2004 strong and seems to be gearing up for another good year. Will again be on the fence to make The Chase. |
| 14 | 12 | Bobby Labonte | After a horrendous start to the season Bobby has to get it going to make The Chase. He's likely got a win or two in him, but will once again "also-ran" in the points. |
| 15 | 16 | Rusty Wallace | Last Call! Rusty can take comfort in knowing that he's retiring before he becomes Darrell Waltrip. But he'll be far behind Mark Martin in "Going out on top." |
| 16 | 9 | Elliott Sadler | Solid season in 04 but this Yates team hasn't shown much promise yet in 05. |
| 17 | 13 | Kasey Kahne | Currently 38th in points Kasey will get his first win in 05. But he's dug himself a big hole to climb out of into The Chase. |
| 18 | 15 | Dale Jarrett | Missing The Chase in 04 put some fire in this team but Dale hasn't really been a factor in a few years now. He needs to prove that he belongs higher on this list. |
| 19 | 20 | Michael Waltrip | Off-season team swap could be good for Mikey, but I'm really not sure that there's much to the #15 other than plate racing. |
| 20 | 18 | Jeff Burton | Still hasn't found his footing with Childress, but when he starts clicking he could climb towards the top ten. |
| 21 | 21 | Sterling Marlin | Was on track to win it all in 2002 when he got hurt. Since then he has just never returned to form. |
| 22 | 23 | Ricky Rudd | The Wood Brothers just don't have the equipment that Robert Yates did |
| 23 | 49 | Mike Bliss | Off to a decent start after a part-time 2004 effort. Has Mike finally found a team that understands what he needs? |
| 24 | 22 | Casey Mears | I'd like to see Casey get a top ride so we'd know once and for all if it's him or his team. Doesn't look like we'll fnd out in 2005 either. |
| 25 | 19 | Joe Nemechek | Won a race in 2004 and will likely have some good runs this year but the inconsistencies make him a tough guy to add to your fantasy team. |
Other Notables
| Rank | 2004 Finish | Driver | Comments |
| ** | 23 | Robby Gordon | Starting his own team will keep him behind the curve for the first half of 2005 but whether or not you like him you have to admit that he can drive. |
| ** | 10 | Jeremy Mayfield | Every year I think maybe he'll be big, then he proves me wrong. I'm about ready to give up on Jeremy. |
| ** | 31 | Ken Schrader | Having solid runs with an underfunded program, but not good enough to earna roster spot. But if you like to root for the old-timers then he's gotta be your favorite. |
