1 Brad Keselowski: The defending champion. Real skill only beginning to approach its potential.
2 Kasey Kahne: Won twice in the Chase last year and finished a career-high fourth in points in his first year at Hendrick.3 Jimmie Johnson: Still the best driver with the best team on the best organization in the sport. Hands down.4 Matt Kenseth: The under-the-radar threat, even though he's always in the Chase and he's always good.5 Denny Hamlin: He flies on mile-and-a-half tracks, of which Texas Motor Speedway is one, and which dominate the schedule.6 Kyle Busch: He didn't make the Chase last year, but if he had, look out. He averaged a finish of 6.8 in the final 10 races.7 Greg Biffle: His team last year squeezed the most speed out of anybody else in the super-fast Roush Fenway garage.8 Clint Bowyer: Last year was a rebirth of sorts for him with a new car and a new team. A super savvy driver.9 Tony Stewart: Won the championship two years ago, wound up very ordinary last year. He hasn't mellowed, has he?10 Carl Edwards: An afterthought last year after being a whisker away from being a champion the year before. Where did his speed go?11 Joey Logano: It never clicked for him at Joe Gibbs Racing. A change of scenery at Penske, with Brad Keselowski, might awaken something.12 Kurt Busch: Having served a year's penance in the Cup hinterlands, he is on a little more sure footing with Furniture Row Racing.
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