As the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads into the Sprint All-Star Race, it provides a good time to compare the points standings now with a year ago.
Only five drivers in the top 10 in points at this time a year ago are in the top 10 this season. No driver has made a bigger jump than Martin Truex Jr., who was 26th at this time a year ago and is second now. Jamie McMurray jumped 16 spots from last year, going from 24th to eighth.
Others have not been as fortunate. Carl Edwards was fifth in points at this time a year. He’s 19th this season. Greg Biffle was ninth at this time last year and is 21st this season.
Here’s a look at where drivers are in the points standings now compared to where they were a year ago heading into the Sprint All-Star Race
This year ... Driver ... Rank last year
1 - Kevin Harvick … 15th
2 - Martin Truex Jr … 26th
3 - Jimmie Johnson … 7th
4 - Joey Logano … 6th
5 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. … 4th
6 - Brad Keselowski … 11th
7 - Matt Kenseth … 2nd
8 - Jamie McMurray … 24th
9 - Jeff Gordon … 1st
10 - Kasey Kahne … 16th
11 - Aric Almirola … 21st
12 - Paul Menard … 18th
13 - Ryan Newman … 8th
14 - Kurt Busch … 28th
15 - Denny Hamlin … 12th
16 - Clint Bowyer … 20th
17 - Danica Patrick … 27th
18 - Carl Edwards … 5th
19 - AJ Allmendinger … 17th
20 - Casey Mears … 23rd
21 - Greg Biffle … 9th
22 - Kyle Larson … 13th
23 - David Ragan … 35th
24 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr. … 25th
25 - Austin Dillon … 14th
26 - David Gilliland … 31st
27 - Sam Hornish Jr. … NA
28 - Justin Allgaier … 29th
29 - Trevor Bayne … NA
30 - Tony Stewart … 22nd
- Kyle Busch, who has not competed in a points race this season, was third at this time a year ago.
- Brian Vickers was 10th at this time last year
- Marcos Ambrose was 19th at this time last year
- Hornish and Bayne were not scoring Cup points last year
BIGGEST GAINERS FROM LAST YEAR
1- Martin Truex Jr. ... +24 spots
2 - Jamie McMurray ... +16 spots
3 - Kevin Harvick ... +14 spots
3 - Kurt Busch ... +14 spots
5 - David Ragan ... +12 spots
6 - Aric Almirola ... +10 spots
6 - Danica Patrick ... +10 spots
DRIVERS WHO HAVE FALLEN THE MOST SINCE LAST YEAR
1 - Carl Edwards ... -13 spots
2 - Greg Biffle ... - 12 spots
3 - Austin Dillon ... -11 spots
4 - Kyle Larson ... -9 spots
5 - Tony Stewart ... -8 spots
5 - Jeff Gordon ... -8 spots