ONMC'S POWER 10: New Leader...

By Ron Lemasters Jr.

A week after the Power 10 unveiled a new leader...there's another new leader.

Given the events at Auto Club Speedway last weekend, the top spot isn't the only one that changed, either.

As usual, we rank the top 10 drivers in NASCAR according to how they’re running right now.

How it works is simple: we tell you who the 10 best drivers are after each race this season, and you can agree, disagree or improve on them by commenting on the article itself. Sound good?

Great. Here we go.

1. Carl Edwards: He didn't win at Auto Club, but he took the point lead by a single marker. He's been stout since Bristol, though, and that counts. Last week: 2

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Sort of roller-coasterish these days, Junior still managed to run well at ACS and is now just a point out of the lead after five races. Junior Nation is enthused. Last week: 3

3. Matt Kenseth: Didn't win at ACS, either, but ran well enough to have a shot. Stayed in it like he always does, and methinks he's rumbling toward a big run Sunday. Last week: 6

4. Kyle Busch: He did win at ACS, holding off Kyle Larson on the GWC. For all his success at Bristol, he's not been good at Martinsville. Could that change this weekend? Last week: not ranked

5. Brad Keselowski: Tire bug bit him twice at ACS, and he fell to fourth in the points. Was pretty good before that, but doesn't run well at Martinsville. Last week: 1

6. Jimmie Johnson: Two races, two tire problems, no victories. Ahem. It's Martinsville. He owns the joint. Unless Goodyear brings another set of Jimmie Specials, he's the Man. Last week: 5

7. Jeff Gordon: Had the ACS race in the bag until Clint Bowyer spun (I seem to have heard about that before...) and got shuffled on the GWC restart. He's the guy Six-Time bought the Martinsville track from, so... Last week: 8

8. Tony Stewart: Spent seven-eighths of the race at ACS out to lunch, but had some snappy pit work and a gutsy call to make it to the top five for the second straight week. He's getting back in the groove. Last week: 9

9. Paul Menard: Baby is acting like she needs new shoes, and Paul is putting his down hard these days. Was wicked quick at Vegas and did well at Bristol. Wasn't bad at ACS. He's driving for three now, so... Last week: not ranked

10. Kyle Larson: If he had won the Sunday race after winning on Saturday, he'd be No. 1. As it is, he darn near did just that. Kid is a comer, and he'll be in the mix all season long. Last week: not ranked.

Close, but no cigar:

Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Greg Biffle. Road to the top 10 paved with good intentions, but will the tires get them there?