FRONT TO BACK

We rank the Sprint Cup garages from the well-oiled machines to the shops that need a little more elbow grease.

John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR

Even though he'll be adjusting to a new team, Junior will win a few starts this year.

1. HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS
These four cars may make even more noise this year than they did in 2007, when they won18 times, with all four teams visiting Victory Lane at least once. Another Jimmie Johnson battle with Jeff Gordon will overshadow Casey Mears' move into the No. 5 car vacated by Kyle Busch. But nothing will keep newly acquired Dale Earnhardt Jr. from capturing headlines—and a few wins.

2. JOE GIBBS RACING
Despite Toyota's less-than-stellar 2007, JGR ended its 16-year relationship with General Motors to field Camrys and finally become an automaker's top dog. After adding brash Kyle Busch to an already talented, colorful lineup of Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin, JGR now boasts the most skilled (and short-tempered) trio in the infield.

3. RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING
The only outfit to put all of its cars in the 2007 Chase, RCR could end its 13-year title drought this season. Clint Bowyer is a contender after finishing third in points and getting a breakthrough win at Loudon. Add strong veterans Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton, and you might see a seventh championship for Richard Childress.

4. ROUSH FENWAY RACING
Only two seasons remain on the grandfather clause that allows Roush to exceed the NASCAR-mandated limit of four cars per team (tick, tick, tick). Matt Kenseth is rock solid, and Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards should roll. But Jamie McMurray has failed to reach his potential and sophomore David Ragan needs to accelerate his learning curve to make the cut in the No. 6 car.

5. DALE EARNHARDT INC.
Welcome to life without Dale Jr. Martin Truex Jr. broke out as the top DEI driver at midseason, and he carries big momentum and expectations into 2008. Smartest move of the off-season: putting Mark Martin in Junior's old No. 8 with the U.S. Army as his sponsor, a combo guaranteed to chase the boobirds from the stands (at least when Aric Almirola isn't subbing). Paul Menard must hustle if he doesn't want to be overtaken by rookie Regan Smith.

6. PENSKE RACING
Sam Hornish Jr. leaves the safety net of a stellar open-wheel career, but expect to find a lot of souvenir sheet metal on eBay. While Kurt Busch made the Chase and scored two wins, Ryan Newman failed to win a race for the second straight year, leaving this team playing catch-up.

7. CHIP GANASSI RACING WITH FELIX SABATES
Juan Pablo Montoya delivered the team's first checkered flag since McMurray's surprising fill-in victory in 2002. Now it's on Montoya's shoulders to take Ganassi further. Another open-wheel convert, Dario Franchitti, will get a free pass for a while, but 22-year-old Reed Sorenson (four top-five finishes in two seasons) needs to mature quickly.

GILLET EVERNHAM MOTORSPORTS
No one expected these guys to fall so far so fast. Their two Dodges combined for just one top-five finish in 2007. Open-wheeler Patrick Carpentier is an unknown, and three-time winner Elliott Sadler has been unable to find his groove. With Ray Evernham shifting his attention from ownership to under the hood, it will be his ship to right … or sink.

9. PETTY ENTERPRISES
Former champion Bobby Labonte is a stabilizing force for the once-dominant team. Kyle Petty deserves kudos for keeping his Dodge in the top 35, guaranteeing a start in the first five races. Expect new hire and former Jeff Gordon car chief Jeff Meendering to make an immediate impact in the new shop Petty has in Mooresville.

10. HALL OF FAME RACING
The top-finishing, single-car team in 2007 is now the property of the Arizona Diamondbacks' owners, who jettisoned Tony Raines after two seasons in favor of J.J. Yeley and traded in their Chevy for a Toyota.

11. TEAM RED BULL
The going was tough for the two-car startup, failing to qualify 32 times in 72 attempts. But Brian Vickers finished fifth in the Coke 600 and eighth at Michigan and Fontana. A.J. Allmendinger improved but will still sweat out qualifying days. And it remains to be seen if the management overhaul during the winter improves these Toyotas.

12. YATES RACING
Doug Yates takes over as owner for his father, Robert, and has a brand-new agreement with Roush to supply cars and engineering. But with limited sponsorship, David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil will feel like they're racing uphill.

13. ROBBY GORDON MOTORSPORTS
No independent has won since Ricky Rudd at Martinsville in 1998, but driver/owner Robby Gordon has run every race for two years, and he's a serious threat on road courses. Too bad his last-minute switch to Dodge resulted from a serious cash-flow problem: He estimates he's losing about $4.5 million from the canceled Dakar Rally.

14. BILL DAVIS RACING
Former F1 champ Jacques Villeneuve replaces Jeremy Mayfield as the No. 36 Toyota becomes No. 27. But Dave Blaney gives BDR the best chance for its first checkered flag since 2002.

15. HAAS CNC RACING
Owner Gene Haas is in jail for tax fraud, his Chevys aren't fully sponsored and everything is riding on new hires Jeremy Mayfield and Scott Riggs. Yikes.

16. MICHAEL WALTRIP RACING
ARCA standout Michael McDowell takes over No. 00 as David Reutimann jumps into the No. 44 car when Dale Jarrett calls it a career after five more races. Michael Waltrip will again double down as the owner/driver of the No. 55 Toyota.

17. WOOD BROTHERS RACING
No. 21 Ford resembles a rental car, as Bill Elliott, Marcos Ambrose and Jon Wood take turns behind the wheel.

18. FURNITURE ROW RACING
Colorado-based shop is hoping that vet Joe Nemechek improves on its top finish, Kenny Wallace's 21st at Bristol in 2007.

19. BAM RACING
Sponsorship is uncertain, but Ken Schrader returns in a Dodge for the Daytona 500 and maybe more.

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