Drivers who have improved: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. has gotten the headlines for a great year-over-year improvement through 10 races by improving by nine spots over this time last year, but #99-Carl Edwards, #39-Ryan Newman and #43-A.J. Allmendinger have each improved by 10 spots over last year, and Edwards has zoomed to the top spot in the standings. #14-Tony Stewart and #47-Bobby Labonte deserve kudos for each improving eight spots over last year so far.
Drivers who have dropped: #31-Jeff Burton has plummeted 15 spots from this time last year, and faces an uphill struggle to make The Chase. Mired in 24th, only one driver has come from that far back (Matt Kenseth in 2005) to make The Chase. #24-Jeff Gordon, despite recording a win at Phoenix, has dropped 11 spots from last year. #11-Denny Hamlin, who carried the championship lead into the final race last year, has slipped nine spots. See season-to-season comparison, 2011 rundown and more on the Chase Stats after Darlington page.(5-14-2011)
