What are the weaknesses of four drivers having standout seasons? (Driver reports).

Matt Kenseth

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Though Kenseth has topped the standings since the fourth race of the year, he has raced long enough to know that with just more than half the reason remaining, his points lead, 180 after the Pepsi 400, nearly can evaporate with one DNF. His team's ability to finish in the top 10--13 times in 16 races--and simply finish races when he doesn't has kept him on top. It's a relief for Kenseth to have one road course and, in particular, one restrictor-plate race remaining, "Daytona and Talladega are a crapshoot for 90 percent of the field," he says. "Speedways are a concern when you're racing for points." The team is solid in all areas, and crew chief Robbie Reiser says the pit work has improved over the last year. If the team has a weakness, it's the lack of experience in winning a NASCAR title. The team will test at Watkins Glen this month, Darlington in August and Martinsville in September.

Bobby Labonte

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Labonte knows how to win a title. Add that to the new chassis his team has worked with this season and crew chief Michael McSwain's knowledge of setups, and Labonte has renewed confidence. "I know we're going to be better than we were last year," he says. But the crew is considerably different from the one that surrounded him in his 2000 championship season. It's too early to predict how it will withstand the stress down the stretch. Labonte, who has second- or third-place finishes in six of his last nine races, says the key is staying strong. "You don't want to start that 20-week stretch with a couple of bad finishes because it will hurt your momentum if you do," he says. Labonte squeezes everything out of his cars, yet he knows not to overdrive them in pressure situations. He has poles this year, but his qualifying has not been consistent. That must improve, in part because pit stall placement will become increasingly important the summer.

Jeff Gordon