Top 10 drivers in the NASCAR

Jeff Gordon, A; 2,773 points. Gordon's fifth-place finish resulted in a series-high 12th top five and a tongue-lashing from teammate Kyle Busch. Bring on Chicagoland. ***

Denny Hamlin, C; 2,496. The grade is C, as in crazy. When I saw Tony Stewart take out his teammate Hamlin, while they were running 1-2 on Lap 14 with Hamlin in the lead, I went bonkers, as I'm sure millions of other NASCAR fans did. I still can't believe it happened. ***

Matt Kenseth, A; 2,390. No controversy with Kenseth. Just a solid eighth-place finish for his second consecutive top 10. ***

Jimmie Johnson, A; 2,366. Johnson was running in the top five when he was shuffled back. He finished 10th, which saved him from being in a position to receive Busch's wrath. ***

Jeff Burton, B; 2,345. Burton and the No. 31 team battled handling conditions all night. He restarted 25th after pitting on Lap 146 during the seventh caution and worked his way up to a 16th-place finish. Burton: "That was definitely a wild race, and I'll certainly take my 16th-place finish." ***

Carl Edwards, A; 2,308. Edwards finished fourth, and on a night when teammates were ripping teammates, it was refreshing to hear Jamie McMurray give heartfelt thanks to Edwards for getting behind him on the last lap and giving him a critical push. ***

Tony Stewart, F; 2,234. If Stewart knew for three laps that Hamlin was having handling problems, what was he doing on his bumper? Of all of Stewart's dust-ups in the past year or so -- Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman and Carl Edwards, to name three -- this is the one I can fathom the least. And on Lap 14? I just don't get it. ***

Kyle Busch, A; 2,190. That high-low move to get into contention at the end was awesome. He was so close to a sweep. His go-for-broke style is winning fans every week. His mouth may betray him at times, but not his driving talent. ***

Kevin Harvick, M; 2,172. We introduce a new grade today: M, as in Montoya'd. It's a verb: Harvick was running well Saturday night and had a car to be reckoned with until he was Montoya'd on Lap 56. Harvick had some choice words for Juan Pablo over his radio, including some thoughts about Montoya's going back to Formula One. Considering that Harvick isn't the only driver to be Montoya'd this season, I'll bet others have uttered those same words. ***

Martin Truex Jr., C; 2,157. A bad pit stop on Lap 134 hurt Truex. The No. 1 pitted for four tires, but Truex pulled too close to the wall for his jackman to get in position on the left side. Unsure about his tires 12 laps later, he pitted again under caution for four tires. He restarted 23rd and finished 13th. ***