Stewart reclaims top spot with Watkins Glen win

NASCAR Power Rankings

Dropped Out: Mark Martin

Matt Kenseth

Underdog of the Week:

Max Papis

has struggled with his part-time Germain Racing team this season, with one exception -- the road courses. Coming from an open-wheel background, the Italian feels right at home making left and right turns in the No. 13 GEICO Toyota, and used that to his advantage on Monday, getting aggressive on the track in scoring a career-high eighth-place finish. In this era where points racing and conservatism reign supreme, it was refreshing to see that from a team on a limited budget making the most of what they have."We had a game plan that was attacking from the first lap," Papis said of a run that worked out so perfectly, his gas tank ran out of fuel exactly 300 feet past the finish line. "We are a small organization, a small family. Every success is felt through the skin of everybody. We maximize what we have. GEICO gave me and the team opportunity of our lives, and I'm proud that I paid them back [Monday] because you need to capitalize on these moments."

Do you have a nominee for Underdog of the Week? Email tbowles81@yahoo.com with your driver and the reasons he should be featured. If you're lucky, we'll include your fan comments in this very space next week!