That’s Racin’s fifth annual ranking of the most powerful people in stock-car racing:

1 Bill France Jr., chairman of NASCAR’s board of directors and chief executive officer of International Speedway Corporation (last year: second): It took the death of seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt to supplant the son of NASCAR founder William H. G. France atop this list for the first time last year. This year, France moves right back to the top spot. He’s fighting stubbornly against health issues but still has his hand in every important decision being made in the family’s business.

NASCAR President Mike Helton is No. 2 on the influential list.

2 Mike Helton, president of NASCAR (last year: third): Some people believe Helton’s power has decreased as others have been added to NASCAR’s management structure. We see the opposite as being true. Those people have been hired to allow Helton time to keep his eye on the most important things in the sport, freeing him to keep a strong hand on the helm.

3 David Hill, chairman and chief executive officer of Fox Sports Television Group (last year: fourth): NASCAR on Fox won the Emmy Award for best weekly sports series in the network’s first year of broadcasting races. Talk about your rookie of the year award.

4 Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc. (last year: fifth): Spends a lot of his time these days buying car dealerships all over the country, but he still likes to shake up the folks in Daytona Beach, Fla., every once in awhile.

5 Dale Earnhardt Jr., Winston Cup driver (last year: 24th); and Teresa Earnhardt, team owner (last year: 10th): They hold the keys to the kingdom Earnhardt built. Dale Jr. is becoming the sport’s superstar for a new generation. Teresa, recluse that she is, is NASCAR’s Greta Garbo.

6 Jim France, NASCAR executive vice president and board of directors member and president of ISC (last year: sixth): A quiet, behind-the-scenes guy who could make heads roll any time he wanted to.

At No. 7, Jeff Gordon is NASCAR's marquee star.

7 Jeff Gordon, Winston Cup driver (last year: seventh): Ken-and-Barbie wisecracks become obsolete. He’s still the sport’s signature star.

8 Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Sports (last year: ninth): NBC/TBS does a very solid job but still runs second in the two-car race with Fox.

9 Brian France, NASCAR executive vice president and board of directors member; and Paul Brooks, NASCAR vice president/broadcasting (last year: 11th): Top figures in new breed of NASCAR leadership. Being a France still means a lot.

10 John Darby, Winston Cup series director (last year: shared 15th): Darby’s changes in inspections have changed the way every team builds its race cars.

11 George Pyne, senior vice president of NASCAR (last year: 8th), and Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president for corporate communications (last year: shared 25th): Pyne and Hunter run together when NASCAR’s trying to put its spin on an issue.

12 Lesa France Kennedy, executive vice president of ISC and NASCAR board of directors member (last year: 17th): Like brother Brian, power in stock-car racing is simply part of her family tree.

13 Kevin Triplett, NASCAR director of operations (last year: 13th): Second in command has the controls when Helton isn’t around in a NASCAR garage area.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his mother, Teresa, share fifth place on the power list.

14 Rick Hendrick, Winston Cup team owner (last year: 19th): Rookie Jimmie Johnson’s success bolsters this team’s strong Gordon-anchored status.

15 Tony George, president and chief executive officer, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League (last year: Not ranked): A force behind energy-absorbing wall development, which may revolutionize the sport.

16 Richard Childress, Winston Cup team owner (last year: 12th): Still strong, but experiencing growing pains in move from two-car to three-car team.

17 Roger Penske, Winston Cup team owner and ISC board member (last year: 16th): Would be higher if he didn’t concentrate so much of his time on open-wheel teams.

18 Jeff Burton, Winston Cup driver (last year: shared 14th): Helping to fill the leadership vacuum among drivers created by Earnhardt’s death.

19 H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway (last year: 18th): Racing’s version of Yoda. Has as much wisdom and creativity as anyone in the sport.

20 Darrell Waltrip, Fox television analyst (last year: 22nd): Some drivers are muttering he talks too much. That means he’s telling the truth a lot.