That’s Racin’ ranks the top 40 Nextel Cup teams of the 2004 season. Rankings are based on the team’s status as the season begins and its likelihood of success:

1. Ryan Newman (car No. 12): A lot of people wondered why he didn’t win the championship with eight victories in 2003. Nobody will have to wonder this year. Last year’s final team ranking: 2.

2. Jimmie Johnson (car No. 48): New points format figures to be ideal for this group. It seems like the team has been in the top 10 longer than Duke has (in college basketball). Last year’s final team ranking: 3.

3. Kevin Harvick (car No. 29): Give Harvick a sniff of title contention with 10 races left and he’ll be hard to handle. Last year’s final team ranking: 5.

4. Tony Stewart (car No. 20): He’s as talented as anybody driving any kind of race car in the world today. Last year’s final team ranking: 7.

5. Matt Kenseth (car No. 17): Disrespect for the 2003 champ? Perhaps, but on paper he’s just not the man to beat. Last year’s final team ranking: 1.

6. Jeff Gordon (car No. 24): No longer the precocious young hot shot but make no mistake — he’s still pretty good. Last year’s final team ranking: 8.

7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (car No. 8): He’s slid a few spots as cracks began to show in the DEI palace walls in recent weeks. Last year’s final team ranking: 4.

8. Kurt Busch (car No. 97): Season could go either way. He could contend for championship or slip out of the top 10. Last year’s final team ranking: 10.

9. Bobby Labonte (car No. 18): He could be worth watching if he makes the championship chase cut. Last year’s final team ranking: 9.

10. Jamie McMurray (car No. 42): If there’s going to be a breakout star this season, here’s our pick for whom that will be. Last year’s final team ranking: 11.

11. Mark Martin (car No. 6): One of several veterans hoping a new season’s clean slate helps him get back on track. Last year’s final team ranking: 20.

12. Jeremy Mayfield (car No. 13): Midway of last season he seemed on the way out, now he’s Evernham Motorsports’ top dog. Last year’s final team ranking: 19.

13. Rusty Wallace (car No. 2): He championed the push for smaller spoilers and softer tires. Can he make hay with them? Last year’s final team ranking: 15.

14. Dale Jarrett (car No. 88): You get the feeling things can’t go as badly as they did last year. Or can they? Last year’s final team ranking: 22.

15. Michael Waltrip (car No. 15): If there really was internal turmoil at DEI, the effects would show up first with this team. Last year’s final team ranking: 14.

16. Greg Biffle (car No. 16): Didn’t seem like the world’s happiest camper at times in 2003 but has promise. Last year’s final team ranking: 18.

17. Jeff Burton (car No. 99): This team and driver having no sponsor is an ominous sign of the sport’s overall health. Last year’s final team ranking: 16.

18. Brian Vickers (car No. 25): Rookie race could be a good one, but Hendrick team backing gives him a decided edge. Last year’s final team ranking: 29.

19. Sterling Marlin (car No. 40): Seeking to shake bad luck — and bad results — that made 2003 a largely miserable year. Last year’s final team ranking: 17.

20. Terry Labonte (car No. 5): Found some magic to make the top 10 last season. It would be a better trick if he could do it again. Last year’s final team ranking: 12.

21. Robby Gordon (car No. 31): Could wind up much higher if Richard Childress Racing has its act together. Last year’s final team ranking: 19.

22. Ricky Rudd (car No. 21): It will be interesting to see what this team’s move to Charlotte, N.C., will do to its chemistry. Last year’s final team ranking: 24.

23. Elliott Sadler (car No. 38): Last year’s struggles have to be put in the past. This team needs some success in 2004. Last year’s final team ranking: 22.

24. Kasey Kahne (car No. 9): How will the rookie fit on a team that was one of sport’s strongest down the stretch last year? Last year’s final team ranking: 6.

25. Brendan Gaughan (car No. 77): Gaughan gets to step up from the Trucks series into a Cup team that’s now part of Penske stable. Last year’s final team ranking: 28.

26. Ricky Craven (car No. 32): This team does nice job of clearing the hurdles placed in front of single-car teams. Last year’s final team ranking: 31.

27. Joe Nemechek (car No. 01): Nemechek has an army of supporters in a ride Jerry Nadeau someday wants to get back. Last year’s final team ranking: 27.

28. Ward Burton (car No. 0): Burton has higher expectations out of this team than we do, so a surprise is possible. Last year’s final team ranking: 25.

29. Johnny Sauter (car No. 30): Rookie Sauter clearly was the plan B when Jeff Burton decided not to take this ride. Last year’s final team ranking: 38.

30. Scott Riggs (car No. 10): Riggs had his Busch Series moments. Team gets fresh start after Johnny Benson era. Last year’s final team ranking: 32.

31. Jeff Green (car No. 43): Petty Enterprises still has a long way to go on its long road back to respectability. Last year’s final team ranking: 39.

32. Casey Mears (car No. 41): Team owner Chip Ganassi thinks this is a top-20 team. We think that’s being optimistic. Last year’s final team ranking: 36.

33. Bill Elliott (car No. 91): If this team were going to show up every week, we would have Elliott near the top 10. Last year’s final team ranking: Not ranked.

34. Ken Schrader (car No. 49): Sponsorship deal came together in the nick of time and could help this team do more. Last year’s final team ranking: 35.

35. Scott Wimmer (car No. 22):Drunken driving charge puts black cloud over this team. Last year’s final team ranking: 30.

36. Kevin Lepage (car No. 4): Lately, team seems like it is running uphill in mud wearing skis. Last year’s final team ranking: 40.

37. Kyle Petty (car No. 45): At least it’ll be a big year off the track with the opening of the Victory Junction Gang Camp. Last year’s final team ranking: Not ranked.

38. Jimmy Spencer (car No. 7): This team won’t be around long without a sponsor. Toyota is probably not a candidate. Last year’s final team ranking: 21.

39. Tony Raines (car No. 74): Sponsorship issues also call into question the future of a team that overachieved last year. Last year’s final team ranking: 26.

40. Larry Foyt (car No. 14): Yet another team that opens the year with little more than a big dose of uncertainty. Last year’s final team ranking: Not ranked.