The checkered flag has waved, and a new champion has been crowned. Here is That’s Racin’s ranking of the top teams for the NASCAR Nextel Cup season based on the teams’ performances in 2006.

1. Jimmie Johnson (car No. 48): The No. 48 team has been building toward a championship since the day the doors opened five years ago. Clearly the best team all season, so once again the system worked. Preseason ranking: 3.

2. Matt Kenseth (car No. 17): Held on to second in the final standings despite sputtering down the stretch. Kenseth and crew chief Robbie Reiser still bring out the best in one another. Preseason ranking: 7.

3. Kevin Harvick (car No. 29): Harvick doubled his career victory total in Nextel Cup and won nine more races in the Busch Series in a season that re-established Harvick as one of NASCAR’s top stars. Preseason ranking: 17.

4. Denny Hamlin (car No. 11): We said in the preseason rankings he could pull off a surprise in the rookie race. He did and surprised everyone by finishing third in the final overall standings as well. Preseason ranking: 27.

5. Tony Stewart (car No. 20): No question the defending championship team’s failure to make the Chase is one of the season’s most surprising (not to mention most perplexing) stories. Preseason ranking: 1.

6. Kasey Kahne (car No. 9): Six victories leads the Cup circuit for the season. Team still has plenty of upside, too. Preseason ranking: 16.

7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (car No. 8): A solid rebound after a lost 2005 season. Now the task is to keep moving forward. Preseason ranking: 12.

8. Jeff Gordon (car No. 24): This team is still not all the way back to where it was in its best days. But it’s closer than it was. Preseason ranking: 6.

9. Jeff Burton (car No. 31): The reason this team could keep getting better is that Burton and his team aren’t satisfied. Preseason ranking: 21.

10. Mark Martin (car No. 6): It will be extremely interesting to see how Martin adjusts to his part-time ride in 2007. Preseason ranking: 5.

11. Kyle Busch (car No. 5): This team had absolutely no luck during the Chase, but deserves some kudos for getting there in the first place. Preseason ranking: 9.

12. Greg Biffle (car No. 16): Three straight wins at Homestead. Biffle gets new crew chief Pat Tryson for 2007. Preseason ranking: 2.

13. Carl Edwards (car No. 99): We’ll say right now that 2007 season will be more like 2005 for this team than 2006. Preseason ranking: 4.

14. Brian Vickers (car No. 25): Vickers moves on to Toyota’s Red Bull team, while this team turns to Casey Mears. Preseason ranking: 18.

15. Kurt Busch (car No. 2): Things will change at Penske South this offseason. Busch hopes they’ll be good ones. Preseason ranking: 11.

16. Clint Bowyer (car No. 07): This team showed promise at times this season and figures to improve in second year. Preseason ranking: 25.

17. Casey Mears (car No. 42): It will be interesting to see if his move into a Hendrick ride gives him a launching pad. Preseason ranking: 14.

18. Ryan Newman (car No. 12): This team had probably the biggest gap between expectations and results on the circuit this season. Preseason ranking: 8.

19. Martin Truex Jr. (car No. 1): Close to picking off his first victory at Homestead. May be a team to watch in 2007. Preseason ranking: 20.

20. Bobby Labonte (car No. 43): This team moved a long way back toward being competitive but still has a way to go. Preseason ranking: 23.

21. Scott Riggs (car No. 10): Outstanding job to come back to top-20 points finish after missing the 2006 Daytona 500 field. Preseason ranking: 26.

22. Elliott Sadler (car No. 19): The team started year with Jeremy Mayfield as driver and much higher hopes than it finished with. Preseason ranking: 10.

23. Reed Sorenson (car No. 41): You must keep reminding yourself just how young Sorenson is. There is great potential here. Preseason ranking: 24.

24. Jeff Green (car No. 66): This is a single-car team that’s expanding facilities and aims to grow. That’s imperative for survival. Preseason ranking: 32.

25. Joe Nemechek (car No. 01): Nemechek will start 2007 without a points safety net as part of the new MB2 Motorsports structure. Preseason ranking: 22.