1. Tony Schumacher
U.S. Army Dragster, NHRA Top Fuel
With a record sixth (including five straight) NHRA Top Fuel title in the bag, Tony Schumacher heads to Pomona for the season-ending Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals with rumors of a potential move to the Funny Car class swirling around him.

2. Donny Schatz
No. 15 J&J Sprint Car, World of Outlaws
Schatz ended his 2008 season by clinching a third-straight WoO title  — his first with Tony Stewart Racing — at the World Finals.

3. Jimmie Johnson
No. 48 Chevrolet, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
With a victory at Phoenix, Johnson needs only finish 36th or better to capture an historic third-straight NASCAR Sprint Cup championship.

4. Scott Dixon
No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Dallara-Honda, IndyCar Series
Now Dixon has a long offseason to contemplate whether he can join those ranked above him as a repeat champion.

5. Carl Edwards
Nos. 99/60 Fords, NASCAR Sprint Cup/Nationwide Series
 With hope all but gone for a Cup title, a Nationwide Series victory at Phoenix left Edwards 56 points behind Clint Boywer in that series.

6. Kyle Busch
No. 18/32/51 Toyotas, NASCAR Sprint Cup/Nationwide/Truck Series
Busch was busy with all three races at Phoenix and came away with a top 10 and two top fives, including second in trucks.

7. Lewis Hamilton
No. 22 Vodaphone McLaren Mecedes, Formula One
Life is good for Hamilton, who has been celebrating his World Driving Championship and receiving congratulations from Queen Elizabeth.

8. Benny Gordon
No. 66 Ford, USAR Hooters Pro Cup
Gordon scored a rare repeat Hooters Pro Cup title at Rockingham, N.C., but now awaits the fate of the series with the rest of the garage.

9. Felipe Massa
No. 2 Ferrari, Formula One
Massa’s victory in his native Brazil was his sixth grand prix title of the season. He came up one point shy of the World Championship.

10. Jerry Coons, Jr.
Nos. 27/69/11 USAC Silver Crown/Sprint Cars/Midgets
Coons clinched USAC Silver Crown and Sprint Car titles over the weekend, becoming the fifth driver to own all three USAC titles in a career.

Honorable Mention

Kevin Swindell swept his way to victory at the USAC Sprint Car Western World Championships . . . Jesse Hockett missed the USAC sprint win, but went on to dominate the ASCS weekend with three wins.

Last Week

The top positions remained settled at Nos. 1 through 9, but Jerry Coons, Jr. re-entered the rankings thanks to a championship-winning weekend in USAC’s Silver Crown and Sprint Car divisions.