DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The NASCARMedia.com media poll has closed, and the consensus is Jeff Gordon will succeed in his “Drive for Five.”

Last week, the media was asked to predict the top 12 drivers in the final 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings as well as the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year.

More than 200 people rushed to the polls, and the voters say Gordon will win his fifth series championship.

In the final tally, Gordon edged Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, as the three former champions finished 1-2-3.

The voters feel only one driver will rebound from 2007 to make the 2008 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – that driver is the newest member of the Hendrick Motorsports stable, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

The man he replaces in the preseason top 12: former teammate Martin Truex, Jr.

Other than that swap, the voters feel 2008 will mostly mirror 2007. Here’s how the media think the final 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings will shake out:

1. Jeff Gordon  
2. Jimmie Johnson 
3. Tony Stewart  
4. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 
5. Matt Kenseth  
6. Kyle Busch  
7. Carl Edwards  
8. Kurt Busch  
9. Kevin Harvick 
10. Denny Hamlin 
11. Clint Bowyer 
12. Jeff Burton

In the Raybestos Rookie of the Year balloting, the voters think Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates will take home a second consecutive trophy. They picked 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti as this year’s top rookie. CGR’s Juan Pablo Montoya won last season’s Raybestos Rookie of the Year.

Franchitti edged out Regan Smith and fellow former Indy 500 winner Sam Hornish, Jr.