Best Rookie: Juan Pablo Montoya. Michael J. LeBrecht II/1Deuce3 Photography

By Mark Beech

Sure, there are still 20 races to go until the Nextel Cup finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 18, but the 2007 regular season is already more than half over. With 10 races left until the start of the Chase, here's a look at the best and the worst of racing so far.

Best rookie: Juan Pablo Montoya

At 21st in the point standings, he is the highest ranking rookie, but the full magnitude of his talent was on display on June 24 at Sonoma when a masterly drive brought him his first Cup win in 17 starts.

Best team: Hendrick Motorsports

While the Gibbs and Penske teams moan about the breaks of the game, the Hendrick operation, which has 10 wins, makes its own luck.

Best driver: Jeff Gordon

Four wins and 14 top 10s in 16 races. The four-time champ's in top form.

Best comeback: Ryan Newman

A year after his lost season, Flyin' Ryan is again earning poles and running in front. Now he just needs to win a few races.

Best sophomore: Denny Hamlin

At second in the point standings, it's hard to believe that he could call this a disappointing season so far. All he needs is a victory.

Best of the rest: Matt Kenseth

Nobody's done more with less this year than he has. His win at Fontana in February is one of only three by a non-Chevy this season.

Best quote: Tony Stewart

On questionable caution flags influencing race outcomes: "I guess NASCAR thinks, 'Hey, wrestling worked, and it was for the most part staged, so I guess it's going to work in racing, too.' I can't understand how long the fans are going to let NASCAR treat them like they're stupid."

Best crew chief: Steve Letarte

His Sonoma misstep aside, nearly every move has paid off--most notably at Pocono, where his beat-the-rain pit strategy secured a win.

Biggest disappointment: Kasey Kahne

Unprepared for the Car of Tomorrow, as well as for the new nose of his Dodge Charger, last year's winningest driver has struggled most weeks to get near the top 20.

Fiercest feud: Kurt Busch vs. Tony Stewart

The two former Cup champs have been trading paint--and verbal barbs--ever since they tangled in the Daytona 500, crashing out of the race 49 laps from the finish while running in first and second.

Tamest feud: Dale Earnhardt Jr. vs. Jeff Gordon

This one exists only in the minds of Junior's fans, who now have to get used to the two men actually being teammates. What would Dale Sr. say? Simple: Just win, son.

Biggest bonehead move: Kurt Busch

This one's bad even by Busch's standards. After tangling with Stewart at Dover, Busch sideswiped the number 20 Chevy on pit road, nearly pancaking Stewart's jackman.