Last week's rain-shortened race in New Hampshire had some major effects on the race to remain in the top-35 in owner points. Some drivers made great strides as a result of good finishes, while others took one on the nose.

Michael Waltrip and J.J. Yeley were the biggest winners leaving New Hampshire, as the pair used pit strategy and benefitted from the weather to score a 2nd and 3rd respectively. The second place finish for Waltrip bumped his car four spots in the owner standings to 28th, 127 points ahead of 35th. For Yeley, the gain was not as significant, but definitely an accomplishment. With his best finish of the year, the Hall of Fame Racing team jumped one spot in the standings to 37th, still 157 points out of the top-35.

Another team desperately needing some magic in New Hampshire was that of Chip Ganassi Racing's No. 41 Dodge. The car driven by Reed Sorenson entered the weekend literally 'On The Bubble' in the 35th-spot. Sorenson was fast in practice and qualified the Target Dodge in the sixth-spot. Just past the halfway point, Sorenson was running poorly and had fallen out of the top-30. Much like Waltrip and Yeley, Sorenson and crew chief Donnie Wingo used pit strategy and luck to regain track position and steal a top-10 finish. The 6th-place finish jumped the No. 41 four spots in the owner points to 31st, still only 84 points ahead of 35th.

Last weekend's biggest losers were Penske Racing's Sam Hornish Jr., Michael Waltrip Racing's Michael McDowell and Red Bull Racing Team's A.J. Allmendinger. Each finished in the back of the pack last week and will have to rebound in a big way to stay in the hunt.

For Sam Hornish Jr., Sunday's race in New Hampshire was a 'tough day.' The former IRL champion struggled off the bat and was never able to find the right set up that would make the car work. Running three laps down to the race leader, Hornish Jr.'s day got worse when he spun the No. 77 Dodge in Turn 4, collecting Clint Bowyer and bringing out the seventh caution of the day. It was under that caution heavy rain drenched the track, thus ending the event. Hornish Jr. left New Hampshire with a 39th-place finish and in 34th-spot in the owner standings, tied with Michael McDowell.

McDowell has endured an up-and-down season in the owner points and this past week was no different. Entering Sunday's race in Loudon, the No. 00 Toyota was 31st in the standings and coming off a 21st-place finish in Sonoma. Unfortunately, a missed shift and a blown engine ended the day abruptly for McDowell in New Hampshire. The No. 00 recorded only its second DNF of the year and wound up in the 42nd-spot. The poor finish dropped the team four spots in owner points to 35th.

Currently tied with Hornish Jr. for the 35th-spot, McDowell understands maintaining that top-35 spot is the primary concern heading to Daytona. The rookie driver has never started a Cup Series event at the famed Superspeedway, but does have a Nationwide race under his belt there. "I'm glad I've turned some laps at Daytona," McDowell explained. "Our biggest challenge will be trying to avoid getting caught up in a wreck because we are on the bubble. We have to stay inside the top-35."

Another driver that suffered in the standings after last week in Loudon was that of A.J. Allmendinger. The driver of the No. 84 Toyota had an oil line come loose, blowing the engine and causing an early exit for the team. Allmendinger ended the day in 43rd and recorded his third DNF of the year. The disappointing finish dropped Allmendinger one spot in the owner standings (thanks in part to Yeley?s 3rd-place finish). The No. 84 team is currently 38th in the standings and is 161 points outside of the top-35.

One 'On The Bubble' driver that made headlines in a good way last week was that of Patrick Carpentier. The Gillett Evernham Motorsports driver is entered the weekend at New Hampshire well outside the top-35, but did not let that slow him down. One of the best when it comes to qualifying on time, Carpentier shocked not only the competition and the crowd, but even himself when he sat on the pole to start Sunday's race. Unfortunately for the rookie driver, starting up front and running up front are two entirely different things. Carpentier ended the day in 31st-spot, dropping him one spot in the owner points to 41st.

Looking forward to Daytona this weekend, things can really be shaken up for the 'On The Bubble' drivers. Superspeedway racing is always a wild card event. Some drivers find the right partner at the right time and rise to the occasion, making for a thrilling and beneficial weekend. But, for every driver, there is the threat of the Big One. In an instant, things can go from controlled chaos to complete devastation. For those On the Bubble, making it through the Big One could mean moving further up the owner points, while being caught up in the wreck could crush a team's chances.

Heading into this weekend, the difference between 28th and 38th in the owner standings is just 288 points. That is a little more than the difference between first place Kyle Busch and fifth place Jimmie Johnson on the top of the charts. With so many unknowns at Daytona, look for next week's 'On The Bubble' to be full of changes.