NASCAR's power list - from No. 1 to No. 43

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Brian France continues his hold on the top spot in That's Racin's annual list of the most powerful people in NASCAR, but the news of the day has a role in who ranks right behind him.

Because the search for a new ride for Dale Earnhardt Jr. for 2008 and beyond dominates the sport's attention these days, he shares the No. 2 spot with his sister and key adviser, Kelley Elledge.

Until Earnhardt Jr.'s future is settled, that pair is at the nexus of what's happening in the sport.

Earnhardt Jr. and four-time Nextel Cup champion Jeff Gordon are the only drivers in this year's top 20.

Four members of the France family occupy three spots in the top five, and a total of 12 people who work for NASCAR or serve as part of its leadership are in the top 20, occupying or sharing nine of the positions.

Here is this year's list, with 43 spots, one for each spot in a NASCAR race's field:

1 BRIAN FRANCE (NASCAR chairman and chief executive officer, and International Speedway Corp. board member)

As long as the family has controlling interest in privately held NASCAR, France is in charge _ unless and until the rest of the Frances decide otherwise.

2 DALE EARNHARDT JR. (NASCAR driver) and KELLEY ELLEDGE (vice president of JR Motorsports)

Wherever Earnhardt Jr. drives in 2008, it will have broad impact on the overall shape of the sport. Elledge, his sister, is by his side in making every big decision.

3 JIM FRANCE (NASCAR executive vice president and ISC chief executive officer) and BILL FRANCE JR. (vice chairman of NASCAR's board of directors)

With France Jr.'s health clearly not what it once was, his brother, Jim, is doing a lot behind the scenes. But Bill Jr. can still make his opinions known.

4 DAVID HILL (Fox Sports chairman and chief executive) and ED GOREN (Fox Sports president and executive producer)

The NASCAR television pie was re-sliced in the new contract, but between Fox and Speed, these guys still have their hands on a very big hunk of it.

5 LESA FRANCE KENNEDY (International Speedway Corp. president and NASCAR board member) ISC's track projects in the New York and Pacific Northwest areas stalled, but Kennedy still runs a company that had $800million in revenues in 2006.

6 BRUTON SMITH (Speedway Motorsports Inc. chairman)

No sign of Smith letting off the accelerator, even though he's already into his 80s.

7 MIKE HELTON (NASCAR president)

Has one hand on the rudder on the competition side and the other in the business mix.

8 GEORGE BODENHEIMER (President of ESPN and ABC Sports and co-chairman of Disney Media Networks)

Watch ESPN ramp up the hype machine even more once it starts airing Cup races.

9 JIM O'CONNELL (NASCAR vice president of corporate marketing) and STEVE PHELPS (NASCAR chief marketing officer) and front-line men in New York.

Their job is to make Madison Avenue care.

10 RICK HENDRICK (Hendrick Motorsports owner)

Adding Earnhardt Jr. to his fold could make him too powerful for NASCAR's liking.

11 PAUL BROOKS (NASCAR senior vice president and president of NASCAR digital entertainment)

Probably most trusted by Brian France among all those in NASCAR management.

12 MARK DYER (NASCAR vice president of licensing and consumer products)

Key man in Charlotte adds power as city grows in importance in NASCAR world.

13 GARY FORSEE (chairman and CEO of Sprint Nextel) and DEAN KESSEL (director of Nextel Cup Series marketing for Sprint)

Kessel runs the point for Nextel's racing operations. Forsee still has to cut the check.

14 ROBIN PEMBERTON (NASCAR vice president of competition) and JOHN DARBY (Nextel Cup Series director)

Rules enforcers key in making car of tomorrow as fair as possible across the board.

15 DAVID LEVY (Turner Sports president)

In addition to TNT, Turner runs NASCAR.com, an important merchandising arm.

16 RICHARD GLOVER (NASCAR vice president for broadcasting, media and entertainment)

The key man in Los Angeles, and in Hollywood, where NASCAR craves attention.

17 RICHARD CHILDRESS (Richard Childress Racing owner)

If Earnhardt Jr. goes to his father's former team, Childress and Hendrick swap spots.

18 JEFF GORDON (Nextel Cup driver)

If he wants to exert it, Gordon could wield more power. Especially with another title.

19 HUMPY WHEELER (Lowe's Motor Speedway president and Speedway Motorsports president and chief operating officer)

Always has been and always will be among the sport's most respected and trusted.

20 STOKE CALDWELL (attorney with Charlotte firm of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson)

Corporate lawyer has a low profile, but he also has a hand in many of the big deals.

21 ROGER PENSKE (Penske Racing owner)

Would be higher on a list of the most powerful overall in American motorsports.

22 JACK ROUSH AND JOHN HENRY (Roush Fenway Racing co-owners)

Down the road, their partnership deal could become the model for many more like it.

23 MARCUS SMITH (SMI executive vice president of national sales and marketing)