After every race, we'll opine about who we think is at the top of the Sprint Cup heap and how and why they got there. Remember, this isn't scientific, as our formula is the perfect blend of analytics and bias against your favorite driver. But it's an off-week! So instead of your favorite driver, this week, it's your favorite team. Let's roll.

1. Penske Racing: In this case, Penske's two-car team is an advantage; though you're not going to find many, if any, people who say it's a hinderance. Brad Keselowski's first finish outside the top 10 was at California and in that race, he had charged through the field before being derailed by Timmy Hill's oil. His new teammate, Joey Logano, is ninth in the points despite having an, uh, adventurous start to the 2013 season.

2. Hendrick Motorsports: They've got the points leader, and thy name is Junior. And they've got the guy in third (Jimmie Johnson) and the guy in seventh (Kasey Kahne.) But that dang lead weight Jeff Gordon (18th) is dragging

Danica at the White House (@DanicaPatrick)

Need further proof of Danica Patrick's name recognition? Look no further than the White House Easter Egg Roll.

Patrick was in attendance on Monday, GoDaddy leather jacket and all, and tweeted the above picture after she said she met President Obama and family, including their dog Bo. Patrick attended the event along with Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, Washington Wizards point guard John Wall and Olympic gymnast John Orozco. Not bad company.

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Remember that time that Joe Gibbs Racing said that Mark Martin would be the driver to fill in for Denny Hamlin while he recovered from his back injury? Well, that's not entirely true.

Yes, Martin will be in the car at Martinsville, but starting at Texas, Brian Vickers will be behind the wheel of the No. 11. The news was announced in a Friday evening release.

“Obviously having to find someone to fill in for Denny is not an ideal situation to have to be in and when you start a process like this you obviously begin to look at the drivers that are not only available but also able to drive for your race team and manufacturer. We were a bit premature in determining Mark’s status past Martinsville however,” Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs said in the statement. “We're real happy to have the opportunity to get Brian in our Cup cars and with him driving Nationwide for us we think we have some continuity there that is beneficial."

“We really appreciate everyone at Michael Waltrip Racing

Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin in happier, teammate times. (Getty)

New season, new Happy Hour! You know the drill. Throughout the week you can send us your best questions, jokes, rants and just plain miscellaneous thoughts to happyhourmailbag@yahoo.com or @NickBromberg. We'll post them here, have a good time and everyone's happy. Right? Oh who are we kidding, this is NASCAR. No one is ever happy.

Quite the busy week, isn't it? Especially as we head to our first off weekend of the year. Hopefully Denny Hamlin can heal quickly, and also (much less importantly) not be a continuing topic in Happy Hour. Pretty soon this will be the Hamlin Hour at this rate.

Been reading and enjoying the blog for awhile now. I am curious what topics are going to be involved this week during Happy Hour. Just kidding, everyone is gonna be talking still about Hamlin - Logano - Stewart.

But specifically about the SAFER Barriers on infield walls. I know there are several people calling for SAFER Barriers along every inch of the track. Terry Blount wrote on his blog asking why

(USA Today Sports Images)

Joe Gibbs Racing has found its replacement driver for the No. 11 while Denny Hamlin is out and it's Mark Martin.

The 54 year-old, who is driving a partial schedule for Michael Waltrip Racing in the No. 55, will fill in for Hamlin while he's out because of the L1 vertebra compression fracture he suffered in Sunday's last lap crash at Auto Club Speedway. Hamlin will be out a minimum of five races.

“We’ve been real fortunate to have never been in this situation with the need to find someone to fill in for an injured driver,” Joe Gibbs Racing president JD Gibss said in a statement. “A lot goes into a decision like this but we are really pleased to have someone of the character and caliber of Mark Martin to fill in while Denny is out. Obviously we’re not exactly sure how long that is going to take, but Mark’s career speaks for itself and our team knows it will have the opportunity to compete for a win every week.”

Martin was slated to drive in 26 races for MWR this season, including three

Welcome to Warped Wednesday, our new feature at From the Marbles. On it, we'll put out the rush to judgment map, go a little too far and have a little fun. Will it be funny? Sometimes. Will it be crazy and largely unbelievable? Probably. Will not everyone get it? Definitely.

NASCAR has done it again.

Shortly after they raised the ire of many fans and media members with its fine of Denny Hamlin after the Phoenix race, they've gone and done the wrong thing again by not issuing any penalties in the aftermath of Sunday's race at Auto Club Speedway.

[Also: NASCAR Power Rankings: A (Junior) Nation rises]

Let's begin with Tony Stewart. In no way shape or form should a man be allowed to go after another man half his weight and half his age and half his body hair on pit road and not be punished for it. That's assault and battery if I've ever seen it. That open handed, weak-wristed punch that Stewart threw? Unacceptable. That's at least a six-figure fine and a suspension right there. Come on,

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Denny Hamlin will miss at least five races but won't require surgery after being evaluated on Tuesday after his last-lap crash on Sunday at Auto Club Speedway.

In the impact with the inside wall, Hamlin suffered a compression fracture of his L1 vertebra. Joe Gibbs Racing said in a statement Tuesday night that Dr. Jerry Petty determined that Hamlin would need approximately six weeks to heal. Petty will make the decision to clear Hamlin to resume racing activity when he is fully healed.

Because of the Sprint Cup Series off weekend this week, the minimum five races Hamlin will miss are Martinsville, Texas, Kansas, Richmond and Talladega. The race following Talladega is the grueling Southern 500 at Darlington before the non-points Sprint All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600.

[Also: NASCAR Power Rankings: A (Junior) Nation rises]

A replacement driver has not been named for the No. 11 for Martinsville or any other races. The logical in-house option at JGR would be Elliott Sadler, who is

It's time for Power Rankings! After every race, we'll opine about who we think is at the top of the Sprint Cup heap and how and why they got there. Remember, this isn't scientific, as our formula is the perfect blend of analytics and bias against your favorite driver. So let's get on with it, shall we?

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (LW: 2): Heeeeeeeere's Junior! He's the only dude to finish in the top five in every race this season and there's absolutely no way he can't be atop Power Rankings as we head into the first week of the offseason. If his potato chips are as good as he's performing, then he's really rocking it right now. And maybe the Gonzaga comparison in last week's rankings was a bit unfair. The Zags collapsed late on Saturday night. Junior surged forward on Sunday.

2. Kasey Kahne (LW: 3): Kahne quickly moved his way to the front after starting 16th and was one of the handful of drivers who tattooed (ha!) the wall off turn two thanks to the oil that was put down from Timmy Hill's