HELTON, KENSETH, GORDON 1-2-3 ON THE NEW 'MOST INFLUENTIAL' LIST

POWER PLAYERS for the week of  November 1: This week's 10 most influential people in the Business and Politics of Motorsports, as selected by long-time journalist/publicist and industry insider Michael Knight. 

  1. Mike Helton -- How far over the line did Matt Kenseth go? The decision by NASCAR's vice chairman and senior racing official will set a precedent within the context of the current Chase for the Sprint Cup format. 

  2. Matt Kenseth -- He might have cost Joey Logano the Cup championship. And, himself, the rest of the season.

  3. Jeff Gordon -- The Drive for 5 is alive. Gordon will start his last Cup race with a shot at his fifth championship. 

 4. Eddie Gossage -- How far will the Texas Motor Speedway president go in using the Logano-Kenseth wreck to sell tickets?

  5. Antron Brown -- Clinches his second NHRA Mello Yello series Top Fuel championship.

  6. Erica Enders -- Her ninth Pro Stock victory of the season locks-up her second consecutive championship in NHRA's most-troubled class. 

  7. Jay Frye and Bryan Sperber -- IndyCar's chief revenue officer and Phoenix International Raceway's president rely on a 20-year friendship to bring the series back to the Arizona oval for the first time in a decade. 

  9. Dave Moody -- Is there any doubt what NASCAR fans will be talking about all this week with SiriusXM channel 90's afternoon drive-time host?

  10. Bob Pockrass -- Three races to go in the Cup season and ESPN.com's hard-working NASCAR writer will help shape what the public thinks about it. 

[ more next week . . . ]