4 IN TOP 2 ON NEW 'MOST INFLUENTIAL' LIST

POWER PLAYERS for the week of  February 28: 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.  Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus -- They make the right calls at the end to win Atlanta as Johnson ties the late Dale Earnhardt's wins total. 

  3. Tony Stewart and Gene Haas -- Their move from Chevrolet to Ford for the 2017 NASCAR season qualifies as a true shocker. And puts the Blue Oval into position to win a manufacturers' championship.

    5. Ken Black -- The Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro NHRA Pro Stock team he owns grabs-hold of the new electronic fuel injection and other new rules to go 2-for-2 this season. At Pomona it was Greg Anderson. At Wild Horse Pass it was Jason Line.

  6. Helio Castroneves -- Fastest overall at the two-day Phoenix IndyCar test for Penske and Chevy, but note, Honda clearly has closed the gap. At least on a one-mile oval.

  7. Leah Pritchett -- Becomes the 101st different winner in NHRA Top Fuel, winning Wild Horse Pass for driver-turned-owner Bob Vandergriff Jr. Oh, this is the car Larry Dixon was in last season.

  8. Daryn Pittman and Brad Sweet -- Kasey Kahne drivers sweep the World of Outlaws weekend in Texas. 

 10. Claire B. Lang -- Listening to her garage area reports on Sirius XM Channel 90 on any NASCAR weekend means you'll hear directly from the drivers and teams, because everyone talks to Clare B.

[ more next week . . . ]