1st Place:
Chase Rewards Plus Visa (5% rebate on all the basics-gas, groceries and drugstore items -- plus 1% on other purchases.) Total annual rebate in our scenario: $493.
2nd Place:
Citi Dividend Platinum Select. (5% rebate on purchases of gas, groceries and drugstore items, plus 1% on everything else.) Annual rebate cap of $300.
3rd Place:
National City Everyday Rewards Elite Visa. (rebates 4% on gas, 3% on movies and video rentals, and 2% for food-related spending at grocery stores and restaurants. Everything else earns a 1% reward -- but only after you spend $10,000. Below that, you earn a measly 0.25%.) In our scenario, you'd pocket $281.