Several Drivers Aiming For NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Chase Heading To Richmond
The chase for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship gets underway in September but Richmond International Raceway's Saturday night event could be a turning point for several drivers including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ryan Newman and Matt Kenseth.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 27, 2009) – Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Crown Royal Presents the Russ Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway on May 2. (Note: Drivers listed below who are outside the top 12 are chosen based on past performances at the upcoming track and/or are within striking distance of the top 12.)
1 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.1
2009 Rundown
• One win, three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 9.4
• Led six races for 314 laps
Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 19.1
• Finished 10th in September
• Led six of 16 races for 340 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 9.5, second-best
2 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 108.7
2009 Rundown
• One win, five top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 10.4
• Led six races for a total of 394 laps
Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, 12 top fives, 20 top 10s; five poles
• Average finish of 15.1
• Finished eighth in September
• Led 20 of 32 races for 1,065 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 238 Fastest Laps Run
3 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 105.5
2009 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 12.6
• Led eight races for 311 laps
Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
• Three wins, four top fives; two poles
• Average finish of 17.5
• Won September’s Richmond race
• Led seven of 14 races for 369 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 8.4
4 – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.0
2009 Rundown
• Three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 11.0
• Led four races for 53 laps
Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
• Three wins, eight top fives, 14 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.5
• Finished second in September
• Led 11 of 20 races for 815 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 10.9, fifth-best
5 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.4
2009 Rundown
• Two top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 12.3
• Led three races for 331 laps
Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
• Three top fives, four top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 8.8
• Finished third in September
• Led all six of his Richmond races for 452 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 9.7, fourth-most
6 – Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.4
2009 Rundown
• Two wins, three top fives
• Average finish of 16.4
• Led five races for 561 laps
Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
• Six top 10s
• Average finish of 6.8
• Finished 15th in September
• Led five of eight races for 345 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 151 Fastest Laps Run, tied for fifth-most
7 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.8
2009 Rundown
• One top five, four top 10s
• Average finish of 14.4
• Led five races for 42 laps
Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
• Three top 10s
• Average finish of 18.2
• Finished 13th in September
• Led one of nine races for 15 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 12.7, seventh-best
8 – Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 79.1
2009 Rundown
• Three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 15.1
• Led one race for nine laps
Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, three top 10s
• Average finish of 9.3
• Finished 12th in September
• Led two of six races for 17 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has run 78.4% of the laps on the lead lap, 13th-best
9 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 83.6
2009 Rundown
• One top five, four top 10s
• Average finish of 14.9
• Led one race for 67 laps
Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, seven top fives, 13 tops 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 15.0
• Finished sixth in September
• Led nine of 29 races for 899 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 70.3%, eighth-best
10 –Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.9
2009 Rundown
• Three top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 16.3
• Led four races for 150 laps
Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
• Two top fives, five top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 15.7
• Finished 14th in September
• Led four of 13 races for 71 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 15.7, 10th-best
11 – David Reutimann (No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 83.8
2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 15.4
• Led three races for 42 laps
Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
• One top 10
• Average finish of 18.3
• Finished ninth in September
• Led one of four races for 104 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 15.5, ninth-best
12 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.2
2009 Rundown
• Two wins, three top fives
• Average finish of 18.0
• Led four races for 155 laps
Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, three top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 16.9
• Finished 39th in September
• Led eight of 18 races for 192 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 65 Fastest Laps Run, tied for 12th-most
15 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 84.9
2009 Rundown
• One win, three top 10s
• Average finish of 18.0
• Led four races for 90 laps
Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
• Three wins, eight top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.1
• Finished fourth in September
• Led 10 of 19 races for 427 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has run 92.2% of the laps on the lead lap, fourth-best
Chase Contenders
The Top 12 … And Beyond Following Race 9 of 36
Rank Season
Last Driver
Driver Points Wins Poles Week Rating
1. Kurt Busch 1,299 1 0 3 103.1
2. Jeff Gordon 1,294 1 0 1 108.7
3. Jimmie Johnson 1,235 1 0 2 105.5
4. Tony Stewart 1,232 0 0 4 99.0
5. Denny Hamlin 1,190 0 0 5 100.4
6. Kyle Busch 1,124 2 1 7 103.4
7. Carl Edwards 1,119 0 0 8 93.8
8. Clint Bowyer 1,098 0 0 6 79.1
9. Jeff Burton 1,092 0 0 11 83.6
10. Greg Biffle 1,081 0 0 14 88.9
11. David Reutimann 1,077 0 1 9 83.8
12. Matt Kenseth 1,063 2 0 12 81.2
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ADDITIONAL DRIVERS
13. Ryan Newman 1,033 34. John Andretti 676
14. Kasey Kahne 1,030 35. Robby Gordon 653
15. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1,018 36. Scott Speed 607
16. J.P. Montoya 1,018 37. David Gilliland 569
17. Brian Vickers 995 38. Regan Smith 473
18. Mark Martin 971 39. Aric Almirola 451
19. Marcos Ambrose 937 40. Joe Nemechek 371
20. Kevin Harvick 918 41. Brad Keselowski 333
21. Casey Mears 911 42. Scott Riggs 311
22. David Stremme 899 43. Scott Riggs 292
23. Martin Truex Jr. 887 44. Jeremy Mayfield 230
24. Michael Waltrip 883 45. Bill Elliott 228
25. Reed Sorenson 881 46. Dave Blaney 224
26. David Ragan 855 47. Max Papis 222
27. AJ Allmendinger 847 48. Todd Bodine 123
28. Elliott Sadler 845 49. Terry Labonte 91
29. Jamie McMurray 825 50. Sterling Marlin 86
30. Bobby Labonte 823 51. Mike Bliss 71
31. Sam Hornish Jr. 775 52. Tony Raines 34
32. Paul Menard 766
33. Joey Logano 753
Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season determine which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season.
