Week 8: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 – And Beyond

A look at Week 8 as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads into an off weekend before heading to Phoenix International Raceway and the season’s first race run under the lights.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 6, 2009) – Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 18. (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 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 121.6
2009 Rundown
• One win, five top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 4.6
• Led six races for a total of 394 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, eight top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles
• Average finish of 10.2
• Finished 41st in November
• Led eight of 20 races for 247 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 5.2

2 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 108.5
2009 Rundown
• One win, three top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 11.3
• Led six races for 308 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Three wins, six top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 5.5
• Won the last three Phoenix races
• Led six of 11 races for 505 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 7.9, second-best

3 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.5
2009 Rundown
• One win, two top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 10.9
• Led four races for 238 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 13.3
• Finished second in November
• Led five of 12 races for 508 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 135 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

4 – Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.6
2009 Rundown
• Three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 10.1
• Led one race for nine laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 15.3
• Finished 12th in November
• Led one of seven for 21 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 520 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

5 – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.8
2009 Rundown
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 10.6
• Led three races for 34 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, six top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 10.6
• Finished 22nd in November
• Led four of 14 races for 293 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 10.5, fifth-best

6 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.1
2009 Rundown
• Two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 11.9
• Led two races for 303 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Four top fives; one pole
• Average finish of 11.0
• Finished fifth in November
• Led two of seven races for 93 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 9.7, third-most

7 – Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 105.2
2009 Rundown
• Two wins, three top fives
• Average finish of 15.1
• Led four races for 519 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, six top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 14.5
• Finished eighth in November
• Led three of eight races for 78 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has been passed 281 times, the fewest on the series

8 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.5
2009 Rundown
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish 13.7
• Led four races for 40 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Four top fives, six top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 13.3
• Finished fourth in November
• Led one of nine races for 87 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 379 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green)

9 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.3
2009 Rundown
• Two wins, three top fives
• Average finish of 16.9
• Led three races for 146 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, five top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 18.5
• Finished 15th in November
• Led five of 13 races for 154 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Ranks eighth in average Green Flag Speed

10 – Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 80.8
2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 14.6
• Led one race for one lap
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 20.2 in nine races
• Finished 13th in November
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 15.8, 12th-best

11 – David Reutimann (No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 82.8
2009 Rundown
• One top five
• Average finish of 15.0
• Led two races for 41 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Average finish of 25.0 in three races
• Finished 25th in November
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 62.9%, ninth-best

12 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.6
2009 Rundown
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 15.6
• Led one race for 61 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, five top fives, 11 tops 10s
• Average finish of 11.0
• Finished ninth in November
• Led four of 19 races for 215 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 68 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

14 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 77.7
2009 Rundown
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 17.7
• Led one race for nine laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 13.2
• Finished seventh in November
• Led three of 12 races for 316 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Fourth-best “Closer,” improving 19 positions in the final 10% of races

Chase Contenders

The Top 12 … And Beyond Following Race 7 of 36

Rank         Season
Last           Driver
Driver Points Wins Poles Week Rating

1. Jeff Gordon 1,154 1 0 1 121.6

2. Jimmie Johnson 992 1 0 4 108.5

3. Kurt Busch 974 1 0 3 100.5

4. Clint Bowyer 967 0 0 2 85.6

5. Tony Stewart 963 0 0 7 100.8

6. Denny Hamlin 938 0 0 5 100.1

7. Kyle Busch 914 2 1 6 105.2

8. Carl Edwards 889 0 0 8 99.5

9. Matt Kenseth 864 2 0 12 81.3

10. Kasey Kahne 851 0 0 9 80.8

11. David Reutimann 845 0 1 11 82.8

12. Jeff Burton 835 0 0 13 81.6

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ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

13. J.P. Montoya 819 34. Robby Gordon 531

14. Kevin Harvick 796 35. Joey Logano 510

15. Greg Biffle 775 36. David Gilliland 462

16. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 768 37. Aric Almirola 451

17. Ryan Newman 743 38. Scott Speed 386

18. Mark Martin 742 39. Travis Kvapil 292

19. Brian Vickers 737 40. Regan Smith 276

20. AJ Allmendinger 731 41. Bill Elliott 228

21. Michael Waltrip 721 42. Scott Riggs 216

22. David Stremme 720 43. Joe Nemechek 205

23. Casey Mears 688 44. Dave Blaney 187

24. Martin Truex Jr. 672 45. Jeremy Mayfield 158

25. Elliott Sadler 667 46. Brad Keselowski 143

26. Bobby Labonte 663 47. Todd Bodine 123

27. Jamie McMurray 658 48. Max Papis 113

28. Marcos Ambrose 656 49. Terry Labonte 91

29. David Ragan 626 50. Mike Bliss 71

30. Reed Sorenson 624 51. Sterling Marlin 43

31. Sam Hornish Jr. 571

32. Paul Menard 543

33. John Andretti 540

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.