Pocono II: Top 12 - and beyond

Week 22: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 4, 2008) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 along with other notable drivers, going into the Centurion Boats at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. (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-- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 109.0

2008 Rundown
*Seven wins, 12 top fives, 13 top 10s
*Average finish of 11.0
*Led 15 races for 1,079 laps

Watkins Glen International Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 84.9
*Two top 10s
*Average finish of 16.3 in three races
*Finished seventh in last season's Watkins Glen race

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Series-high Average Running Position of 9.8

2 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.7

2008 Rundown
*One win, seven top fives, 12 top 10s
*Average finish of 11.5
*Led 15 races for 630 laps

Watkins Glen International Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 79.7
*Two top fives, three top 10s
*Average finish of 20.6
*Finished 42nd last season
*Led three of eight races for 13 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*377 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

3 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.8

2008 Rundown
*Four wins, nine top fives, 15 top 10s
*Average finish of 11.0
*Led 12 races for 468 laps

Watkins Glen International Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 85.6
*One top five, two top 10s
*Average finish of 10.7 in three races
*Finished eighth last season

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Series-high 580 Fastest Laps Run

4 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.9

2008 Rundown
*Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s
*Average finish of 12.5
*Led 16 races for 724 laps

Watkins Glen International Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 104.5
*Three top fives
*Average finish of 14.2
*Finished third last season
*Led three of six races for four laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Average Running Position of 9.8, second-most

5 -- Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.7

2008 Rundown
*One win, four top fives, 11 top 10s
*Average finish of 11.1
*Led eight races for 72 laps

Watkins Glen International Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 74.0
*Two top fives, three top 10s
*Average finish of 21.3
*Finished 40th last season
*Led three of 14 races for 54 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*939 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fifth-most

6 -- Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.5

2008 Rundown
*Eight top fives, 10 top 10s
*Average finish of 14.0
*Led 11 races for 270 laps

Watkins Glen International Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 108.2
*Four wins, six top fives, eight top 10s; two poles
*Average finish of 12.4
*Finished ninth last season
*Led nine of 15 races for 227 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Average Running Position of 11.5, fifth-best

7 -- Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.0

2008 Rundown
*Two wins, three top fives, 11 top 10s
*Average finish of 15.4
*Led eight races for 185 laps

Watkins Glen International Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 64.4
*Average finish of 19.8 in four races
*Finished 26th last season

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*244 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

8 -- Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.2

2008 Rundown
*Six top fives, nine top 10s
*Average finish of 15.2
*Led 10 races for 328 laps

Watkins Glen International Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 59.2
*One top 10
*Average finish of 30.2
*Finished 10th last season
*Led one of five races for 23 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*278 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

9 -- Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.6

2008 Rundown
*Seven top fives, 10 top 10s
*Average finish of 15.7
*Led nine races for 531 laps

Watkins Glen International Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 137.9
*Four wins, five top fives, seven top 10s
*Average finish of 6.1
*Won last season's Watkins Glen race
*Led five of nine races for 190 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*239 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

10 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.2

2008 Rundown
*One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s
*Average finish of 16.3
*Led 11 races for 696 laps

Watkins Glen International Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 112.1
*One top five, two top 10s
*Average finish of 6.0 in two races
*Finished second last season

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*1,013 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most

11 -- Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.7

2008 Rundown
*Four top fives, seven top 10s
*Average finish of 15.5
*Led four races for 88 laps

Watkins Glen International Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 96.2
*One win, two top fives, four top 10s
*Average finish of 12.0
*Finished 36th last season
*Led two of seven races for 29 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Eighth-fastest average Green Flag Speed rank

12 -- Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 79.1

2008 Rundown
*One win, four top fives, 10 top 10s
*Average finish of 16.0
*Led four races for 150 laps

Watkins Glen International Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 79.2
*Average finish of 15.0 in two races
*Finished 16th last season

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*160 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most

13 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 14 DEWALT Ford)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.3

2008 Rundown
*Four top fives, 12 top 10s
*Average finish of 16.5
*Led 11 races for 201 laps

Watkins Glen International Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 72.0
*Three top 10s
*Average finish of 16.8
*Finished 12th last season
*Led one of eight races for one lap

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*178 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

-credit: nascar