The top 12 - and beyond

Week 17: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 22, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire ...

Week 17: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 22, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 28. (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 -- Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.3

2009 Rundown
One win, eight top fives, 12 top 10s
Average finish of 8.4
Led eight races for 110 laps

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
Two wins, 10 top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
Average finish of 12.6
Finished eighth in September
Led 11 of 20 races for 936 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
Average Running Position of 10.0, second-best

2 -- Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.3

2009 Rundown
One win, eight top fives, 11 top 10s
Average finish of 10.1
Led nine races for 505 laps

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
Three wins, 12 top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles
Average finish of 11.6
Finished 14th in September
Led 17 of 28 races for 1,141 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
328 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

3 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 107.5

2009 Rundown
Two wins, seven top fives, 10 top 10s
Average finish of 12.4
Led 13 races for 794 laps

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
Two wins, four top fives, nine top 10s
Average finish of 9.9
Finished second in September
Led five of 14 races for 181 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
Series-best Average Running Position of 9.0

4 -- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.9

2009 Rundown
One win, four top fives, eight top 10s
Average finish of 13.2
Led nine races for 325 laps

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
Three wins, five top fives, seven top 10s
Average finish of 15.5
Finished sixth in September
Led six of 16 races for 298 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
Average Running Position of 10.4, third-best

5 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.8

2009 Rundown
Four top fives, eight top 10s
Average finish of 13.6
Led eight races for 158 laps

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
Two top fives
Average finish of 12.9
Finished third in September
Led two of nine races for 63 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
Average Running Position of 12.2, sixth-best

6 -- Ryan Newman (No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 83.2

2009 Rundown
Five top fives, eight top 10s
Average finish of 13.8
Led eight races for 138 laps

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
Two wins, five top fives, nine top 10s; four poles
Average finish of 13.1
Finished 36th in September
Led nine of 14 races for 520 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
Has run 80.8% of the laps on the lead lap, 12th-best

7 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.5

2009 Rundown
Four top fives, six top 10s
Average finish of 14.4
Led five races for 513 laps

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
One win, two top fives, five top 10s
Average finish of 7.2
Finished ninth in September
Led three of six races for 51 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
Average Running Position of 12.4, seventh-best

8 -- Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.1

2009 Rundown
Five top fives, eight top 10s
Average finish of 14.9
Led eight races for 354 laps

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
One win, four top fives, five top 10s
Average finish of 18.1
Won September's New Hampshire race
Led three of 13 races for 84 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
340 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

9 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.4

2009 Rundown
Three wins, four top fives, five top 10s
Average finish of 16.8
Led 10 races for 808 laps

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
One win, three top fives
Average finish of 18.0
Finished 34th in September
Led four of eight races for 179 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
246 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

10 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.1

2009 Rundown
Two wins, four top fives, six top 10s
Average finish of 15.8
Led seven races for 184 laps

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
Five top fives, 11 top 10s
Average finish of 12.6
Finished 40th in September
Led five of 18 races for 88 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
1,334 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most

11 -- Mark Martin (No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.0

2009 Rundown
Three wins, four top fives, eight top 10s
Average finish of 17.4
Led eight races for 218 laps

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
Eight top fives, 13 top 10s; two poles
Average finish of 11.0
Finished 11th in 2006, his last New Hampshire start
Led eight of 24 races for 396 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
Has been passed 679 times, fewest in the series

12 -- Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Target Chevrolet)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 84.1

2009 Rundown
Seven top 10s
Average finish of 15.2
Led three races for 11 laps

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
Average finish of 22.8 in four races
Finished 17th in September

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
1,501 Green Flag Passes, second-most

13 -- Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.2

2009 Rundown
One win, two top fives, five top 10s
Average finish of 15.8
Led three races for 83 laps

New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
One top five, four tops 10s
Average finish of 16.6
Finished 11th in September
Led two of 10 races for 49 laps