Top 12 - and beyond 2007-08-13

Week 23: The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 13, 2007) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12 along with some other notable drivers, going into the 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 19.

1 -- Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)

The File:
* 36 years old, Vallejo, Calif., 79 career wins
* Four wins, 14 top fives, 20 top 10s this year
* Five poles
* Average finish of 6.4 this season
* Led 15 of 22 races for 815 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
* Two wins, 15 top fives, 20 top 10s
* Four poles
* Average finish of 10.0
* Finished ninth at Michigan in June
* Led 20 of 29 races for 874 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-best Average Running Position of 8.9

2 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet)

The File:
* 26 years old, Chesterfield, Va., three career wins
* One win, nine top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
* Average finish of 11.2
* Led 12 of 22 races for 721 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
* One top 10
* Average finish of 11.7
* Finished 14th at Michigan in June
* Led one of three races for one lap

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

3 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)

The File:
* 35 years old from Cambridge, Wis., 15 career wins
* One win, seven top fives, 14 top 10s
* Average finish of 11.4
* Led 13 of 21 races for 257 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
* Two wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s
* Average finish of 10.1
* Finished 42nd at Michigan in June
* Led six of 16 races for 150 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-high 5,794 laps run on the lead lap

4 -- Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet)

The File:
* 36 years old from Columbus, Ind., 32 career wins
* Three wins, seven top fives, 15 top 10s
* Average finish of 13.2
* Led 15 of 22 races for 851 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
* One win, eight top fives, 11 top 10s
* Average finish of 13.1
* Finished third at Michigan in June
* Led five of 17 races for 167 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 480 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

5 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)

The File:
* 27 years old from Columbia, Mo., five career wins
* One win, five top fives, eight top 10s
* Average finish of 13.4
* Led eight of 22 races for 136 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
* One win, four top fives, five top 10s
* Average finish of 7.3
* Won the Michigan race in June
* Led four of six races for 137 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 4,412 Laps in the Top 15, seventh-most

6 -- Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)

The File:
* 40 years old from South Boston, Va., 19 career wins
* One win, six top fives, 11 top 10s
* Average finish of 13.6
* Led five of 22 races for 27 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
* Four top fives, eight top 10s; two poles
* Average finish of 16.0
* Finished 24th at Michigan in June
* Led seven of 27 races for 74 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 1,189 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green flag conditions), third-most

7 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)

The File:
* 31 years old from El Cajon, Calif., 27 career wins
* Four wins, 11 top fives, 13 top 10s
* Average finish of 14.1
* Led 12 of 21 races for 763 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
* One top five, four top 10s
* Average finish of 15.9
* Finished 19th at Michigan in June
* Led five of 11 races for 139 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-high 5,157 Laps in the Top 15

8 -- Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet)

The File:
* 22 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., four career wins
* One win, five top fives, 12 top 10s
* Average finish of 14.4
* Led 11 of 21 races for 174 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
* Two top 10s
* Average finish of 22.2
* Finished sixth at Michigan in June
* Led three of five races for 40 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Fifth-fastest average Green Flag Speed

9 -- Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet)

The File:
* 28 years old from Emporia, Kan.
* One top five, 11 top 10s; one pole
* Average finish of 15.2
* Led eight of 22 races for 80 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
* Average finish of 29.3
* Finished 16th at Michigan in June
* Led one of three races for six laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Sixth-best Closer -- 32 positions improved over the last 10% of races

10 -- Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)

The File:
* 31 years old from Bakersfield, Calif., 11 career victories
* One win, four top fives, 10 top 10s
* Average finish of 16.0 this season
* Led nine of 22 races for 251 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
* Two top fives, five top 10s
* Average finish of 16.0
* Finished seventh at Michigan in June
* Led two of 13 races for 88 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 1,868 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most

11 -- Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)

The File:
* 27 years old from Mayetta, N.J., one career win
* One win, four top fives, eight top 10s
* Average finish of 17.0
* Led nine of 22 races for 346 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
* One top five
* Average finish of 16.0
* Finished second at Michigan in June
* Led one of three races for 54 laps

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

12-- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)

The File:
* 29 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., 16 career wins
* One win, four top fives, six top 10s
* Average finish of 16.6
* Led 12 of 21 races for 536 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
* One win, five top 10s
* Average finish of 20.3
* Finished 25th at Michigan in June
* Led nine of 13 races for 198 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-high 1,235 Quality Passes

14 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet)

The File:
* 32 years old from Kannapolis, N.C., 17 career wins
* Four top five, eight top 10s; one pole
* Average finish of 17.7
* Led 10 of 22 races for 345 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
* Two top fives, five top 10s; two poles
* Average finish of 17.6
* Finished fifth in Michigan in June
* Led nine of 16 races for 109 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 4,632 Laps in the Top 15, fourth-most

-credit: nascar