Week 12: The top 12 - and beyond

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

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 11, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 24. (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: 109.8

2009 Rundown
• One win, six top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 9.7
• Led eight races for a total of 496 laps

Lowe's Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Five wins, 15 top fives, 18 top 10s; seven poles
• Average finish of 16.1
• Finished eighth in October
• Led 21 of 32 races for 579 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 291 Fastest Laps Run

2 -- Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.9

2009 Rundown
• Five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 9.5
• Led five races for 54 laps

Lowe's Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One win, six top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.1
• Finished 11th in October
• Led 11 of 20 races for 595 laps

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

3 -- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.7

2009 Rundown
• One win, three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 10.3
• Led seven races for 322 laps

Lowe's Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three top fives
• Average finish of 20.8
• Finished third in October
• Led eight of 17 races for 238 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 9.8, second-best

4 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.7

2009 Rundown
• One win, five top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 13.7
• Led nine races for 313 laps

Lowe's Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Five wins, eight top fives, 12 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 8.9
• Finished sixth in October
• Led 14 of 15 races for 1,236 laps

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

5 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.3

2009 Rundown
• Two top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 12.5
• Led four races for 479 laps

Lowe's Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three top 10s
• Average finish of 16.3
• Finished 16th in October
• Led four of seven races for 28 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 10.3, third-most

6 -- Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 84.9

2009 Rundown
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 13.5
• Led two races for 67 laps

Lowe's Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three wins, eight top fives, 15 tops 10s
• Average finish of 14.4
• Won October's Lowe's Motor Speedway race
• Led nine of 30 races for 428 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 70.5%, seventh-best

7 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 104.1

2009 Rundown
• Three wins, four top fives
• Average finish of 16.6
• Led seven races for 616 laps

Lowe's Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three top fives, four tops 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 21.4
• Finished fourth in October
• Led seven of 10 races for 146 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 186 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

8 -- Ryan Newman (No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.7

2009 Rundown
• Three top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 15.1
• Led six races for 135 laps

Lowe's Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three top fives, five top 10s; seven poles
• Average finish of 21.9
• Finished 21st in October
• Led 10 of 16 races for 254 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 66 Fastest Laps Run, 15th-most

9 -- Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.7

2009 Rundown
• Three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 15.6
• Led five races for 267 laps

Lowe's Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 18.3
• Finished seventh in October
• Led five of 12 races for 43 laps

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

10 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 80.7

2009 Rundown
• Two wins, three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 16.8
• Led five races for 171 laps

Lowe's Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One win, five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 16.6
• Finished 41st in October
• Led 14 of 19 races for 253 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,038 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

11 -- Mark Martin (No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.1

2009 Rundown
• Two wins, three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 17.8
• Led five races for 215 laps

Lowe's Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Four wins, 17 top fives, 22 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 15.9
• Finished ninth in October
• Led 22 of 48 races for 1,168 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has run 85.3% of the laps on the lead lap, eighth-best

12 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.4

2009 Rundown
• One top five, four top 10s
• Average finish of 17.1
• Led five races for 42 laps

Lowe's Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 10.8
• Finished 33rd in October
• Led four of eight races for 34 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 13.8, seventh-best

13 -- Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 77.9

2009 Rundown
• Three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 17.4
• Led two races for 16 laps

Lowe's Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five
• Average finish of 18.3
• Finished 12th in October
• Led two of six races for 82 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has run 78.9% of the laps on the lead lap, 12th-best

-credit: nascar