Week 14: Top 12 - and beyond

Week 14: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 2, 2008) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 along with other notable drivers, going into the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway on June 8 (Note: ...

Week 14: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 2, 2008) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 along with other notable drivers, going into the Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway on June 8 (Note: Drivers listed below who are outside the top 12 are chosen based on past performances at the upcoming track and/or those within striking distance of the top 12).

1-- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 115.2

2008 Rundown
*Four wins, nine top fives, 10 top 10s
*Average finish of 7.4
*Led 10 races for 786 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
*One top five, two top 10s
*Average finish of 16.2
*Finished 12th in August's Pocono race
*Led one of six races for two laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Series-high Average Running Position of 7.8

2 -- Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.4

2008 Rundown
*One win, three top fives, nine top 10s
*Average finish of 7.9
*Led seven races for 62 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
*Six top fives, 13 top 10s
*Average finish of 16.8
*Finished 11th in August
*Led 14 of 28 races for 103 laps

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

3-- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 105.0

2008 Rundown
*Five top fives, nine top 10s
*Average finish of 11.8
*Led 10 races for 527 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
*Four top fives, five top 10s; one pole
*Average finish of 17.3
*Finished second in August
*Led five of 16 races for 97 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*330 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

4 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.9

2008 Rundown
*Three wins, six top fives, nine top 10s
*Average finish of 11.8
*Led five races for 370 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
*One win, two top fives
*Average finish of 17.3
*Finished 21st in August
*Led three of six races for 51 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Series-high 461 Fastest Laps Run

5 -- Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.0

2008 Rundown
*Five top fives, seven top 10s
*Average finish of 14.2
*Led six races for 278 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
*One top five, two top 10s
*Average finish of 19.2
*Finished 23rd in August
*Led three of 10 races for 53 laps

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

6 -- Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.5

2008 Rundown
*Six top fives, seven top 10s
*Average finish of 14.7
*Led eight races for 211 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
*Four wins, 15 top fives, 21 top 10s; two poles
*Average finish of 10.2
*Finished fourth in August
*Led 20 of 30 races for 871 laps

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

7 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.5

2008 Rundown
*One win, four top fives, five top 10s
*Average finish of 15.2
*Led nine races for 449 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
*Two wins, four top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
*Average finish of 10.7
*Finished fifth in August
*Led four of 12 races for 275 laps

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

8 -- Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 83.7

2008 Rundown
*One win, three top fives, seven top 10s
*Average finish of 14.5
*Led four races for 150 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
*Two top 10s
*Average finish of 20.0
*Finished eighth in August
*Led two of four races for nine laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*144 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

9 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.5

2008 Rundown
*One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
*Average finish of 15.2
*Led seven races for 646 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
*Two wins, three top fives, four top 10s; two poles
*Average finish of 2.8
*Finished third in August
*Led three of four races for 283 laps

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

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

2008 Rundown
*Two top fives, five top 10s
*Average finish of 15.4
*Led three races for 34 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
*One top five, four top 10s
*Average finish of 16.4 in 14 races
*Finished 17th in August

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

11 -- Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.7

2008 Rundown
*Four top fives, six top 10s
*Average finish of 16.7
*Led five races for 373 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
*One win, five top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
*Average finish of 12.4
*Finished sixth in August
*Led eight of 18 races for 101 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*3,144 Laps in the Top 15 (70.4%), eighth-most

12 -- Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 83.3

2008 Rundown
*One win, six top 10s
*Average finish of 17.1
*Led six races for 71 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
*One top five, two top 10s; one pole
*Average finish of 19.8
*Finished 27th in August
*Led two of eight races for five laps

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

15 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 82.9

2008 Rundown
*Two top fives, seven top 10s
*Average finish of 19.4
*Led seven races for 148 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
*Three top fives, seven top 10s
*Average finish of 14.8
*Finished 14th in August
*Led seven of 16 races for 27 laps

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

21 -- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Ford)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 72.2

2008 Rundown
*One top five
*Average finish of 21.8
*Led three races for 74 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
*Two wins, seven top fives
*Average finish of 14.6
*Won last August's Pocono race, scoring a perfect Driver Rating of 150.0
*Led seven of 14 races for 347 laps