Week 20: The top 12 - and beyond

Week 20: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 13, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard at ...

Week 20: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 13, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26. (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: 106.0

2009 Rundown
• Two wins, 11 top fives, 15 top 10s
• Average finish of 7.6
• Led 11 races for 237 laps

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, four top fives, six top 10s ; one pole
• Average finish of 9.1
• Finished 23rd last season
• Led five of 10 races for 215 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 9.3, second-best

2 -- Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.7

2009 Rundown
• One win, 10 top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.2
• Led 11 races for 570 laps

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Four wins, nine top fives, 12 top 10s; three poles
• Average finish of 8.6
• Finished fifth last season
• Led 10 of 15 races for 440 laps

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

3 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 109.9

2009 Rundown
• Two wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.4
• Led 15 races for 945 laps

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, three top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 20.3
• Won last season's Indianapolis race
• Led two of seven races for 104 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 8.3

4 -- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.0

2009 Rundown
• One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.5
• Led 11 races for 354 laps

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 18.0
• Finished 40th last season
• Led two of eight races for three laps

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

5 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.8

2009 Rundown
• Six top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 13.4
• Led eight races for 577 laps

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 11.7
• Finished third last season
• Led one of three races for 26 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 11.8, fifth-best

6 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.6

2009 Rundown
• Five top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 13.4
• Led eight races for 158 laps

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 10.3
• Finished second last season
• Led one of four races for four laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 12.0, seventh-best

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

2009 Rundown
• Five top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 14.5
• Led 10 races for 156 laps

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five
• Average finish of 22.4
• Finished 13th last season
• Led two of eight races for 14 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has run 81.4% of the laps on the lead lap, 12th-best

8 -- Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.9

2009 Rundown
• One win, three top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 14.8
• Led four races for 85 laps

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 17.8
• Finished seventh last season
• Led two of five races for 40 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 163 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

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

2009 Rundown
• Nine top 10s
• Average finish of 14.4
• Led four races for 17 laps

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five
• Average finish of 20.5 in two races
• Finished 39th last season

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,820 Green Flag Passes, second-most

10 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.9

2009 Rundown
• Three wins, four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 17.0
• Led 11 races for 809 laps

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 9.0
• Finished 15th last season
• Led three of four races for 39 laps

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

11 -- Mark Martin (No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.3

2009 Rundown
• Four wins, five top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 17.4
• Led 10 races for 414 laps

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Five top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 14.1
• Finished 11th last season
• Led five of 15 races for 43 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has been passed 773 times, fewest in the series

12 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 84.4

2009 Rundown
• Two wins, four top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 16.1
• Led eight races for 187 laps

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Four top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 16.0
• Finished 38th last season
• Led three of nine races for 28 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,590 Green Flag Passes, tied for seventh-most

13 -- Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.6

2009 Rundown
• Five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 16.1
• Led nine races for 355 laps

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two top 10s
• Average finish of 17.3
• Finished eighth last season
• Led one of six races for 11 laps