Week 21: The top 12 - and beyond

Week 21: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 27, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway on August 2. (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: 106.4

2009 Rundown
• Two wins, 12 top fives, 16 top 10s
• Average finish of 7.4
• Led 12 races for 239 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, seven top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 12.4
• Won June's Pocono race
• Led nine of 21 races for 153 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Pass Differential of 228 (passes minus times passed)

2 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 110.8

2009 Rundown
• Three wins, nine top fives, 14 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.9
• Led 16 races for 969 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, five top fives, 10 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 9.6
• Finished seventh in June
• Led seven of 15 races for 399 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 8.1

3 -- Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.2

2009 Rundown
• One win, 10 top fives, 14 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.2
• Led 11 races for 570 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• Four wins, 16 fives, 23 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 10.1
• Finished fourth in June
• Led 20 of 33 races for 879 laps

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

4 -- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.6

2009 Rundown
• One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.2
• Led 11 races for 354 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, seven top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 16.9
• Finished 37th in June
• Led nine of 17 races for 354 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 11.0, third-best

5 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.5

2009 Rundown
• Five top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 13.5
• Led eight races for 158 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, four top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 12.9
• Finished second in June
• Led six of nine races for 209 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 12.6, fifth-best

6 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.4

2009 Rundown
• Six top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 14.4
• Led eight races for 577 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, four top fives, five top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 10.7
• Finished 38th in June
• Led four of seven races for 300 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 12.8, 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

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• One win, six top fives, seven top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 13.3
• Finished fifth in June
• Led 10 of 15 races for 162 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has run 81.9% of the laps on the lead lap, 12th-best

8 -- Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.5

2009 Rundown
• One win, three top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 14.4
• Led four races for 85 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• One win, two top fives, four top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 16.5
• Finished 15th in June
• Led four of 11 races for 115 laps

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

9 -- Mark Martin (No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.0

2009 Rundown
• Four wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 16.6
• Led 11 races for 428 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• 19 top fives, 31 top 10s; three poles
• Average finish of 10.8
• Finished 19th in June
• Led 27 of 45 races for 431 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has been passed 785 times, fewest in the series

10 -- Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Target Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.5

2009 Rundown
• Nine top 10s
• Average finish of 14.2
• Led five races for 133 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• One top 10
• Average finish of 24.4 in five races
• Finished eighth in June

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,832 Green Flag Passes, second-most

11 -- Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.6

2009 Rundown
• Six top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 15.5
• Led nine races for 355 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 17.8
• Finished 11th in June
• Led six of 13 races for 63 laps

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

12 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 84.2

2009 Rundown
• Two wins, four top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 15.8
• Led eight races for 187 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• Three top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 14.3
• Finished 16th in June
• Led 10 of 19 races for 38 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,647 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

14 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.3

2009 Rundown
• Three wins, four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 18.0
• Led 11 races for 809 laps

Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 22.0
• Finished 22nd in June
• Led one of nine races for two laps

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

-credit: nascar