Week 23: Top 12 - and beyond

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

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 11, 2008) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 along with other notable drivers, going into the 3M Performance 400 presented by Bondo at Michigan International Speedway. (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-- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 110.6

2008 Rundown
*Eight wins, 13 top fives, 14 top 10s
*Average finish of 10.5
*Led 16 races for 1,131 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 90.8
*Two top 10s
*Average finish of 19.6
*Finished 13th in June's Michigan race
*Led four of seven races for 45 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Series-high Average Running Position of 9.5

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

2008 Rundown
*Four wins, nine top fives, 16 top 10s
*Average finish of 11.0
*Led 12 races for 468 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 112.5
*One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
*Average finish of 7.3
*Finished seventh in June
*Led five of eight races for 158 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Series-high 589 Fastest Laps Run

3 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 104.4

2008 Rundown
*Two wins, seven top fives, 12 top 10s
*Average finish of 12.3
*Led 17 races for 726 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 108.2
*Two top fives, six top 10s
*Average finish of 14.2
*Finished sixth in June
*Led seven of 13 races for 219 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Average Running Position of 9.7, second-most

4 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.6

2008 Rundown
*One win, seven top fives, 12 top 10s
*Average finish of 12.0
*Led 16 races for 663 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 100.7
*One win, three top fives, six top 10s; two poles
*Average finish of 16.3
*Won June's Michigan race
*Led three of eight races for 13 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*382 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

5 -- Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.5

2008 Rundown
*One win, four top fives, 11 top 10s
*Average finish of 11.4
*Led eight races for 72 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 72.9
*Four top fives, eight top 10s; two poles
*Average finish of 16.0
*Finished 15th in June
*Led seven of 29 races for 74 laps

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

6 -- Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.1

2008 Rundown
*Eight top fives, 10 top 10s
*Average finish of 14.6
*Led 11 races for 270 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 94.7
*Two wins, 15 top fives, 20 top 10s; five poles
*Average finish of 10.8
*Finished 18th in June
*Led 21 of 31 races for 899 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Average Running Position of 11.9, fifth-best

7 -- Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.9

2008 Rundown
*Eight top fives, 11 top 10s
*Average finish of 15.1
*Led 10 races for 532 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 96.6
*One win, nine top fives, 13 top 10s
*Average finish of 12.5
*Finished fifth in June
*Led six of 19 races for 168 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*247 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

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

2008 Rundown
*Two wins, three top fives, 11 top 10s
*Average finish of 15.4
*Led eight races for 185 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 84.7
*One win, five top fives; one pole
*Average finish of 13.8
*Finished second in June
*Led three of nine races for 40 laps

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

9 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.2

2008 Rundown
*One win, six top fives, 11 top 10s
*Average finish of 15.9
*Led 11 races for 696 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 92.9
*One top five, two top 10s
*Average finish of 10.8; Finished 14th in June
*Led two of five races for two laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*1,043 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most

10 -- Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.8

2008 Rundown
*Six top fives, nine top 10s
*Average finish of 15.5
*Led 10 races for 328 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 104.0
*Two wins, four top fives, six top 10s
*Average finish of 14.0
*Finished 20th in June
*Led seven of 11 races for 190 laps

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

11 -- Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.5

2008 Rundown
*Four top fives, eight top 10s
*Average finish of 15.0
*Led four races for 88 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 77.9
*Two top fives, five top 10s
*Average finish of 15.7; Finished 12th in June
*Led two of 15 races for 88 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Seventh-fastest average Green Flag Speed rank

12 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 14 DEWALT Ford)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.9

2008 Rundown
*Four top fives, 12 top 10s
*Average finish of 16.3
*Led 11 races for 201 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 107.2
*Two wins, eight top fives, 12 top 10s
*Average finish of 9.3
*Finished third in June
*Led eight of 18 races for 222 laps

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

13 -- Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 78.5

2008 Rundown
*One win, four top fives, 10 top 10s
*Average finish of 16.3
*Led four races for 150 laps

Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 68.4
*Average finish of 26.2
*Finished 26th in June
*Led one of five races for six laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*160 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most

-credit: nascar