Week 25: The top 12 - and beyond

Week 25: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 24, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway ...

Week 25: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 24, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept. 6. (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: 103.2

2009 Rundown
• Three wins, 13 top fives, 18 top 10s
• Average finish of 8.7
• Led 14 races for 275 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.0
• Finished eighth in March's Atlanta race
• Led 12 of 21 races for 790 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Pass Differential of 286 (passes minus times passed)

2 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 111.3

2009 Rundown
• Three wins, nine top fives, 15 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.8
• Led 20 races for 1,235 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three wins, nine top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 9.1
• Finished ninth in March
• Led nine of 16 races for 386 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: 98.8

2009 Rundown
• One win, 11 top fives, 16 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.4
• Led 12 races for 571 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Four wins, 14 fives, 22 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 12.4
• Finished second in March
• Led 21 of 34 races for 1,098 laps

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

4 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.7

2009 Rundown
• One win, eight top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.1
• Led 10 races for 670 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 16.5
• Finished 13th in March
• Led three of eight races for 74 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 12.5, sixth-best

5 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.7

2009 Rundown
• Seven top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.0
• Led nine races for 159 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three wins, six top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 10.7
• Finished third in March
• Led seven of 10 races for 299 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 13.0, seventh-best

6 -- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.1

2009 Rundown
• One win, six top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.5
• Led 13 races for 391 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, six top 10s
• Average finish of 18.6
• Won March's Atlanta race
• Led eight of 17 races for 526 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 10.8, third-best

7 -- Ryan Newman (No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.4

2009 Rundown
• Five top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.4
• Led 10 races for 156 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, four top 10s; seven poles
• Average finish of 18.5
• Finished 22nd in March
• Led 10 of 15 races for 162 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has run 84.5% of the laps on the lead lap, 11th-best

8 -- Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.6

2009 Rundown
• Eight top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.8
• Led 10 races for 431 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 15.9
• Finished 34th in March
• Led seven of 13 races for 289 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 387 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

9 -- Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Target Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.4

2009 Rundown
• One top five, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.0
• Led five races for 133 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five
• Average finish of 24.4 in five races
• Finished 27th in March

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 2,119 Green Flag Passes, third-most

10 -- Mark Martin (No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.4

2009 Rundown
• Four wins, seven top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 16.5
• Led 16 races for 704 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, 13 top fives, 22 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 17.2
• Finished 31st in March
• Led 18 of 47 races for 929 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has been passed 986 times, fewest in the series

11 -- Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.2

2009 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 14.5
• Led five races for 120 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One win, four top fives, six top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 18.5
• Finished seventh in March
• Led four of 11 races for 93 laps

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

12 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.3

2009 Rundown
• Two wins, four top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 15.2
• Led 10 races for 194 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Seven top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.8
• Finished 12th in March
• Led five of 19 races for 188 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,962 Green Flag Passes, tied for 10th-most

13 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.6

2009 Rundown
• Four wins, six top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 16.9
• Led 13 races for 892 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One win, two top fives
• Average finish of 18.2
• Finished 18th in March
• Led three of 10 races for 254 laps