Week 3: Top 12 - and beyond

Week 3: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Shelby 427 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 1. (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 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 122.7

2009 Rundown
• Became first driver to win first two races of the season since Jeff Gordon in 1997
• Has led 91 laps in his two wins

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, four top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 9.0
• Finished 20th at Las Vegas last season
• Led six of nine races for 438 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Pass Differential of 57 (passes minus times passed)

2 -- Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 122.3

2009 Rundown
• One top five
• Average finish of 7.5
• Led both races for a total of 78 laps

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One win, five top fives
• Average finish of 14.9
• Finished 35th last season
• Led five of 11 for 217 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 5.6

3 -- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.2

2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 7.5
• Led one race for two laps

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 20.1
• Finished 38th last season
• Led four of eight races for 52 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 220 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 156 under green)

4 -- Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.6

2009 Rundown
• Two top 10s
• Average finish of 8.0
• Led both races for a total of 18 laps

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 14.4
• Finished 43rd last season
• Led five of 10 races for 185 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 9.6, fifth-best

5 -- Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.8

2009 Rundown
• One top five
• Average finish of 12.0
• Led one race for 16 laps

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, three top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 14.6
• Finished third last season
• Led two of five races for 58 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 49 Fastest Laps Run

6 -- Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 78.9

2009 Rundown
• One top five
• Average finish of 11.5

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Average finish of 26.3
• Finished 28th last season
• Led one of three races for one lap

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

7 -- Michael Waltrip (No. 55 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 76.9

2009 Rundown
• One top 10
• Average finish of 11.0

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five
• Average finish of 23.1
• Finished 31st last season
• Led two of 10 races for 18 laps

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

8 -- David Ragan (No. 6 UPS Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.0

2009 Rundown
• One top 10
• Average finish of 11.5

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top 10
• Average finish of 22.0 in two races
• Finished seventh last season

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 170 Quality Passes, third-most

9 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.9

2009 Rundown
• One top 10
• Average finish 12.5
• Led one race for one lap

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One win, two top 10s
• Average finish of 11.8
• Won last season's Las Vegas race
• Led two of four races for 89 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 332 Laps in the Top 15, seventh-most

10 -- Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Target Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 83.1

2009 Rundown
• Average finish of 12.5
• Led one race for one lap

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Average finish of 20.5 in two races
• Finished 19th last season

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 317 Green Flag Passes

11 -- Elliott Sadler (No. 19 Stanley Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 65.6

2009 Rundown
• One top five
• Average finish of 15.0
• Led one race for 24 laps

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top 10
• Average finish of 23.9
• Finished 12th last season
• Led four of 10 races for 24 laps

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

12 -- David Reutimann (No. 00 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 74.2

2009 Rundown
• Average finish of 13.0

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Finished 37th last season, his only LVMS race

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 284 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most

18 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 112.2

2009 Rundown
• One top five
• Average finish of 22.0
• Led one race for 88 laps

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, three top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 13.2
• Finished 11th last season
• Led three of five races for 61 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has been passed 78 times, the fewest on the series

19 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.9

2009 Rundown
• One top 10
• Average finish of 20.0
• Led one race for 74 laps

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three wins, four top 10s
• Average finish of 9.3
• Finished 29th last season
• Led six of seven races for 210 laps

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

-credit: nascar