Week 35: The top 12

Week 35: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 3, 2008) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 going into the ninth race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup -- the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil at Phoenix International Raceway.

1 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 106.5

2008 Rundown
• Six wins, 14 top fives, 21 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.7
• Led 27 races for 1,736 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 118.0
• Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 6.0
• Won April's Phoenix race
• Led five of 10 races for 288 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 10.2

2 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 107.7

2008 Rundown
• Eight wins, 17 top fives, 25 top 10s
• Average finish of 9.9
• Led 20 races for 1,125 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 103.3
• Three top fives, five top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 14.5
• Finished fourth in April
• Led one of eight races for 87 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 1,011 Fastest Laps Run

3 -- Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.0

2008 Rundown
• Two wins, 12 top fives, 17 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.8
• Led 19 races for 458 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 102.4
• Two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 16.4
• Finished ninth in April
• Led three of nine races for 342 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 480 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

4 -- Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.9

2008 Rundown
• Two wins, seven top fives, 17 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.8
• Led 11 races for 140 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 85.2
• Two wins, five top fives, 10 tops 10s
• Average finish of 11.1
• Finished sixth in April
• Led four of 18 for 215 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,551 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fourth-most

5 -- Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.6

2008 Rundown
• 12 top fives, 18 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.1
• Led 19 races for 431 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 104.0
• One win, eight top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles
• Average finish of 8.5
• Finished 13th in April
• Led eight of 19 races for 247 laps

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

6 -- Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 82.7

2008 Rundown
• One win, six top fives, 16 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.4
• Led six races for 188 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 84.4
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 15.8
• Finished second in April
• Led one of six races for 21 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 237 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most

7 -- Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.1

2008 Rundown
• Six top fives, 17 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.8
• Led seven races for 191 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 106.7
• Two wins, three top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 13.7
• Finished 19th in April
• Led three of 11 races for 316 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 67.9%, ninth-best

8 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 14 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.1

2008 Rundown
• Nine top fives, 20 top 10s
• Average finish of 16.2
• Led 18 races for 531 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 88.1
• One win, five top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 18.8
• Finished 38th in April
• Led five of 12 races for 154 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 309 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

9 -- Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.2

2008 Rundown
• One win, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.9
• Led 14 races for 622 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 101.6
• One win, six top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 9.8
• Finished 14th in April
• Led four of 13 races for 293 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 375 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

10 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 104.7

2008 Rundown
• Eight wins, 17 top fives, 20 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.4
• Led 23 races for 1,673 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 90.3
• One win, five top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 15.4
• Finished 10th in April
• Led three of seven races for 78 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 705 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

11 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.6

2008 Rundown
• One win, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.5
• Led 22 races for 896 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 89.1
• Two wins, four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 18.0
• Finished seventh in April
• Led four of 12 races for 397 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 585 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

12 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.7

2008 Rundown
• One win, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s
• Average finish of 15.8
• Led 15 races for 766 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 94.1
• Three top fives; one pole
• Average finish of 12.0
• Finished third in April
• Led two of six races for 93 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,582 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most

-credit: nascar