Week 36: The top 12

Week 36: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 10, 2008) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 going into the 10th and final race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup -- the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami ...

Week 36: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 10, 2008) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 going into the 10th and final race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup -- the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

1 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 107.7

2008 Rundown
• Seven wins, 15 top fives, 22 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.4
• Led 28 races for 1,953 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 85.0
• Two top fives, five top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 13.4
• Finished seventh last season
• Led four of seven races for 37 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 10.0

2 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 107.5

2008 Rundown
• Eight wins, 18 top fives, 26 top 10s
• Average finish of 9.7
• Led 20 races for 1,125 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 107.2
• Two top fives, three top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 7.8
• Finished fifth last season
• Led one of four races for 94 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 1,025 Fastest Laps Run

3 -- Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.8

2008 Rundown
• Two wins, 12 top fives, 17 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.7
• Led 20 races for 465 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 111.0
• Three wins
• Average finish of 12.7
• Finished 13th last season
• Led three of six races for 173 laps

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

4 -- Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.8

2008 Rundown
• Two wins, seven top fives, 18 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.7
• Led 11 races for 140 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 84.4
• Three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 13.1
• Finished eighth last season
• Led one of nine races for five laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,571 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fifth-most

5 -- Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.3

2008 Rundown
• Six top fives, 18 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.7
• Led seven races for 191 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 88.4
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 10.1
• Finished 19th last season
• Led three of seven races for 59 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 68.3%, ninth-best

6 -- Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 82.6

2008 Rundown
• One win, six top fives, 16 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.3
• Led six races for 188 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 84.4
• One top 10
• Average finish of 24.5 in two races
• Finished 39th last season

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

7 -- Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.9

2008 Rundown
• 12 top fives, 18 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.8
• Led 19 races for 431 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 92.8
• Four top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 10.6
• Finished fourth last season
• Led three of nine races for 46 laps

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

8 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 14 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.5

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

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 115.6
• One win, two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 20.0
• Won last season's Homestead race
• Led one of eight races for 214 laps

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

9 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.1

2008 Rundown
• One win, 12 top fives, 18 top 10s
• Average finish of 15.5
• Led 15 races for 766 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 81.8
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 13.0
• Finished third last season
• Led two of three races for 20 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,611 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most

10 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.0

2008 Rundown
• One win, 10 top fives, 16 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.3
• Led 22 races for 896 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 68.7
• Average finish of 21.3
• Finished 36th last season
• Led two of eight races for 93 laps

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

11 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 104.3

2008 Rundown
• Eight wins, 17 top fives, 21 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.3
• Led 23 races for 1,673 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 76.6
• Average finish of 33.0
• Finished 20th last season
• Led two of three races for 29 laps

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

12 -- Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.8

2008 Rundown
• One win, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s
• Average finish of 15.1
• Led 14 races for 622 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 81.0
• Two wins, three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 12.2
• Finished 30th last season
• Led five of nine races for 330 laps