Week 4: The top 12 - and beyond

Week 4: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 2, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on ...

Week 4: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 2, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 8. (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 -- Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 118.9

2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 7.0
• Led all three races for a total of 95 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Four wins, 13 top fives, 21 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 12.7
• Finished ninth in October
• Led 20 of 33 races for 1,051 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 6.2

2 -- Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 80.9

2009 Rundown
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 8.3
• Led one race for nine laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three top 10s
• Average finish of 15.0
• Finished 20th in October
• Led two of six races for 54 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 351 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

3 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.7

2009 Rundown
• Two wins
• Average finish of 15.0
• Led two races for 91 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Seven top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.9
• Finished fourth at Atlanta in October
• Led five of 18 races for 188 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 33 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

4 -- Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.3

2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 10.3
• Led two races for 56 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 14.4
• Finished 10th in October
• Led seven of 12 races for 289 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 90 Fastest Laps Run

5 -- David Reutimann (No. 00 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 78.8

2009 Rundown
• One top 10
• Average finish of 10.0

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Average finish of 29.3 in three races
• Finished 28th in October

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

6 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 110.7

2009 Rundown
• One win, two top fives
• Average finish of 15.0
• Led two races for 139 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One win, two top fives
• Average finish of 18.2
• Finished fifth in October
• Led three of nine races for 254 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has been passed 123 times, the fewest on the series

7 -- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.2

2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 12.7
• Led two races for three laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One win, five top 10s
• Average finish of 19.7
• Finished sixth in October
• Led seven of 16 races for 292 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 242 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 156 under green), second-most

8 -- Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.5

2009 Rundown
• Two top 10s
• Average finish of 14.0
• Led two races for 18 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, eight top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.3
• Finished 17th in October
• Led 12 of 20 races for 790 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 10.6, fifth-best

9 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.2

2009 Rundown
• One top 10
• Average finish 14.0
• Led two races for three laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three wins, five top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 11.6
• Won October's Atlanta race
• Led six of nine races for 271 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 9.7, fourth-best

10 -- Bobby Labonte (No. 96 ASK.com Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 75.9

2009 Rundown
• One top five
• Average finish of 15.7
• Led one race for one lap

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Six wins, 12 top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average finish of 16.6
• Finished 26th in October
• Led 18 of 32 races for 959 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 317 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most

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

2009 Rundown
• One top five
• Average finish of 17.3
• Led one race for nine laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One win, two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 22.6
• Finished 13th in October
• Led five of 16 races for 70 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 463 Laps in the Top 15 (67.4%), 10th-most

12 -- Michael Waltrip (No. 55 NAPA Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 72.7

2009 Rundown
• One top 10
• Average finish of 16.3

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 21.7
• Finished 37th in October
• Led seven of 46 races for 49 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 11 Fastest Laps Run, tied for ninth-most

19 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.2

2009 Rundown
• One top 10
• Average finish of 21.3
• Led two races for 166 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three wins, nine top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 9.1
• Finished second in October
• Led eight of 15 races for 375 laps