Week 5: The top 12 - and beyond

Week 5: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 9, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 22. (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: 120.5

2009 Rundown
• Two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 5.8
• Led all four races for a total of 142 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Five wins, 13 top fives, 19 top 10s; five poles
• Average finish of 11.5
• Finished fifth in August
• Led 25 of 32 races for 2,438 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 5.8

2 -- Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.9

2009 Rundown
• Two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 7.8
• Led one race for nine laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 14.7
• Finished seventh in August
• Led one of six races for 81 laps

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

3 -- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 108.2

2009 Rundown
• One win, two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 9.8
• Led three races for 237 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Five wins, nine top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 14.4
• Finished 15th in August
• Led nine of 16 races for 562 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 94 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

4 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 104.3

2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish 11.2
• Led three races for 31 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, three top fives, four top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 11.6
• Won August's Bristol race
• Led three of nine races for 282 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 8.6, fourth-best

5 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.0

2009 Rundown
• Two wins
• Average finish of 14.2
• Led two races for 91 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 12.2
• Finished ninth at Bristol in August
• Led seven of 18 races for 742 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 36 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

6 -- Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.9

2009 Rundown
• Three top 10s
• Average finish of 12.5
• Led two races for 18 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One win, five top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 16.4
• Finished eighth in August
• Led nine of 20 races for 1,352 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 12.0, seventh-best

7 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 104.0

2009 Rundown
• One win, two top fives
• Average finish of 15.8
• Led two races for 139 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One win, three top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 12.5
• Finished second in August
• Led six of eight races for 489 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has been passed 161 times, the fewest on the series

8 -- Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.4

2009 Rundown
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 14.0
• Led one race for nine laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One win, nine top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 9.6
• Finished fourth in August
• Led nine of 16 races for 390 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 752 Laps in the Top 15 (73.9%), sixth-most

9 -- Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 78.5

2009 Rundown
• One top 10
• Average finish of 14.2
• Led one race for one lap

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, three top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 20.7
• Finished 40th in August
• Led one of 10 races for 305 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 823 Laps Run on the Lead Lap (80.9%), ninth-most

10 -- Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.5

2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 16.2
• Led two races for 56 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Four top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 9.8
• Finished 11th in August
• Led four of 12 races for 202 laps

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

11 -- Brian Vickers (No. 83 Red Bull Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.3

2009 Rundown
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 15.5

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Average finish of 25.7
• Finished 20th in August
• Led one of nine races for one lap

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 30 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

12 -- David Reutimann (No. 00 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 72.9

2009 Rundown
• One top five
• Average finish of 15.5

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Average finish of 22.5 in two races
• Finished 25th in August

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

13 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 104.2

2009 Rundown
• Two top 10s
• Average finish of 18.2
• Led three races for 177 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 17.4
• Finished 33rd in August
• Led four of 14 races for 43 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 8.5, second-best

-credit: nascar