Week 5: Top 12 -- and beyond

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

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 10, 2008) -- 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 16.

1 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 125.9

2008 Rundown
*One win, three top fives
*Average finish of 5.0
*Led four races for 329 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
*One win, two top fives, four top 10s
*Average finish of 13.5
*Finished ninth in August's Bristol race
*Led four of six races for 67 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Series-best Average Running Position of 4.7

2 -- Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.3

2008 Rundown
*Two top fives, three top 10s
*Average finish of 8.0
*Led three races for 17 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
*Three top fives, six top 10s
*Average finish of 10.3
*Finished 10th in August
*Led four of 10 races for 202 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Series-high 293 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green)

3 -- Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.8

2008 Rundown
*One top five, three top 10s
*Average finish of 8.2
*Led one race for one lap

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
*One win, seven top fives, nine top 10s
*Average finish of 10.5
*Finished 16th in August
*Led eight of 14 races for 358 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*1,035 laps run on the lead lap (of a total of 1,042), second-most

4 -- Ryan Newman (No. 12 Alltel Dodge)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.8

2008 Rundown
*One win, two top 10s
*Average finish of 9.8
*Led two races for 11 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
*One top five, six top 10s; two poles
*Average finish of 20.2
*Finished seventh in August
*Led three of 12 races for 57 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*861 Laps in the Top 15, fourth-most

5 -- Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.6

2008 Rundown
*One top five, two top 10s
*Average finish of 10.0
*Led three races for 21 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
*Seven top fives, 11 top 10s
*Average finish of 18.3
*Finished 12th in August
*Led five of 28 races for 318 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Series-high 1,039 laps run on the lead lap

6 -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP/National Guard Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.9

2008 Rundown
*Two top fives, three top 10s
*Average finish of 13.5
*Led three races for 91 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
*One win, six top fives, nine top 10s
*Average finish of 11.7
*Finished fifth in August
*Led six of 16 races for 743 lap

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*72 Fastest Laps Run, third -most

7-- Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.5

2008 Rundown
*Three top 10s
*Average finish of 12.5
*Led three races for three laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
*One top five, two top 10s; one pole
*Average finish of 20.0
*Finished second in August
*Led one of eight races for 305 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*260 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fourth-best

8 -- Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.1

2008 Rundown
*Two top fives, three top 10s
*Average finish of 13.8
*Led two races for 22 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
*One win, five top fives, six top 10s
*Average finish of 16.9
*Finished fourth in August
*Led eight of 18 races for 1,085 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*218 Quality Passes, eighth-most

9 -- Brian Vickers (No. 83 Red Bull Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 76.2

2008 Rundown
*One top 10
*Average finish of 14.0
*Led one race for one lap

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
*Average finish of 24.6
*Finished 15th in March, his last race at Bristol
*Led one of seven races for one lap

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*378 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most

10 -- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 78.4

2008 Rundown
*One top five
*Average finish of 16.0
*Led one race for nine laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
*Five wins, nine top 10s
*Average finish of 14.5
*Finished sixth in August
*Led nine of 14 races for 562 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*438 Green Flag Passes, second-most

11 -- Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.2

2008 Rundown
*One top 10
*Average finish of 15.5

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
*Average finish of 26.0
*Finished 11th in August

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*595 Laps in the Top 15, 12th-most

12 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.4

2008 Rundown
*One top five, two top 10s
*Average finish of 17.2
*Led three races for 75 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
*Two wins, seven top fives, nine top 10s
*Average finish of 12.5
*Finished 39th in August
*Led seven of 16 races for 742 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*56 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

14 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.7

2008 Rundown
*One top five
*Average finish of 17.8
*Led two races for 77 laps

Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
*Two top fives, six top 10s
*Average finish of 16.0
*Finished 21st in August
*Led three of 12 races for 29 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*36 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

-credit: nascar