Week 6: The top 12 - and beyond

Week 6: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 23, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville ...

Week 6: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 23, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 29. (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: 118.2

2009 Rundown Three top fives, four top 10s Average finish of 5.4 Led four races for a total of 142 laps

Martinsville Speedway Outlook: Seven wins, 20 top fives, 26 top 10s; seven poles Average finish of 6.9 Finished fourth in October Led 24 of 32 races for 2,613 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight Series-best Average Running Position of 6.1

2 -- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.1

2009 Rundown One win, two top fives, three top 10s Average finish of 10.0 Led three races for 237 laps

Martinsville Speedway Outlook: One win, two top fives, four top 10s; one pole Average finish of 22.0 Finished 36th in October Led six of 17 races for 358 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight Tied for series-high 119 Fastest Laps Run

3 -- Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet) Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 84.8

2009 Rundown Two top fives, three top 10s Average finish of 8.8 Led one race for nine laps

Martinsville Speedway Outlook: Three top 10s Average finish of 14.0 in six races Finished ninth in October

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight 455 Green Flag Passes, third-most

4 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota) Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 113.0

2009 Rundown Two wins, three top fives Average finish of 12.8 Led three races for 517 laps

Martinsville Speedway Outlook: Three top fives, four top 10s Average finish of 18.3 Finished 29th in October Led two of eight races for 116 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight Has been passed 167 times, the fewest on the series

5 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford) Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.1

2009 Rundown One top five, two top 10s Average finish of 12.0 Led three races for 31 laps

Martinsville Speedway Outlook: One top five, two top 10s Average finish of 17.3 in nine races Finished third in October

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight Series-high 305 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green)

6 -- Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge) Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 84.3

2009 Rundown One top five, two top 10s Average finish of 12.8 Led one race for one lap

Martinsville Speedway Outlook: One top five, two top 10s Average finish of 18.5 Finished 33rd in October Led two of 10 races for 18 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight 1,326 Laps Run on the Lead Lap (87.2%), ninth-most

7 -- Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet) Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.7

2009 Rundown Three top 10s Average finish of 13.4 Led two races for 18 laps

Martinsville Speedway Outlook: Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s; three poles Average finish of 12.6 Finished 26th in October Led 10 of 20 races for 1,193 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight Average Running Position of 13.1, seventh-best

8 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota) Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.8

2009 Rundown One top five, two top 10s Average finish of 13.8 Led one race for seven laps

Martinsville Speedway Outlook: One win, four top fives, six top 10s Average finish of 8.9 Finished fifth in October Led three of seven races for 235 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight Average Running Position of 10.5, fifth -most

9 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet) Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 108.1

2009 Rundown One top five, three top 10s Average finish of 15.2 Led four races for 265 laps

Martinsville Speedway Outlook: Five wins, 10 top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole Average finish of 5.6 Won the October Martinsville race Led eight of 14 races for 1,345 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight Average Running Position of 7.2, second-best

10 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford) Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 78.2

2009 Rundown Two wins Average finish of 18.0 Led two races for 91 laps

Martinsville Speedway Outlook: Two top fives, six top 10s Average finish of 16.0 Finished eighth in October Led seven of 18 races for 68 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight Ranks third in average Green Flag Speed

11 -- David Reutimann (No. 00 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota) Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 77.8

2009 Rundown One top five Average finish of 14.8 Led one race for one lap

Martinsville Speedway Outlook: Average finish of 28.3 Finished 24th in October Led one of four races for three laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight 422 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

12 -- Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 79.5

2009 Rundown Two top fives Average finish of 17.2 Led one race for nine laps

Martinsville Speedway Outlook: Six top 10s Average finish of 18.0 Finished seventh in October Led four of 15 races for 147 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight 407 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

13 -- Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet) Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 78.7

2009 Rundown One top five, two top 10s Average finish of 17.0 Led one race for 61 laps

Martinsville Speedway Outlook: One win, 10 top fives, 14 tops 10s Average finish of 14.6 Finished 17th in October Led eight of 29 races for 662 laps