Week 7: The top 12 - and beyond

Week 7: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 30, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 5. (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: 119.6

2009 Rundown
• Four top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 5.2
• Led five races for a total of 289 laps

Texas Speedway Outlook:
• Six top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 16.1
• Finished second in November
• Led seven of 16 races for 341 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 5.4

2 -- Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.4

2009 Rundown
• Three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 8.2
• Led one race for nine laps

Texas Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 12.2
• Finished fourth in November
• Led three of six races for 40 laps

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

3 -- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.1

2009 Rundown
• One win, two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 11.3
• Led three races for 237 laps

Texas Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 15.3
• Finished 41st in November
• Led three of 12 races for 93 laps

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

4 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 110.3

2009 Rundown
• One win, two top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 12.8
• Led five races for 307 laps

Texas Speedway Outlook:
• One win, five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 9.1
• Finished 15th in November
• Led four of 11 races for 77 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 7.4, second-best

5 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.4

2009 Rundown
• Two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 11.8
• Led two races for 303 laps

Texas Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 11.6
• Finished 17th in November
• Led two of seven races for 86 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 8.9, third-most

6 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 107.0

2009 Rundown
• Two wins, three top fives
• Average finish of 14.7
• Led three races for 517 laps

Texas Speedway Outlook:
• Three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 16.3
• Finished sixth in November
• Led four of eight races for 207 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has been passed 222 times, the fewest on the series

7 -- Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.8

2009 Rundown
• One top five, four top 10s
• Average finish of 11.7
• Led two races for 18 laps

Texas Speedway Outlook:
• One win, three top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 13.2
• Finished 16th in November
• Led five of 14 races for 452 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 11.7, sixth-best

8 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.9

2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish 14.3
• Led three races for 31 laps

Texas Speedway Outlook:
• Three wins
• Average finish of 13.9
• Swept the Texas races in 2008
• Led four of eight races for 467 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 328 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green)

9 -- Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.4

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

Texas Speedway Outlook:
• One wins, two top fives; one pole
• Average finish of 22.2
• Finished 24th in November
• Led three of nine races for 213 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 15.7, 10th-best

10 -- Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 82.0

2009 Rundown
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 16.2
• Led one race for nine laps

Texas Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 12.8
• Finished seventh in November
• Led three of 12 races for four laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 62%, 11th-best

11 -- David Reutimann (No. 00 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 79.0

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

Texas Speedway Outlook:
• One top 10
• Average finish of 31.3
• Finished 10th in November
• Led one of three races for five laps

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

12 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 75.1

2009 Rundown
• Two wins
• Average finish of 18.8
• Led two races for 91 laps

Texas Speedway Outlook:
• One win, five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 10.1
• Finished ninth in November
• Led nine of 13 races for 443 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Ranks 10th in average Green Flag Speed

13 -- Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 79.5

2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 16.7
• Led one race for 61 laps

Texas Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, three top fives, seven tops 10s
• Average finish of 16.0
• Finished 13th in November
• Led four of 16 races for 146 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 55 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

-credit: nascar