Week 8: The top 12 - and beyond

Week 8: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 6, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 18. (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: 121.6

2009 Rundown
• One win, five top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 4.6
• Led six races for a total of 394 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, eight top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles
• Average finish of 10.2
• Finished 41st in November
• Led eight of 20 races for 247 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 5.2

2 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 108.5

2009 Rundown
• One win, three top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 11.3
• Led six races for 308 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Three wins, six top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 5.5
• Won the last three Phoenix races
• Led six of 11 races for 505 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 7.9, second-best

3 -- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.5

2009 Rundown
• One win, two top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 10.9
• Led four races for 238 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 13.3
• Finished second in November
• Led five of 12 races for 508 laps

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

4 -- Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.6

2009 Rundown
• Three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 10.1
• Led one race for nine laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 15.3
• Finished 12th in November
• Led one of seven for 21 laps

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

5 -- Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.8

2009 Rundown
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 10.6
• Led three races for 34 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, six top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 10.6
• Finished 22nd in November
• Led four of 14 races for 293 laps

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

6 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.1

2009 Rundown
• Two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 11.9
• Led two races for 303 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Four top fives; one pole
• Average finish of 11.0
• Finished fifth in November
• Led two of seven races for 93 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 9.7, third-most

7 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 105.2

2009 Rundown
• Two wins, three top fives
• Average finish of 15.1
• Led four races for 519 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, six top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 14.5
• Finished eighth in November
• Led three of eight races for 78 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has been passed 281 times, the fewest on the series

8 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.5

2009 Rundown
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish 13.7
• Led four races for 40 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Four top fives, six top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 13.3
• Finished fourth in November
• Led one of nine races for 87 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 379 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green)

9 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.3

2009 Rundown
• Two wins, three top fives
• Average finish of 16.9
• Led three races for 146 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, five top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 18.5
• Finished 15th in November
• Led five of 13 races for 154 laps

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

10 -- Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 80.8

2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 14.6
• Led one race for one lap

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 20.2 in nine races
• Finished 13th in November

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 15.8, 12th-best

11 -- David Reutimann (No. 00 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 82.8

2009 Rundown
• One top five
• Average finish of 15.0
• Led two races for 41 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Average finish of 25.0 in three races
• Finished 25th in November

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 62.9%, ninth-best

12 -- Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.6

2009 Rundown
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 15.6
• Led one race for 61 laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, five top fives, 11 tops 10s
• Average finish of 11.0
• Finished ninth in November
• Led four of 19 races for 215 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 68 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

14 -- Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 77.7

2009 Rundown
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 17.7
• Led one race for nine laps

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 13.2
• Finished seventh in November
• Led three of 12 races for 316 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Fourth-best "Closer," improving 19 positions in the final 10% of races

-credit: nascar