Week 9: The top 12 - and beyond

Week 9: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 20, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on ...

Week 9: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 -- And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 20, 2009) -- Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26. (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: 118.0

2009 Rundown
• One win, five top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 7.1
• Led six races for a total of 394 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
• Six wins, 13 top fives, 16 top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 15.8
• Finished 38th in October
• Led 26 of 32 races for 805 laps

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

2 -- Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 108.0

2009 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 10.4
• Led seven races for 309 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
• One win, four top fives, six top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 16.9
• Finished ninth in October
• Led 13 of 14 races for 190 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 8.1, second-best

3 -- Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.5

2009 Rundown
• One win, three top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 9.9
• Led five races for 301 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
• Six top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.5
• Finished 21st in October
• Led 12 of 16 races for 83 laps

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

4 -- Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.3

2009 Rundown
• Three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 9.5
• Led four races for 53 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
• One win, nine top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.3
• Won October's Talladega race
• Led 14 of 20 races for 268 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 9.6, fourth-best

5 -- Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.9

2009 Rundown
• Two top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 11.1
• Led two races for 303 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 18.3
• Finished 39th in October
• Led all six of his Talladega races for 136 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 9.6, fifth-most

6 -- Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.8

2009 Rundown
• Three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 12.1
• Led one race for nine laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 22.5
• Finished fifth in October
• Led two of six races for six laps

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

7 -- Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 104.7

2009 Rundown
• Two wins, three top fives
• Average finish of 15.4
• Led four races for 519 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
• One win
• Average finish of 25.8
• Finished 15th in October
• Led four of eight races for 43 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has been passed 318 times, the fewest on the series

8 -- Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.4

2009 Rundown
• One top five, four top 10s
• Average finish 13.2
• Led four races for 40 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 24.6
• Finished 29th in October
• Led three of nine races for 11 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 416 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green)

9 -- David Reutimann (No. 00 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.9

2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 14.1
• Led three races for 42 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
• Average finish of 27.8
• Finished 37th in October
• Led one of four races for two laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 67.2%, ninth-best

10 -- Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.2

2009 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 14.4
• Led one race for one lap

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
• One top five
• Average finish of 22.2
• Finished 36th in October
• Led four of 10 races for 14 laps

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

11 -- Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 82.2

2009 Rundown
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 15.5
• Led one race for 61 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
• Three top fives, 11 tops 10s
• Average finish of 18.6
• Finished fourth in October
• Led 12 of 30 races for 66 laps

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

12 -- Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 78.8

2009 Rundown
• Two wins, three top fives
• Average finish of 18.1
• Led three races for 146 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
• Three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 18.0
• Finished 26th in October
• Led 13 of 18 races for 136 laps

Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 64 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most

13 -- Mark Martin (No. 5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.1

2009 Rundown
• One win, four top 10s
• Average finish of 18.4
• Led six races for 169 laps

Talladega Superspeedway Outlook:
• Two wins, 10 top fives, 22 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 15.5
• Finished eighth in October
• Led 22 of 42 races for 315 laps