The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 – And Beyond: Week 24
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Aug 18, 2008
CIA Stock Photo, Inc.
Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 along with other notable drivers, going into the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. (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– Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 111.5
2008 Rundown
• Eight wins, 14 top fives, 15 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.2
• Led 17 races for 1,165 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 90.6
• One win, two top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 14.0
• Finished 17th in March’s Bristol race
• Led five of seven races for 74 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high Average Running Position of 9.2
2 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 105.3
2008 Rundown
• Five wins, 10 top fives, 17 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.5
• Led 13 races for 552 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 86.2
• One win, two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 15.4
• Finished 16th in March
• Led two of eight races for 198 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 630 Fastest Laps Run
3 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 104.1
2008 Rundown
• Two wins, seven top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.5
• Led 18 races for 738 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 78.2
• Two top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 16.2
• Finished 18th in March
• Led four of 13 races for 43 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 10.1, second-best
4 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.7
2008 Rundown
• One win, seven top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.5
• Led 17 races for 706 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 96.8
• One win, seven top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.3
• Finished fifth in March
• Led six of 17 races for 743 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 413 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
5 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.5
2008 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.4
• Led nine races for 73 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 94.5
• One win, eight top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 17.7
• Won March’s Bristol race
• Led six of 29 races for 320 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 999 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fifth-most
6 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.2
2008 Rundown
• Eight top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 15.0
• Led 10 races for 532 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 102.4
• One win, five top fives, six top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 16.8
• Finished 14th in March
• Led nine of 19 races for 1,352 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 249 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
7 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.8
2008 Rundown
• Seven top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 15.0
• Led 11 races for 329 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 103.2
• Four top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 9.7
• Finished fourth in March
• Led four of 11 races for 202 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 283 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
8 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.5
2008 Rundown
• Four top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 14.7
• Led four races for 88 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 102.6
• One win, eight top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 9.9
• Finished second in March
• Led nine of 15 races for 390 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Seventh-fastest average Green Flag Speed rank
9 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.5
2008 Rundown
• Eight top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 15.8
• Led 11 races for 270 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 101.4
• Five wins, 12 top fives, 18 top 10s; five poles
• Average finish of 11.7
• Finished 11th in March
• Led 24 of 31 races for 2,437 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 12.4, fifth-best
10 – Matt Kenseth (No. 14 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.5
2008 Rundown
• Five top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average finish of 15.8
• Led 11 races for 201 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 109.0
• Two wins, seven top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 12.4
• Finished 10th in March
• Led seven of 17 races for 742 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 180 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
11 – Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.5
2008 Rundown
• Two wins, three top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 16.4
• Led eight races for 185 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 92.7
• One top five, three top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 18.6
• Finished seventh in March
• Led one of nine races for 305 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 246 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
12 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.0
2008 Rundown
• One win, six top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 16.9
• Led 11 races for 696 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 93.1
• Two top 10s
• Average finish of 16.6; Finished sixth in March
• Led two of five races for 275 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 1,082 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green)
13 – Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 77.5
2008 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 16.4
• Led four races for 150 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 83.3
• Two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 16.2
• Finished third in March
• Led one of five races for 81 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 160 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most
14 – David Ragan (No. 6 AAA Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 80.2
2008 Rundown
• Five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 16.2
• Led five races for 14 laps
Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 56.9
• Average finish of 29.3 in three races
• Finished 21st in March
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,077 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
