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Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 along with other notable drivers, going into the Pepsi 500 at Auto Club 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: 112.9
2008 Rundown
• Eight wins, 15 top fives, 16 top 10s
• Average finish of 9.8
• Led 18 races for 1,580 laps
Auto Club Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 109.9
• One win, three top fives, six top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 10.3
• Finished fourth in February’s Auto Club Speedway race
• Led six of eight races for 229 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high Average Running Position of 8.9
2 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 106.5
2008 Rundown
• Six wins, 11 top fives, 18 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.1
• Led 14 races for 636 laps
Auto Club Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 105.6
• One win, six top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 6.8
• Won February’s Auto Club Speedway race
• Led four of eight races for 120 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 695 Fastest Laps Run
3 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.7
2008 Rundown
• One win, seven top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.7
• Led 17 races for 706 laps
Auto Club Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 73.7
• Three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 21.4
• Finished 40th in February
• Led five of 13 races for 25 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 416 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
4 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.3
2008 Rundown
• Two wins, seven top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.3
• Led 18 races for 738 laps
Auto Club Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 114.7
• Two wins, seven top fives
• Average finish of 6.4
• Finished second in February
• Led seven of 11 races for 295 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 11.2, third-best
5 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.4
2008 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.7
• Led nine races for 73 laps
Auto Club Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 92.8
• Five top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 15.8
• Finished 12th in February
• Led five of 16 races for 80 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,016 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fourth-most
6 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.5
2008 Rundown
• Eight top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.7
• Led 10 races for 532 laps
Auto Club Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 101.0
• Three top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 16.0
• Finished seventh in February
• Led six of 14 races for 225 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 262 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
7 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.5
2008 Rundown
• Seven top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.8
• Led 11 races for 329 laps
Auto Club Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 94.6
• One win, two top fives
• Average finish of 19.6
• Finished 15th in February
• Led six of 11 races for 269 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 290 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
8 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.5
2008 Rundown
• Five top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.3
• Led four races for 88 laps
Auto Club Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 85.9
• Three top 10s
• Average finish of 19.1
• Finished eighth in February
• Led five of 12 races for 32 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: 95.4
2008 Rundown
• Nine top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 15.4
• Led 12 races for 271 laps
Auto Club Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 95.4
• Three wins, eight top fives; two poles
• Average finish of 11.3
• Finished third in February
• Led nine of 16 races for 525 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 12.1, fifth-best
10 – Matt Kenseth (No. 14 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.2
2008 Rundown
• Five top fives, 14 top 10s
• Average finish of 15.5
• Led 11 races for 201 laps
Auto Club Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 112.7
• Two wins, five top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 9.9
• Finished fifth in February
• Led nine of 13 races for 383 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 185 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
11 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.8
2008 Rundown
• One win, seven top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 16.3
• Led 11 races for 696 laps
Auto Club Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 82.5
• One top 10
• Average finish of 17.8;
• Finished 41st in February
• Led one of five races for 29 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 1,112 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green)
12 – Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 78.1
2008 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 16.0
• Led four races for 150 laps
Auto Club Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 84.1
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 12.4
• Finished 19th in February
• Led one of five races for two laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 184 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most
13 – David Ragan (No. 6 AAA Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 80.3
2008 Rundown
• Five top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 15.9
• Led five races for 14 laps
Auto Club Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 77.4
• Average finish of 14.0 in three races
• Finished 14th in February
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,091 Quality Passes, second-most
14 – Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.7
2008 Rundown
• Two wins, three top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 17.4
• Led eight races for 185 laps
Auto Club Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 98.4
• One win, three top five, six top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 13.7; Finished ninth in February
• Led six of nine races for 268 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 254 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
