After four frustrating runner-up finishes in an otherwise illustrious career, Mark Martin considered to be the best driver never to have won a championship has an unbelievable shot at finally breaking through. He’s in Hendrick equipment, with underrated crew chief Alan Gustafson eager to show he’s just as smart and skilled as his more recognized peers.
“Alan Gustafson is the key to all of the success I’ve had this year,” Martin declared.
“I feel like a whole new person, huge weight off my shoulders,” he said after locking down his spot. “To make this thing is the icing, and now we get to go race for the cake.” Auto Racing Daily
Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12 going into the first race of the 2009 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sept. 20.
1 – Mark Martin (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.7
2009 Rundown
• Four wins, nine top fives, 14 top 10s
• Average finish of 15.6
• Led 17 races for 707 laps
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Eight top fives, 13 top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 11.1 in 47 races
• Has led 397 laps
• Average Running Position of 11.9, sixth-best
• Driver Rating of 93.4, seventh-best
2 – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.6
2009 Rundown
• Three wins, 13 top fives, 18 top 10s
• Average finish of 9.1
• Led 14 races for 275 laps
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, 11 top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.3 in 21 races
• Has led 976 laps
• Average Running Position of 9.5, second-best
• Series-best Driver Rating of 115.8
• Series-high 253 Fastest Laps Run
• Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 124.397 mph
• 2,130 Laps in the Top 15 (79.9%), third-most
3 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 110.3
2009 Rundown
• Three wins, nine top fives, 15 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.7
• Led 21 races for 1,252 laps
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, four top fives, 10 tops 10s
• Average finish of 9.9 in 15 races
• Has led 274 laps
• Average Running Position of 10.1, third-best
• Driver Rating of 105.3, third-best
• 206 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
• Average Green Flag Speed of 123.976 mph, fifth-fastest
• 2,240 Laps in the Top 15 (84.1%), second-most
• 277 Quality Passes, fourth-most
4 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.6
2009 Rundown
• Two wins, nine top fives, 14 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.3
• Led 12 races for 992 laps
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One win, two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 8.3 in seven races
• Has led 52 laps
• Average Running Position of 10.3, fourth-best
• Driver Rating of 100.1, fifth-best
• Average Green Flag Speed of 124.037 mph, fourth-fastest
• 1,691 Laps in the Top 15 (81.9%), eighth-most
5 – Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.0
2009 Rundown
• Two wins, five top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 13.9
• Led six races for 180 laps
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, five top 10s
• Average finish of 16.0
• Has led 49 laps
• Driver Rating of 82.3, 17th-best
6 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.4
2009 Rundown
• One win, 12 top fives, 18 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.9
• Led 14 races for 698 laps
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three wins, 13 fives, 16 top 10s; three poles
• Average finish of 11.3 in 29 races
• Has led 1,205 laps
• Series-best Average Running Position of 7.0
• Driver Rating of 109.4, second-best
• 240 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
• Average Green Flag Speed of 124.380 mph, second-fastest
• Series-high 2,413 Laps in the Top 15 (90.5%)
7 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.7
2009 Rundown
• One win, seven top fives, 14 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.0
• Led 13 races for 391 laps
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Three wins, six top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 14.8 in 17 races
• Has led 326 laps
• Driver Rating of 88.1, 14th-best
• Average Running Position of 14.6, 12th-best
8 – Brian Vickers (No. 83 Red Bull Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.8
2009 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.9
• Led 10 races for 101 laps
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five; one pole
• Average finish of 23.1 in 10 races
• Has led 53 laps
• Driver Rating of 79.5, 19th-best
9 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.0
2009 Rundown
• Seven top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.0
• Led nine races for 159 laps
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 13.5
• Has led 63 laps
• Driver Rating of 87.2, 15th-best
• Average Running Position of 14.5, 10th-best
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