Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR
Mark Martin, who inherited victory after Jimmie Johnson and Greg Biffle ran out of gas from dueling, ran out himself coming off the final turn but was able to coast to the checkered flag.
“Usually they’re not very exciting and don’t wind up making a big show,” Martin said of fuel-mileage races. “I think the fans really got a great show here. You got two guys wrestling for the win [Johnson and Biffle], which is what everybody wants to see.”
“And then a surprise winner coming out of it. A lot of drama.”
Second-place Jeff Gordon agreed that “typically when you think fuel-mileage race, you think boring. This was not a boring race. It made for great entertainment, and that’s what we’re here for.” Auto Racing Daily
Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway on June 21. (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 – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.6
2009 Rundown
• One win, seven top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 8.9
• Led seven races for 99 laps
Infineon Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, three top fives, six top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 10.0
• Finished 10th last season
• Led seven of 10 races for 66 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 10.2, second-best
2 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.4
2009 Rundown
• One win, eight top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.2
• Led nine races for 505 laps
Infineon Raceway Outlook:
• Five wins, 10 top fives, 12 top 10s; five poles
• Average finish of 9.3
• Finished third last season
• Led nine of 16 races for 437 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 326 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
3 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 107.9
2009 Rundown
• Two wins, six top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 12.9
• Led 13 races for 794 laps
Infineon Raceway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 19.3
• Finished 15th last season
• Led three of seven races for 30 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 8.6
4 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.1
2009 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 13.1
• Led eight races for 324 laps
Infineon Raceway Outlook:
• Three top fives; one pole
• Average finish of 19.1
• Finished 32nd last season
• Led three of eight races for 60 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 10.3, third-best
5 – Ryan Newman (No. 39 U.S. Army Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 83.0
2009 Rundown
• Five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 13.6
• Led eight races for 138 laps
Infineon Raceway Outlook:
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 9.4
• Finished seventh last season
• Led one of seven races for 11 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Has run 80.3% of the laps on the lead lap, 12th-best
6 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.3
2009 Rundown
• Four top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 13.7
• Led eight races for 158 laps
Infineon Raceway Outlook:
• Two top 10s
• Average finish of 17.8
• Finished ninth last season
• Led two of four races for 14 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 12.0, sixth-best
7 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.7
2009 Rundown
• Five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 14.1
• Led eight races for 354 laps
Infineon Raceway Outlook:
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 14.0
• Finished 11th last season
• Led two of six races for nine laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 340 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
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