One year ago at Chicagoland Speedway, Tony Stewart announced he was striking out on his own, leaving the security of Joe Gibbs Racing to launch his Sprint Cup team in concert with Haas CNC Racing.
Today, leading the Sprint Cup standings, Stewart is no longer thinking about getting his operation off the ground. He’s thinking championship.
No one really knew what to expect. But one year into his new deal, Stewart’s racing operation is sporting the look of one that will have a long and very successful run in the sport. Auto Racing Daily
Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 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.)
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1 – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 106.0
2009 Rundown
• Two wins, 11 top fives, 15 top 10s
• Average finish of 7.6
• Led 11 races for 237 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, four top fives, six top 10s ; one pole
• Average finish of 9.1
• Finished 23rd last season
• Led five of 10 races for 215 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 9.3, second-best
2 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.7
2009 Rundown
• One win, 10 top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.2
• Led 11 races for 570 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Four wins, nine top fives, 12 top 10s; three poles
• Average finish of 8.6
• Finished fifth last season
• Led 10 of 15 races for 440 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 376 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
3 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 109.9
2009 Rundown
• Two wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.4
• Led 15 races for 945 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, three top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 20.3
• Won last season’s Indianapolis race
• Led two of seven races for 104 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-best Average Running Position of 8.3
4 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.0
2009 Rundown
• One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.5
• Led 11 races for 354 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 18.0
• Finished 40th last season
• Led two of eight races for three laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 10.0, third-best
5 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.8
2009 Rundown
• Six top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 13.4
• Led eight races for 577 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 11.7
• Finished third last season
• Led one of three races for 26 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 11.8, fifth-best
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6 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.6
2009 Rundown
• Five top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 13.4
• Led eight races for 158 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 10.3
• Finished second last season
• Led one of four races for four laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 12.0, seventh-best
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