A Look At The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Top 12 Going Into The Season Finale – The Ford 400

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Below is a look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12 going into the season finale – the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 18.

1 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)

The File:

• 32 years old from El Cajon, Calif., 33 career wins

• 10 wins, 20 top fives, 23 top 10s this year

• Three poles

• Average finish of 10.9

• Led 23 of 35 races for 1,288 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

• Two top fives, four top 10s

• Average finish of 14.5

• Finished ninth at Homestead last season

• Led three of six races for 36 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:

• Series-high 959 Fastest Laps Run

2 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)

The File:

• 36 years old, Vallejo, Calif., 81 career wins

• Six wins, 20 top fives, 29 top 10s; seven poles

• Average finish of 7.4

• Led 23 of 35 races for 1,300 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

• Three top fives, six top 10s

• Average finish of 11.4

• Finished 24th last season

• Led three of eight races for 46 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:

• Series-best Average Running Position of 9.1

3 – Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet)

The File:

• 28 years old from Emporia, Kan., one career win

• One win, five top fives, 17 top 10s; two poles

• Average finish of 13.1

• Led 13 of 35 races for 387 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

• One top 10

• Finished 10th last season, his only Homestead start

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:

• Second-best Closer – 57 positions improved over the last 10% of races

4 – Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet)

The File:

• 22 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., four career wins

• One win, 11 top fives, 20 top 10s

• Average finish of 13.9

• Led 19 of 35 races for 636 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

• Average finish of 39.5

• Finished 38th last season

• Led one of two races for 28 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:

• Third-fastest average Green Flag Speed

5 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet)

The File:

• 36 years old from Columbus, Ind., 32 career wins

• Three wins, 11 top fives, 23 top 10s

• Average finish of 12.7

• Led 20 of 35 races for 980 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

• Two wins, three top fives, four top 10s

• Average finish of 10.0

• Finished 15th last season

• Led five of eight races for 330 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:

• 620 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

6 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)

The File:

• 35 years old from Cambridge, Wis., 15 career wins

• One win, 12 top fives, 21 top 10s

• Average finish of 13.3

• Led 19 of 35 races for 698 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

• One top five, two top 10s

• Average finish of 22.7 in seven races

• Finished sixth last season

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:

• 9,634 laps run on the lead lap, second-most

7 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)

The File:

• 31 years old from Bakersfield, Calif., 11 career victories

• One win, four top fives, 15 top 10s

• Average finish of 15.4 this season

• Led 12 of 35 races for 271 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

• Two top fives, five top 10s

• Average finish of 8.7

• Finished fifth last season

• Led three of six races for 59 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:

• Fourth-best Closer – 51 positions improved over the last 10% of races

8 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)

The File:

• 40 years old from South Boston, Va., 19 career wins

• One win, nine top fives, 17 top 10s

• Average finish of 13.9

• Led seven of 35 races for 79 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

• Three top fives

• Average finish of 13.8

• Finished 14th last season

• Led one of eight races for five laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:

• 2,815 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

9 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)

The File:

• 28 years old from Columbia, Mo., seven career wins

• Three wins, 10 top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole

• Average finish of 14.2

• Led 12 of 35 races for 515 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

• One top five, two top 10s; one pole

• Average finish of 8.7

• Finished eighth last season

• Led one of three races for 94 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:

• 427 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

10 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)

The File:

• 29 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., 17 career wins

• Two wins, five top fives, 13 top 10s

• Average finish of 15.6

• Led 20 of 35 races for 868 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

• One win, two top fives; two poles

• Average finish of 21.2

• Finished 43rd last season

• Led two of six races for 32 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:

• Series-high 1,804 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green flag conditions)

11 – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)

The File:

• 27 years old from Mayetta, N.J., one career win

• One win, seven top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole

• Average finish of 16.7

• Led 16 of 35 races for 578 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

• One top five

• Average finish of 17.0

• Finished second last season

• Led one of two races for 27 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:

• 2,982 Green Flag Passes, second-most

12 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet)

The File:

• 26 years old, Chesterfield, Va., three career wins

• One win, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s; one pole

• Average finish of 14.3

• Led 17 of 35 races for 887 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

• One top five

• Average finish of 18.0

• Finished third last season

• Led one of two races for one lap

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:

• 462 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

The Chase Is On

The Top 12 Following 9 Chase Races (35 of 36 races overall)

Driver Points Wins Weeks in Top 12 Rank Last Week Season Driver Rating

1. Jimmie Johnson 6,572 10 33 1 110.4

2. Jeff Gordon 6,486 6 35 2 108.5

3. Clint Bowyer 6,331 1 33 3 87.8

4. Kyle Busch 6,185 1 33 4 98.6

5. Tony Stewart 6,169 3 32 6 101.4

6. Matt Kenseth 6,103 1 34 10 94.3

7. Kevin Harvick 6,093 1 33 8 87.0

8. Jeff Burton 6,089 1 35 7 87.8

9. Carl Edwards 6,067 3 32 5 92.7

10. Kurt Busch 6,056 2 19 9 99.0

11. Martin Truex Jr. 6,009 1 23 12 89.6

12. Denny Hamlin 5,973 1 33 11 96.5

Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season determine which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season.

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