Below is a look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12 along with some other notable drivers, going into the Pennsylvania 500 at the Pocono Raceway on August 5.
1 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
The File:
• 35 years old, Vallejo, Calif., 79 career wins
• Four wins, 13 top fives, 18 top 10s
• Five poles
• Average finish of 6.4 this season
• Led 14 of 20 races for 764 laps
Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• Four wins, 14 top fives, 20 top 10s
• Two poles
• Average finish of 10.4
• Won this season’s Pocono 500
• Led 19 of 29 races for 870 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• Series-best Closer – 80 positions improved over the last 10% of races
2 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet)
The File:
• 26 years old, Chesterfield, Va., three career wins
• One win, seven top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 12.1
• Led 12 of 20 races for 721 laps
Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, three top 10s
• Average finish of 2.7
• Finished sixth at this season’s Pocono 500
• Led all three of his races for 283 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• 328 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
3 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
The File:
• 35 years old from Cambridge, Wis., 15 career wins
• One win, seven top fives, 14 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.2
• Led 12 of 20 races for 256 laps
Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• Three top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 14.9
• Finished ninth at this season’s Pocono 500
• Led six of 15 races for 26 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• Series-high 5,504 laps run on the lead lap
4 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
The File:
• 40 years old from South Boston, Va., 19 career wins
• One win, six top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.4
• Led five of 20 races for 27 laps
Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• Six top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average finish of 17.0
• Finished 13th at this season’s Pocono 500
• Led 15 of 27 races for 104 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• 1,128 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green flag conditions), third-most
5 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet)
The File:
• 36 years old from Columbus, Ind., 31 career wins
• Two wins, six top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.2
• Led 14 of 20 races for 831 laps
Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• One win, five top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 12.8
• Finished fifth at this season’s Pocono 500
• Led seven of 17 races for 100 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• 456 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
6 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
The File:
• 27 years old from Columbia, Mo., five career wins
• One win, five top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 13.2
• Led eight of 20 races for 136 laps
Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• One win, two top fives
• Average finish of 16.6
• Finished 14th at this season’s Pocono 500
• Led three of five races for 51 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• 4,325 Laps in the Top 15, fifth-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, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.9 this season
• Led nine of 20 races for 251 laps
Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• One top five, four top 10s
• Average finish of 16.3 in 13 races
• Finished 11th at this season’s Pocono 500
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• 1,755 Green Flag Passes, eighth-best
8 – Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet)
The File:
• 22 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., four career wins
• One win, five top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.9
• Led 10 of 20 races for 172 laps
Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 17.0 in five races
• Finished eighth in this season’s Pocono 500
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• Fourth-fastest average Green Flag Speed
9 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
The File:
• 31 years old from El Cajon, Calif., 27 career wins
• Four wins, nine top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 15.2
• Led 12 of 20 races for 763 laps
Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 11.2
• Finish 42nd in this season’s Pocono 500
• Led four of 11 races for 275 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• Average Running Position of 9.7, second-best
10 – Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet)
The File:
• 28 years old from Emporia, Kan.
• One top five, 10 top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 15.5
• Led seven of 20 races for 79 laps
Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• One top 10
• Average finish of 24.0
• Finished 10th at this season’s Pocono 500
• Led one of three races for eight laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• Fifth-best Closer – 31 positions improved over the last 10% of races
11 – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)
The File:
• 27 years old from Mayetta, N.J., 1 career win
• One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 17.3
• Led eight of 20 races for 345 laps
Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 12.3
• Finished third in this season’s Pocono 500
• Led on of three races for one lap
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• 265 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-best
12 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet)
The File:
• 32 years old from Kannapolis, N.C., 17 career wins
• Three top five, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 17.2
• Led nine of 20 races for 337 laps
Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• Three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 18.3
• Finished 12th at this season’s Pocono 500
• Led four of 15 races for 89 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• 4,386 Laps in the Top 15, third-most
13 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
The File:
• 28 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., 15 career wins
• Three top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 17.6
• Led 11 of 20 races for 361 laps
Pocono Raceway Outlook:
• One win, six top fives
• Average finish of 15.7
• Finished 16th at this season’s Pocono 500
• Led six of 13 races for 172 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
• Series-high 1,166 Quality Passes
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