Below is a look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 10 along with some other notable drivers, going into the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 15.
1 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
The File:
* 35-years-old from Vallejo, Calif., 75 career wins
* Prior to Jimmie Johnson this season, Gordon was the last driver to win three of the first six races (1996)
* Four top fives, five top 10s; two poles
* Average finish of 5.167 this season
* Led in five of six races for 241 laps
Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:
* Four top fives, five top 10s
* 16.833 average finish
* Finished 22nd and ninth, respectively, last season
* Led in four of his 12 Texas races for a total of 133 laps
Loop Data Highlight:
* Driver Rating of 108.7, third best; 609 passes, most of any driver
2 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet)
The File:
* 39-years-old from South Boston, Va., 18 career wins
* Four top fives, five top 10s
* Average finish of 5.67 this season
* Led in three of six races for 24 laps
Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:
* Won the first ever NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway (1997).
* One win, two top fives, four top 10s
* 19.167 average finish
* Finished sixth and 38th, respectively, last season
* Led in three of his 12 Texas races for a total of 145 laps
Loop Data Highlight:
* 451 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 while under green flag conditions), most of any driver
3 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe s Chevrolet)
The File:
* 31-years-old from El Cajon, Calif., 26 career wins
* Three wins, four top fives
* Average finish of 10.16
* Led in four of six races for 368 laps
Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:
* Three top fives, six top 10s
* 6.286 average finish
* Finished 11th and second, respectively, last season
* Led in two of his seven Texas races for a total of three laps
Loop Data Highlight:
* Driver Rating of 110.6 and Average Running Position of 9.436 are best of any driver
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