Week 11 - The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12 - And Beyond
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Below is a look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12, along with some other notable drivers, going into the Dodge Avenger 500 at Darlington Raceway on May 12.
1 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
The File:
• 35-years-old from Vallejo, Calif., 77 career wins
• Two wins, eight top fives, nine top 10s
• Five poles
• Average finish of 4.1 this season
• Led in nine of 10 races for 652 laps
Darlington Raceway Outlook:
• Six wins, 14 top fives, 17 top 10s; three poles
• 12.231 average finish
• Finished second last season
• Led in 21 of 26 races for 1,558 laps
Loop Data Highlight:
• Series-best 7.352 Average Running Position
2 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
The File:
• 31-years-old from El Cajon, Calif., 27 career wins
• Four wins, seven top fives
• Average finish of 10.6
• Led in six of 10 races for 485 laps
Darlington Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, four top fives, seven top 10s
• 7.250 average finish
• Finished fourth last season
• Led in six of eight races for a total of 363 laps
Loop Data Highlight:
• 284 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
3 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
The File:
• 35-years-old from Cambridge, Wis., 15 career wins
• One win, five top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 8.7
• Led in eight of 10 races for 174 laps
Darlington Raceway Outlook:
• One top five, four top 10s
• 20.385 average finish
• Finished third last season
• Led in four of 13 races for a total of 106 laps
Loop Data Highlight:
• Series-leading total of 3,228 laps run on the lead lap
4 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet)
The File:
• 26-years-old from Chesterfield, Va., two career wins
• Four top fives, five top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 11.4
• Led in five of 10 races for 432 laps
Darlington Raceway Outlook:
• One top 10
• Finished 10th last season in his only Darlington start
Loop Data Highlight:
• Average Running Position of 11.644, fourth-best
5 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet)
The File:
• 39-years-old from S. Boston, Va., 19 career wins
• One win, five top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 12.5 this season
• Led in five of 10 races for 27 laps
Darlington Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s
• 11.583 average finish
• Finished ninth last season
• Led in 11 of 24 races for 786 laps
Loop Data Highlight:
• Series-best 799 Quality Passes – passes of cars in the top 15 while under green
6 – Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet)
The File:
• 22-years-old from Las Vegas, Nev., four career wins
• One win, three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 16.2
• Led in six of 10 races for 83 laps
Darlington Raceway Outlook:
• One top 10
• 15.0 average finish
• Finished seventh last season
Loop Data Highlight:
• Second-fastest Speed in Traffic – speed when there is another vehicle within one car length (green conditions only).
7 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet)
The File:
• 35-years-old from Columbus, Ind., 29 career wins
• Two top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 16.5
• Led eight of 10 races for 592 laps
Darlington Raceway Outlook:
• Two top fives, seven top 10s
• 12.357 average finish
• Finished 12th last season
• Led two of 14 races for eight laps
Loop Data Highlight:
• 2,565 Laps in the Top 15, third-most
8 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
The File:
• 31-years-old from Bakersfield, Calif., 11 career victories
• One win, two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 16.7 this season
• Led in six of 10 races for 176 laps
Darlington Raceway Outlook:
• Two top fives, four top 10s
• 19.4 average finish
• Finished 37th last season
• Led in one of 10 races for a total of 14 laps
Loop Data Highlight:
• 122 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
9 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
The File:
• 28-years-old from Las Vegas, Nev., 15 career victories
• Two top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 16.3 this season
• Led in six of 10 races for 195 laps
Darlington Raceway Outlook:
• One top five, four top 10s; one pole
• 18.7 average finish
• Finished 19th last season
• Led in four of 10 races for a total of 182 laps
Loop Data Highlight:
• 731 Quality Passes, tied for second-most
10 – Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet)
The File:
• 27-years-old from Emporia, Kan., zero career wins
• Four top 10s
• Average finish of 16.7
• Led in four of 10 races for five laps
Darlington Raceway Outlook:
• Finished 23rd last season in his only Darlington start
Loop Data Highlight:
• Average Running Position of 16.101, 11th-best
11 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
The File:
• 27-years-old from Columbia, Mo., four career wins
• Two top 10s
• Average finish of 17.1
• Led in one of 10 races for three laps
Darlington Raceway Outlook:
• Two top 10s
• 18.333 average finish
• Finished 39th last season
• Led in one of three races for four laps
Loop Data Highlight:
• 2,336 Laps in the Top 15, ninth-most
12 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet)
The File:
• 32-years-old from Kannapolis, N.C., 17 career wins
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 18.4
• Led in five of 10 races for 236 laps
Darlington Raceway Outlook:
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• 15.583 average finish
• Finished fifth last season
• Has led in four of 12 races for 135 laps
Loop Data Highlight:
• Third-fastest Green Flag Speed
13 – Jamie McMurray (No. 26 Crown Royal/IRWIN Industrial Tools Ford)
The File:
• 30-years-old from Joplin, Mo., one career win
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• 18.5 average finish
• Led one of 10 races for two laps
Darlington Raceway Outlook:
• Two top fives, three top 10s
• 16.5 average finish in eight races
• Finished 42nd last season; Led three of six races for 76 laps
Loop Data Highlight:
• Sixth-fastest Speed in Traffic
15 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 Ameriquest Ford)
The File:
• 35-years-old from Vancouver, Wash., 11 career victories
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 20.5 this season
• Led in two of 10 races for three laps
Darlington Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, three top 10s
• 10.0 average finish
• Finished first last season
• Led in five of six races for a total of 427 laps
Loop Data Highlight:
• 59 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
Chase Contenders The Top 12 … And Beyond Following Race 10 of 36
Weeks in Rank Last Season Driver Driver Pts Wins Top 12 Week Rating 1. Jeff Gordon 1,691 2 10 1 117.9 2. Jimmie Johnson 1,480 4 8 4 113.2 3. Matt Kenseth 1,431 1 9 3 96.8 4. Denny Hamlin 1,359 0 8 5 98.5 5. Jeff Burton 1,352 1 10 2 97.2 6. Kyle Busch 1,229 1 8 8 93.7 7. Tony Stewart 1,225 0 7 6 102.8 8. Kevin Harvick 1,203 1 7 9 88.8 9. Kurt Busch 1,198 0 2 10 95.3 10. Clint Bowyer 1,159 0 8 11 82.9 11. Carl Edwards 1,131 0 7 12 83.5 12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1,118 0 1 13 91.6 _________________________________________________________
ADDITIONAL DRIVERS
13. Jamie McMurray 1,099 34. Casey Mears 772 14. Mark Martin 1,038 35. Ricky Rudd 763 15. Greg Biffle 1,037 36. Scott Riggs 729 16. Elliott Sadler 1,022 37. Dave Blaney 658 17. David Stremme 1,009 38. Paul Menard 595 18. Bobby Labonte 1,001 39. Dale Jarrett 591 19. Ryan Newman 998 40. Ken Schrader 499 20. Martin Truex Jr. 987 41. Brian Vickers 425 21. J.P Montoya 986 42. David Reutimann 424 22. J.J. Yeley 977 43. Kenny Wallace 407 23. Tony Raines 951 44. Mike Bliss 325 24. Jeff Green 934 45. Ward Burton 311 25. David Ragan 895 46. Regan Smith 269 26. Reed Sorenson 868 47. Boris Said 208 27. Sterling Marlin 862 48. Jeremy Mayfield 203 28. David Gilliland 855 49. Mike Wallace 160 29. Robby Gordon 846 50. AJ Allmendinger 92 30. Joe Nemechek 844 51. Jon Wood 76 31. Kyle Petty 812 52. John Andretti 61 32. Kasey Kahne 801 53. Aric Almirola 40 33. Johnny Sauter 779
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.
