DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns on Sunday, April 18 in Phoenix, Arizona for the Subway Fresh Fit 500. With seven races complete, 2009 has set the stage for one of the most anticipated championship races in years. Four of the top five in the point standings are previous series champions with a combined total of 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup titles. This is about as good as it gets this early in the season.
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet), the standings leader, has four series championships (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001) and 82 career series victories; fifth on the all-time wins list, one behind Cale Yarborough. His win at Texas last week extended his lead to 162 points over second.
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet), second in the standings, has three consecutive championships (2006-08) and 41 career series victories. His win two weeks ago at Martinsville and his second-place finish last week at Texas moved him up six spots in the standings. Johnson has won the last three NASCAR Sprint Cup events at Phoenix International Raceway.
Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge), third in the standings, has one championship (2004) and 19 series victories. Busch has one win this season (Atlanta) with two top fives and four top 10s. Busch won at Phoenix in 2005.
Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet), fourth in the standings, is the odd man out when it comes to championships, but has two career series victories. Bowyer’s momentum has been built on consistent finishes this season, three top fives and four top 10s.
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevrolet), fifth in the standings, has two series championships (2002, 2005) and 33 series victories. In his first season as an owner/driver, Stewart has posted two top fives and five top 10s. He won in his first start at Phoenix in 1999, starting 11th.
In total, 191 points separate first from fifth in the point standings after the season’s first seven races.
Gordon Has Chance To Settle Some Unfinished Business
Jeff Gordon is back on his game after capturing the checkered flag at Texas Motors Speedway last Sunday, officially ending his 47-race winless streak that dated back to Oct. 13, 2007.
Gordon has done a lot over his 18-year NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career, but he is using this season to settle some unfinished business.
Gordon leads all active drivers in wins at different tracks, including 21 of 22 tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. The one track left on the active schedule where he hasn’t won is Homestead-Miami Speedway. Winning there would be big, but Gordon has set his eyes on a bigger prize.
Most notably on his list of “have yet to dos” is winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship in the Chase format.
His two highest finishes in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup were third in the 2004 Chase, and second in the 2007 Chase.
Gordon leads the standings after the first seven races of 2009.
“It's great to be leading the points,” Gordon said. “But you want to be the guy to beat for the championship. If you're going to win this championship, you've got to show that you're strong, you're consistent and you can win.”
Drivers With The Most Wins At Different Tracks
Below are the active leaders for wins at the 22 different tracks currently on the NSCS schedule.
Rank Driver Number of Tracks
1. Jeff Gordon 21
2. Tony Stewart 19
3. Jimmie Johnson 16
4. Mark Martin 16
5. Kyle Busch 13
