Points

Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 along with other notable drivers, going into the UAW-Dodge 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 2.
1 – Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 123.32008 Rundown• Two top fives• Average finish of 4.0• Led two races for 100 lapsLas Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook: • Two top fives, three top 10s• Average finish of 13.8 • Finished ninth in last year’s Vegas race• Led two of four races for five lapsSeason-to-Date Loop Data Highlight• Series-best Average Running Position of 5.5
2 – Ryan Newman (No. 12 alltel Dodge)• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.92008 Rundown• One win, two top 10s• Average finish of 5.5• Ended an 81-race winless drought with win at the Daytona 500• Led two races for 11 laps Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:• One top five, four top 10s; one pole• Average finish of 18.7 • Finished eighth last season• Led four of seven races for 98 lapsSeason-to-Date Loop Data Highlight• 376 Laps in the Top 15, tied for fifth-most
3 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.22008 Rundown• One top five, two top 10s• Average finish of 5.0• Led one race for 16 lapsLas Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook: • Four top fives, six top 10s• Average finish of 11.2• Finished seventh last season• Led four of nine races for 179 lapsSeason-to-Date Loop Data Highlight• 393 Laps in the Top 15, third-most
4 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 79.42008 Rundown• One top five• Average finish of 7.5• Led one race for nine lapsLas Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:• One top five, two top 10s• Average finish of 17.6 • Finished 26th last season• Led four of seven races for 52 lapsSeason-to-Date Loop Data Highlight• Improved a series-high 15 “Closer” positions in the final 10% the races
5 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 105.02008 Rundown• One win• Average finish of 10.0• Led one race for 64 lapsLas Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook: • One top 10• Average finish of 15.3• Finished sixth last season• Led one of three races for three lapsSeason-to-Date Loop Data Highlight• Series-high 76 Fastest Laps Run
6 – Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 106.72008 Rundown• Two top 10s• Average finish of 8.0• Led two races for two lapsLas Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook: • Two top fives; two poles• Average finish of 19.8• Finished 35th last season• Led three of four races for 57 lapsSeason-to-Date Loop Data Highlight• Average Running Position of 7.2, second-best
7 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.82008 Rundown• One top 10• Average finish of 11.0• Led one race for one lapLas Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook: • One win, two top 10s• Average finish of 15.7• Finished 27th last season• Led one of seven races for 43 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight• 319 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
8 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 107.42008 Rundown• One top five• Average finish of 14.5• Led two races for 77 lapsLas Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook: • Three wins, four top 10s• Average finish of 6.0• Won the last three races at Las Vegas• Led all six of his races for 210 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight• Average Running Position of 8.5, third-best
9 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.92008 Rundown• One top 10• Average finish of 12.5• Led two races for 16 lapsLas Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook: • Two top 10s• Average finish of 17.5• Finished 16th last season• Led two of four races for 58 lapsSeason-to-Date Loop Data Highlight• 218 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most
10 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet) • Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.32008 Rundown• 66 consecutive races in the top 12 of the series standings, longest current streak in the series• Average finish of 12.5• Led two races for 11 lapsLas Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:• Two wins, three top fives, six top 10s• Average finish of 11.0 • Finished 15th last season• Led five of 10 races for 209 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight• 449 laps run on the lead lap, third-most
11 – Brian Vickers (No. 83 Red Bull Toyota)• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 80.92008 Rundown• Average finish of 11.5Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook: • Average finish of 29.3• Finished 22nd last season• Led one of three races for one lapSeason-to-Date Loop Data Highlight• Fourth-fastest Speed in Traffic (speed when within one car length of another car)
12– Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.32008 Rundown• One top 10• Average finish of 13.0Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook: • Average finish of 16.0 • Finished 12th last season• Led one of two races for two lapsSeason-to-Date Loop Data Highlight• Improved 14 “Closer” positions in the final 10% the races, second-most
14 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 106.02008 Rundown• One top five• Average finish of 21.0• Led two races for 73 lapsLas Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook: • One win, five top fives• Average finish of 12.9 • Finished second last season• Led four of 10 races for 198 lapsSeason-to-Date Loop Data Highlight• Average Running Position of 8.5, fourth-best
Chase ContendersThe Top 12 … And Beyond Following Race 2 of 36
Weeks Rank Season In Last DriverDriver Points Wins Top 12 Week Rating 1. Kyle Busch 335 0 2 4 123.32. Ryan Newman 329 1 2 1 100.93. Tony Stewart 316 0 2 3 101.24. Kurt Busch 299 0 2 2 79.45. Carl Edwards 296 1 1 18 105.06. Kasey Kahne 294 0 2 6 106.77. Kevin Harvick 268 0 1 13 90.88. Jimmie Johnson 267 0 1 25 107.49. Greg Biffle 262 0 2 9 97.910. Jeff Burton 261 0 2 11 85.311. Brian Vickers 257 0 2 12 80.912. Martin Truex Jr. 253 0 1 19 85.3 ___________________________________________________
ADDITIONAL DRIVERS
13. Elliott Sadler 241 14. Jeff Gordon 221 15. Matt Kenseth 220 16. Bobby Labonte 218 17. Reed Sorenson 212 18. David Reutimann 203 19. Clint Bowyer 202 20. Scott Riggs 200 21. David Gilliland 191 22. Jamie McMurray 187 23. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 186 24. Mark Martin 185 25. Dale Jarrett 184 26. Paul Menard 179 27. J.P. Montoya 170 28. J.J. Yeley 164 29. Michael Waltrip 160 30. David Ragan 158 31. Denny Hamlin 157 32. Robby Gordon 156 33. Sam Hornish Jr. 152 34. Jeremy Mayfield 14035. Dario Franchitti 136 36. Travis Kvapil 128 37. Dave Blaney 127 38. Regan Smith 122 39. Kyle Petty 110 40. John Andretti 106 41. Joe Nemechek 101 42. Casey Mears 95 43. Bill Elliott 85 44. Kenny Wallace 34
Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season determine which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season.