Week 8: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 – And Beyond

Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 along with other notable drivers, going into the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on April 12.


1 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.7
2008 Rundown
• One win, three top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 7.1
• Led five races for 60 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, five top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 11.4
• Finished ninth in November’s Phoenix race
• Led four of 17 races for 215 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 2,382 laps run on the lead lap (of a total of 2,387)

2 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.9
2008 Rundown
• Two top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 8.3
• Led two races for 33 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, three top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 13.2
• Finished sixth in November
• Led three of 10 races for 316 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 2,206 laps run on the lead lap (of a total of 2,387), fourth-most

3 – Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 112.0
2008 Rundown
• One win, four top fives
• Average finish of 11.1
• Led six races for 386 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, four top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 16.3
• Finished eighth in November
• Led three of six races for 78 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 8.8, second-best

4 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 104.8
2008 Rundown
• Three top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 11.0
• Led five races for 268 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Two wins, four top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 19.0
• Finished 43rd in November
• Led three of 11 races for 310 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 165 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

5 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.6
2008 Rundown
• Three top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 11.6
• Led three races for 289 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, six top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 9.4
• Finished fourth in November
• Led four of 12 races for 293 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 2,020 Laps in the Top 15, third-most

6 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.5
2008 Rundown
• Three top fives
• Average finish of 13.6
• Led five races for 291 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 6.6
• Won the November race at Phoenix
• Led four of nine races for 168 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 162 Laps in the Top 15, third-most

7 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.0
2008 Rundown
• One win, two top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 13.4
• Led three races for 212 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Two top fives; one pole
• Average finish of 13.8
• Finished 16th in November
• Led two of five races for 93 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 327 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fourth-most

8 – Ryan Newman (No. 12 Alltel Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 84.0
2008 Rundown
• One win, two top fives, three top 10s
• Average finish of 13.6
• Led two races for 11 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Three top fives; three poles
• Average finish of 20.6
• Finished fifth in November
• Led four of 11 races for 118 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 552 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

9 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.6
2008 Rundown
• Three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 13.6
• Led three races for 17 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 17.4
• Finished second in November
• Led three of eight races for 342 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 355 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green)

10 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 111.2
2008 Rundown
• Three wins, four top 10s
• Average finish of 12.7
• Led four races for 306 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• Two top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 16.0
• Finished 42nd in November
• Led one of seven races for 87 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 312 Fastest Laps Run

11 – Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.0
2008 Rundown
• One top five, four top 10s
• Average finish of 14.3
• Led three races for 137 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One top five
• Average finish of 18.6
• Finished 11th in November
• Led one of five races for 21 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 90 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

12 – Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.8
2008 Rundown
• Four top 10s
• Average finish of 14.1
• Led three races for three laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 19.0 in seven Phoenix races
• Finished 40th in November
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 323 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), sixth-best

13 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.2
2008 Rundown
• One top five, four top 10s
• Average finish of 16.9
• Led four races for 143 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, five top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 17.0
• Finished third in November
• Led five of 11 races for 154 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 92 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

14 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.3
2008 Rundown
• Three top fives
• Average finish of 19.7
• Led five races for 183 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
• One win, eight top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles
• Average finish of 8.3
• Finished 10th in November
• Led eight of 18 races for 247 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 150 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

Chase Contenders
The Top 12 … And Beyond Following Race 7 of 36

Weeks Rank Season
In Last Driver
Driver Points Wins Top 12 Week Rating

1. Jeff Burton 1,065 1 7 1 98.7
2. Kevin Harvick 1,006 0 6 2 96.9
3. Kyle Busch 1,001 1 7 5 112.0
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 978 0 6 4 104.8
5. Tony Stewart 957 0 7 6 100.6
6. Jimmie Johnson 921 0 3 10 100.5
7. Denny Hamlin 913 1 2 8 96.0
8. Ryan Newman 901 1 7 11 84.0
9. Greg Biffle 901 0 7 3 92.6
10. Carl Edwards 881 3 3 14 111.2
11. Clint Bowyer 874 0 3 12 90.0
12. Kasey Kahne 874 0 7 7 87.8
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ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

13. Matt Kenseth 820
14. Jeff Gordon 783
15. Kurt Busch 763
16. Martin Truex Jr. 755
17. David Ragan 752
18. Brian Vickers 746
19. J.P. Montoya 739
20. Elliott Sadler 711
21. Bobby Labonte 707
22. David Gilliland 699
23. Paul Menard 676
24. Travis Kvapil 646
25. Jamie McMurray 615
26. Casey Mears 611
27. Reed Sorenson 607
28. Robby Gordon 591
29. Scott Riggs 588
30. Mark Martin 563
31. David Reutimann 552
32. Michael Waltrip 530
33. JJ Yeley 505
34. Sam Hornish Jr. 502
35. Regan Smith 496
36. Jeremy Mayfiled 490
37. Dave Blaney 473
38. Dario Franchitti 416
39. Dale Jarretti 367
40. Mike Skinner 344
41. Kyle Petty 296
42. Joe Nemechek 266
43. Patrick Carpentier 256
44 Bill Elliott 207
45. Ken Schrader 192
46. Aric Almirola 179
47. Michael McDowell 149
48. John Andretti 149
49. 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.