Week 13: 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 Best Buy 400 at Dover International Speedway on June 1 (Note: Drivers listed below who are outside the top 12 are chosen based on past performances at the upcoming track and/or those within striking distance of the top 12).

1– Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 113.1
2008 Rundown
• Three wins, eight top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 7.9
• Led nine races for 628 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• Four top fives
• Average finish of 11.8
• Finished fifth in September’s Dover race
• Led two of six races for 112 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high Average Running Position of 8.3

2 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.6
2008 Rundown
• One win, three top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 7.9
• Led seven races for 62 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• One win, six top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 16.9
• Finished seventh in September
• Led eight of 28 races for 127 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 620 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fourth-most

3– Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 110.2
2008 Rundown
• Five top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 9.8
• Led 10 races for 527 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 15.8
• Finished third in September
• Led eight of 16 races for 366 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 329 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

4 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.2
2008 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 12.9
• Led seven races for 646 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 15.5
• Finished 38th in September
• Led one of four races for 61 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 671 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most

5 – Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.1
2008 Rundown
• One win, three top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 12.7
• Led four races for 150 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• Two top 10s
• Average finish of 11.3
• Finished 12th in September
• Led one of four races for two laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 117 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

6 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.0
2008 Rundown
• Three wins, five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 12.6
• Led four races for 306 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• One win, three top fives, four top 10s
• Average finish of 9.1
• Won September’s Dover race
• Led four of seven races for 136 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 387 Fastest Laps Run

7 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.6
2008 Rundown
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 13.5
• Led three races for 34 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 17.9
• Finished 20th in September
• Led one of 14 races for 133 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,061 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

8 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.4
2008 Rundown
• Four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 14.7.
• Led five races for 373 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, nine top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.6
• Finished ninth in September
• Led 10 of 18 races for 1,061 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 3,144 Laps in the Top 15 (77.4%), fifth-most

9 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.1
2008 Rundown
• One win, four top fives
• Average finish of 15.9
• Led eight races for 447 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• Three wins, four top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 11.9
• Finished 14th in September
• Led seven of 12 races for 554 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 228 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

10 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.2
2008 Rundown
• Five top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 15.5
• Led seven races for 208 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• Four wins, 13 top fives, 18 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.3
• Finished 11th in September
• Led 17 of 30 races for 2,198 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 169 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

11 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.0
2008 Rundown
• Four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 15.1
• Led five races for 114 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• One win, three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 12.9
• Finished second in September
• Led five of 11 races for 229 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 166 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

12 – Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.2
2008 Rundown
• One win, six top 10s
• Average finish of 15.9
• Led six races for 71 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• One top 10
• Average finish of 25.3
• Finished 32nd in September
• Led two of eight races for 64 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 560 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), eighth-most

15 – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.6
2008 Rundown
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 19.2
• Led two races for 13 laps
Dover International Speedway Outlook:
• One win, two top 10s
• Average finish of 10.5
• Finished 13th in September
• Led one of four races for 216 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 13.9, 11th-best

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

Weeks Rank Season
In Last Driver
Driver Points Wins Top 12 Week Rating
1. Kyle Busch 1,860 3 12 1 113.1
2. Jeff Burton 1,766 1 12 2 94.6
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1,721 0 11 3 110.2
4. Denny Hamlin 1,596 1 7 4 101.2
5. Clint Bowyer 1,578 1 8 5 85.1
6. Carl Edwards 1,538 3 8 7 102.0
7. Kevin Harvick 1,517 0 11 9 90.6
8. Tony Stewart 1,511 0 12 8 95.4
9. Jimmie Johnson 1,493 1 8 6 96.1
10. Jeff Gordon 1,486 0 3 10 94.2
11. Greg Biffle 1,483 0 12 11 92.0
12. Kasey Kahne 1,454 1 10 14 86.2
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ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

13. David Ragan 1,398
14. Ryan Newman 1,369
15. Martin Truex Jr. 1,291
16. Matt Kenseth 1,264
17. J.P. Montoya 1,263
18. Bobby Labonte 1,258
19. Travis Kvapil 1,240
20. Brian Vickers 1,203
21. Kurt Busch 1,192
22. David Gilliland 1,131
23. Jamie McMurray 1,126
24. Mark Martin 1,121
25. Elliott Sadler 1,119
26. David Reutimann 1,101
27. Scott Riggs 1,085
28. Casey Mears 1,081
29. Paul Menard 1,067
30. Robby Gordon 980
31. Reed Sorenson 969
32. Regan Smith 941
33. Michael Waltrip 933
34. Sam Hornish Jr. 930
35. Dave Blaney 910
36. J.J. Yeley 751
37. Joe Nemechek 543
38. Kyle Petty 540
39. Patrick Carpentier 524
40. Jeremy Mayfield 490
41. Michael McDowell 484
42. Dario Franchitti 483
43. Mike Skinner 423
44 Dale Jarrett 367
45. Bill Elliott 350
46. AJ Allmendinger 314
47. Ken Schrader 298
48. Aric Almirola 243
49. Sterling Marlin 228
50. Johnny Sauter 174
51. John Andretti 149
52. David Stremme 84
53. Jon Wood 55
54. 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.