Top 12 and beyond

Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 along with other notable drivers, going into the LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 15 (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: 108.4
2008 Rundown
• Four wins, nine top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 9.9
• Led 10 races for 786 laps
Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
• Two top 10s
• Average finish of 20.7
• Finished 13th in August’s Michigan race
• Led three of six races for 40 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high Average Running Position of 10.2

2 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.4
2008 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 7.7
• Led seven races for 62 laps
Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
• Four top fives, eight top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 16.0
• Finished 14th in August
• Led seven of 28 races for 74 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 716 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most

3– Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 104.8
2008 Rundown
• Six top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.2
• Led 10 races for 527 laps
Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, five top 10s; two poles
• Average finish of 17.2
• Finished 12th in August
• Led 10 of 17 races for 110 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 331 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

4 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 104.6
2008 Rundown
• Three wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.6
• Led six races for 372 laps
Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
• One win, four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 7.3
• Finished seventh in August
• Led four of seven races for 137 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 468 Fastest Laps Run

5 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.3
2008 Rundown
• One win, five top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 14.4
• Led eight races for 663 laps
Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 10.0
• Finished fifth in August
• Led one of four races for one lap
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 725 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green)

6 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.1
2008 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 14.6
• Led 10 races for 508 laps
Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 14.8
• Finished third in August
• Led six of 12 races for 154 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 11.2, fourth-most

7 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.7
2008 Rundown
• Five top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 14.2
• Led seven races for 282 laps
Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 13.4
• Finished 19th in August
• Led seven of 10 races for 190 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 249 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

8 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.3
2008 Rundown
• Six top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 14.6
• Led eight races for 211 laps
Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, 15 top fives, 20 top 10s; five poles
• Average finish of 10.5
• Finished 27th in August
• Led 21 of 30 races for 899 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 175 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

9 – Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.7
2008 Rundown
• Two wins, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 17.1
• Led six races for 71 laps
Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
• One win, four top fives; one pole
• Average finish of 15.3
• Finished 31st in August
• Led three of eight races for 40 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 177 Fastest Laps Run, seventh -most

10 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 84.4
2008 Rundown
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 15.2
• Led three races for 34 laps
Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
• Two top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 16.0
• Finished 15th in August
• Led two of 14 races for 88 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 10th-fastest Green Flag Speed

11 – Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 80.7
2008 Rundown
• One win, three top fives, seven top 10s
• Average finish of 16.2
• Led four races for 150 laps
Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
• Average finish of 26.3
• Finished 17th in August
• Led one of four races for six laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 144 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

12 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.1
2008 Rundown
• Four top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 18.0
• Led six races for 387 laps
Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
• One win, eight top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.9
• Finished 10th in August
• Led five of 18 races for 167 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 3,297 Laps in the Top 15 (70.7%), eighth-most

15 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 84.5
2008 Rundown
• Two top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 18.5
• Led eight races for 150 laps
Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s
• Average finish of 9.7
• Finished fourth in August
• Led seven of 17 races for 181 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 137 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most

21 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 73.8
2008 Rundown
• One top five, two top 10s
• Average finish of 20.9
• Led three races for 74 laps
Michigan International Speedway Outlook:
• Two wins, six top fives
• Average finish of 18.9
• Won last August’s Michigan race
• Led 10 of 14 races for 290 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 1,165 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most

Chase Contenders
The Top 12 … And Beyond Following Race 14 of 36

Weeks Rank Season
In Last Driver
Driver Points Wins Top 12 Week Rating
1. Kyle Busch 2,084 4 14 1 108.4
2. Jeff Burton 2,063 1 14 2 94.4
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 1,939 0 13 3 104.8
4. Carl Edwards 1,856 3 10 4 104.6
5. Denny Hamlin 1,800 1 9 9 97.3
6. Jimmie Johnson 1,799 1 10 7 98.1
7. Greg Biffle 1,781 2 14 5 94.7
8. Jeff Gordon 1,767 2 5 6 94.3
9. Kasey Kahne 1,719 1 12 12 87.7
10. Kevin Harvick 1,690 0 13 10 84.4
11. Clint Bowyer 1,679 0 10 8 80.7
12. Tony Stewart 1,614 0 14 11 91.1

ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

13. David Ragan 1,607
14. Ryan Newman 1,604
15. Matt Kenseth 1,580
16. Martin Truex Jr. 1,558
17. Brian Vickers 1,502
18. Travis Kvapil 1,464
19. Bobby Labonte 1,455
20. J.P. Montoya 1,439
21. Kurt Busch 1,437
22. Jamie McMurray 1,368
23. David Gilliland 1,361
24. Mark Martin 1,349
25. David Reutimann 1,289
26. Casey Mears 1,278
27. Paul Menard 1,252
28. Elliott Sadler 1,222
29. Dave Blaney 1,150
30. Robby Gordon 1,141
31. Regan Smith 1,120
32. Reed Sorenson 1,118
33. Scott Riggs 1,086
34. Sam Hornish Jr. 1,076
35. Michael Waltrip 1,064
36. J.J. Yeley 842
37. Joe Nemechek 680
38. Patrick Carpentier 667
39. Michael McDowell 644
40. Jeremy Mayfield 578
41. Kyle Petty 540
42. Dario Franchitti 523
43. AJ Allmendinger 493
44 Bill Elliott 484
45. Mike Skinner 423
46. Dale Jarrett 367
47. Ken Schrader 298
48. Aric Almirola 243
49. Sterling Marlin 228
50. John Andretti 149
51. David Stremme 84
52. Terry Labonte 73
53. Jon Wood 55
54. Tony Raines 43
55. Jason Leffler 43
56. Kenny Wallace 34
57. Johnny Sauter 24

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.