DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 26, 2008) – 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: 123.3
2008 Rundown
Two top fives
Average finish of 4.0
Led two races for 100 laps
Las 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 laps
Season-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: 100.9
2008 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 laps
Season-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: 101.2
2008 Rundown
One top five, two top 10s
Average finish of 5.0
Led one race for 16 laps
Las 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 laps
Season-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: 79.4
2008 Rundown
One top five
Average finish of 7.5
Led one race for nine laps
Las 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 laps
Season-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: 105.0
2008 Rundown
One win
Average finish of 10.0
Led one race for 64 laps
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
One top 10
Average finish of 15.3
Finished sixth last season
Led one of three races for three laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
Series-high 76 Fastest Laps Run
6 – Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 106.7
2008 Rundown
Two top 10s
Average finish of 8.0
Led two races for two laps
Las 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 laps
Season-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: 90.8
2008 Rundown
One top 10
Average finish of 11.0
Led one race for one lap
Las 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: 107.4
2008 Rundown
One top five
Average finish of 14.5
Led two races for 77 laps
Las 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: 97.9
2008 Rundown
One top 10
Average finish of 12.5
Led two races for 16 laps
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
Two top 10s
Average finish of 17.5
Finished 16th last season
Led two of four races for 58 laps
Season-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: 85.3
2008 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 laps
Las 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: 80.9
2008 Rundown
Average finish of 11.5
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
Average finish of 29.3
Finished 22nd last season
Led one of three races for one lap
Season-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: 85.3
2008 Rundown
One top 10
Average finish of 13.0
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
Average finish of 16.0
Finished 12th last season
Led one of two races for two laps
Season-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: 106.0
2008 Rundown
One top five
Average finish of 21.0
Led two races for 73 laps
Las 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 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
Average Running Position of 8.5, fourth-best
