DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2009) – Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 12, along with other notable drivers, going into the Shelby 427 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 1.
(Note: Drivers listed below who are outside the top 12 are chosen based on past performances at the upcoming track and/or are within striking distance of the top 12.)
1 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 122.7
2009 Rundown
Became first driver to win first two races of the season since Jeff Gordon in 1997
Has led 91 laps in his two wins
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
Two wins, four top fives, five top 10s
Average finish of 9.0
Finished 20th at Las Vegas last season
Led six of nine races for 438 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
Series-best Pass Differential of 57 (passes minus times passed)
2 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 122.3
2009 Rundown
One top five
Average finish of 7.5
Led both races for a total of 78 laps
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
One win, five top fives
Average finish of 14.9
Finished 35th last season
Led five of 11 for 217 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
Series-best Average Running Position of 5.6
3 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.2
2009 Rundown
One top five, two top 10s
Average finish of 7.5
Led one race for two laps
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
One top five, two top 10s
Average finish of 20.1
Finished 38th last season
Led four of eight races for 52 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
Series-high 220 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 156 under green)
4 – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.6
2009 Rundown
Two top 10s
Average finish of 8.0
Led both races for a total of 18 laps
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
Four top fives, six top 10s
Average finish of 14.4
Finished 43rd last season
Led five of 10 races for 185 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
Average Running Position of 9.6, fifth-best
5 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.8
2009 Rundown
One top five
Average finish of 12.0
Led one race for 16 laps
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
One top five, three top 10s; one pole
Average finish of 14.6
Finished third last season
Led two of five races for 58 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
Series-high 49 Fastest Laps Run
6 – Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 78.9
2009 Rundown
One top five
Average finish of 11.5
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
Average finish of 26.3
Finished 28th last season
Led one of three races for one lap
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
292 Green Flag Passes, third-most
7 – Michael Waltrip (No. 55 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 76.9
2009 Rundown
One top 10
Average finish of 11.0
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
One top five
Average finish of 23.1
Finished 31st last season
Led two of 10 races for 18 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
308 Green Flag Passes, second-most
8 – David Ragan (No. 6 UPS Ford)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.0
2009 Rundown
One top 10
Average finish of 11.5
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
One top 10
Average finish of 22.0 in two races
Finished seventh last season
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
170 Quality Passes, third-most
9 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.9
2009 Rundown
One top 10
Average finish 12.5
Led one race for one lap
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
One win, two top 10s
Average finish of 11.8
Won last season’s Las Vegas race
Led two of four races for 89 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
332 Laps in the Top 15, seventh-most
10 – Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Target Dodge)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 83.1
2009 Rundown
Average finish of 12.5
Led one race for one lap
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
Average finish of 20.5 in two races
Finished 19th last season
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
Series-high 317 Green Flag Passes
11 – Elliott Sadler (No. 19 Stanley Dodge)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 65.6
2009 Rundown
One top five
Average finish of 15.0
Led one race for 24 laps
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
One top 10
Average finish of 23.9
Finished 12th last season
Led four of 10 races for 24 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
265 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
12 – David Reutimann (No. 00 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 74.2
2009 Rundown
Average finish of 13.0
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
Finished 37th last season, his only LVMS race
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
284 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
18 – Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 112.2
2009 Rundown
One top five
Average finish of 22.0
Led one race for 88 laps
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
Two top fives, three top 10s; one pole
Average finish of 13.2
Finished 11th last season
Led three of five races for 61 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
Has been passed 78 times, the fewest on the series
19 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.9
2009 Rundown
One top 10
Average finish of 20.0
Led one race for 74 laps
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Outlook:
Three wins, four top 10s
Average finish of 9.3
Finished 29th last season
Led six of seven races for 210 laps
Season-To-Date Loop Data Highlight
38 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
