Here’s NASCAR’s report on the drivers in the top 12 …

Week 20: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 - And Beyond

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 14, 2008) - Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 along with other notable drivers, going into the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard. (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: 111.2
2008 Rundown
• Seven wins, 12 top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average finish of 9.5
• Led 14 races for 1,065 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 98.3
• One top five, three top 10s
• Average finish of 7.0
• Finished fourth in last season’s Indianapolis race
• Led two of three races for 25 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high Average Running Position of 9.6

2 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.3
2008 Rundown
• One win, seven top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 11.5
• Led 13 races for 621 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 67.4
• Two top 10s
• Average finish of 21.1
• Finished 34th last season
• Led three of eight races for 46 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 362 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

3 - Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.6
2008 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, 10 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.7
• Led seven races for 62 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 98.6
• One top five, three top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 18.4
• Finished eighth last season
• Led five of 14 races for 114 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 881 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fourth-most

4 - Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.4
2008 Rundown
• Three wins, seven top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.1
• Led 10 races for 411 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 81.5
• One top 10
• Average finish of 13.0 in three career races
• Finished 18th last season
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Series-high 531 Fastest Laps Run

5 - Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.5
2008 Rundown
• One win, five top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 13.6
• Led 14 races for 619 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 83.1
• One win, two top 10s
• Average finish of 23.5
• Finished 39th last season
• Led one of six races for 33 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 10.4, second-most

6 - Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.2
2008 Rundown
• Seven top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 14.6
• Led 10 races for 263 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 89.9
• Four wins, eight top fives, 11 top 10s; three poles
• Average finish of 8.9
• Finished third last season
• Led nine of 14 races for 402 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Average Running Position of 11.8, fifth-best

7 - Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.7
2008 Rundown
• Six top fives, eight top 10s
• Average finish of 15.7
• Led nine races for 326 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 84.4
• One top 10
• Average finish of 19.2
• Finished 15th last season
• Led one of five races for 11 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 269 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

8 - Matt Kenseth (No. 14 DEWALT Ford)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.3
2008 Rundown
• Four top fives, 12 top 10s
• Average finish of 15.7
• Led 10 races for 198 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 106.1
• Four top fives, five top 10s
• Average finish of 13.3; Finished 10th last season
• Led three of eight races for 28 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 176 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

9 - Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.1
2008 Rundown
• Three top fives, six top 10s
• Average finish of 14.9
• Led four races for 88 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 108.7
• One win, three top fives, five top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 7.7
• Finished seventh last season
• Led four of seven races for 87 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• Seventh-fastest average Green Flag Speed rank

10 - Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.9
2008 Rundown
• Six top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 16.1
• Led nine races for 531 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 121.4
• Two wins, four top fives, six top 10s; one pole
• Average finish of 7.6
• Won last season’s Indianapolis race
• Led five of nine races for 215 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 238 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

11 - Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.6
2008 Rundown
• Two wins, three top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 16.3
• Led seven races for 144 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 91.2
• Two top fives
• Average finish of 20.5
• Finished 40th last season
• Led two of four races for 40 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 214 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

12 - Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.1
2008 Rundown
• One win, five top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 16.6
• Led 10 races for 670 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 92.1
• One top 10
• Average finish of 16.0 in two races
• Finished 22nd last season
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 902 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), third-most

13 - Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet)
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 79.7
2008 Rundown
• One win, four top fives, nine top 10s
• Average finish of 16.3
• Led four races for 150 laps
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Outlook:
• Driver Rating of 90.3
• One top five
• Average finish of 8.5 in two races
• Finished 13th last season
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
• 160 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most

Chase Contenders
The Top 12 … And Beyond Following Race 19 of 36

Weeks Rank Season
In Last Driver
Driver                              Points    Wins    Top 12     Week Rating
1. Kyle Busch                  2,881      7          19             1    111.2
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.     2,619      1         18             2   103.3
3. Jeff Burton                  2,590     1          19             3     89.6
4. Carl Edwards              2,509     3          15            4    101.4
5. Jimmie Johnson         2,494     1           15            5    100.5
6. Jeff Gordon                 2,384     0          10            6    95.2
7. Greg Biffle                   2,318      0         19            11    89.7
8. Matt Kenseth             2,317       0         5              9     87.3
9. Kevin Harvick            2,308      0         16            13    88.1
10. Tony Stewart           2,305      0         19            12    94.9
11. Kasey Kahne             2,295      2         17              8     86.6
12. Denny Hamlin           2,283     1          14              7    93.1
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ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

13. Clint Bowyer 2,256
14. Brian Vickers 2,188
15. David Ragan 2,185
16. Ryan Newman 2,094
17. Martin Truex Jr. 2,050
18. Kurt Busch 2,038
19. Bobby Labonte 1,905
20. J.P. Montoya 1,863
21. Travis Kvapil 1,841
22. Jamie McMurray 1,823
23. Elliott Sadler 1,794
24. Casey Mears 1,782
25. David Gilliland 1,772
26. Paul Menard 1,727
27. David Reutimann 1,717
28. Mark Martin 1,683
29. Robby Gordon 1,572
30. Michael Waltrip 1,563
31. Dave Blaney 1,563
32. Reed Sorenson 1,496
33. Sam Hornish Jr. 1,422
34. Regan Smith 1,421
35. Scott Riggs 1,314
36. J.J. Yeley 1,138
37. Patrick Carpentier 1,121
38. Joe Nemechek 1,107
39. Michael McDowell 955
40. AJ Allmendinger 851
41. Dario Franchitti 606
42. Bill Elliott 597
43. Jeremy Mayfield 578
44. Kyle Petty 540
45. Terry Labonte 483
46. Mike Skinner 423
47. Aric Almirola 416
48. Dale Jarrett 367
49. Ken Schrader 298
50. Sterling Marlin 268
51. Johnny Sauter 155
52. John Andretti 149
53. Jason Leffler 125
54. Jon Wood 119
55. Boris Said 103
56. David Stremme 84

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.

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