NASCAR NNCS (DAYTONA) - Week 11 - The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12 - And Beyond

Below is a look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12, along with some other notable drivers, going into the Dodge Avenger 500 at Darlington Raceway on May 12.

1 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) The File: • 35-years-old from Vallejo, Calif., 77 career wins • Two wins, eight top fives, nine top 10s • Five poles • Average finish of 4.1 this season • Led in nine of 10 races for 652 laps Darlington Raceway Outlook: • Six wins, 14 top fives, 17 top 10s; three poles • 12.231 average finish • Finished second last season • Led in 21 of 26 races for 1,558 laps Loop Data Highlight: • Series-best 7.352 Average Running Position

2 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) The File: • 31-years-old from El Cajon, Calif., 27 career wins • Four wins, seven top fives • Average finish of 10.6 • Led in six of 10 races for 485 laps Darlington Raceway Outlook: • Two wins, four top fives, seven top 10s • 7.250 average finish • Finished fourth last season • Led in six of eight races for a total of 363 laps Loop Data Highlight: • 284 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

3 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford) The File: • 35-years-old from Cambridge, Wis., 15 career wins • One win, five top fives, seven top 10s • Average finish of 8.7 • Led in eight of 10 races for 174 laps Darlington Raceway Outlook: • One top five, four top 10s • 20.385 average finish • Finished third last season • Led in four of 13 races for a total of 106 laps Loop Data Highlight: • Series-leading total of 3,228 laps run on the lead lap

4 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet) The File: • 26-years-old from Chesterfield, Va., two career wins • Four top fives, five top 10s; one pole • Average finish of 11.4 • Led in five of 10 races for 432 laps Darlington Raceway Outlook: • One top 10 • Finished 10th last season in his only Darlington start Loop Data Highlight: • Average Running Position of 11.644, fourth-best

5 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet) The File: • 39-years-old from S. Boston, Va., 19 career wins • One win, five top fives, six top 10s • Average finish of 12.5 this season • Led in five of 10 races for 27 laps Darlington Raceway Outlook: • Two wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s • 11.583 average finish • Finished ninth last season • Led in 11 of 24 races for 786 laps Loop Data Highlight: • Series-best 799 Quality Passes – passes of cars in the top 15 while under green

6 – Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet) The File: • 22-years-old from Las Vegas, Nev., four career wins • One win, three top fives, six top 10s • Average finish of 16.2 • Led in six of 10 races for 83 laps Darlington Raceway Outlook: • One top 10 • 15.0 average finish • Finished seventh last season Loop Data Highlight: • Second-fastest Speed in Traffic – speed when there is another vehicle within one car length (green conditions only).

7 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet) The File: • 35-years-old from Columbus, Ind., 29 career wins • Two top fives, six top 10s • Average finish of 16.5 • Led eight of 10 races for 592 laps Darlington Raceway Outlook: • Two top fives, seven top 10s • 12.357 average finish • Finished 12th last season • Led two of 14 races for eight laps Loop Data Highlight: • 2,565 Laps in the Top 15, third-most

8 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) The File: • 31-years-old from Bakersfield, Calif., 11 career victories • One win, two top fives, five top 10s • Average finish of 16.7 this season • Led in six of 10 races for 176 laps Darlington Raceway Outlook: • Two top fives, four top 10s • 19.4 average finish • Finished 37th last season • Led in one of 10 races for a total of 14 laps Loop Data Highlight: • 122 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

9 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) The File: • 28-years-old from Las Vegas, Nev., 15 career victories • Two top five, three top 10s • Average finish of 16.3 this season • Led in six of 10 races for 195 laps Darlington Raceway Outlook: • One top five, four top 10s; one pole • 18.7 average finish • Finished 19th last season • Led in four of 10 races for a total of 182 laps Loop Data Highlight: • 731 Quality Passes, tied for second-most

10 – Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet) The File: • 27-years-old from Emporia, Kan., zero career wins • Four top 10s • Average finish of 16.7 • Led in four of 10 races for five laps Darlington Raceway Outlook: • Finished 23rd last season in his only Darlington start Loop Data Highlight: • Average Running Position of 16.101, 11th-best

11 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) The File: • 27-years-old from Columbia, Mo., four career wins • Two top 10s • Average finish of 17.1 • Led in one of 10 races for three laps Darlington Raceway Outlook: • Two top 10s • 18.333 average finish • Finished 39th last season • Led in one of three races for four laps Loop Data Highlight: • 2,336 Laps in the Top 15, ninth-most

12 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet) The File: • 32-years-old from Kannapolis, N.C., 17 career wins • One top five, three top 10s • Average finish of 18.4 • Led in five of 10 races for 236 laps Darlington Raceway Outlook: • Two top fives, five top 10s • 15.583 average finish • Finished fifth last season • Has led in four of 12 races for 135 laps Loop Data Highlight: • Third-fastest Green Flag Speed

13 – Jamie McMurray (No. 26 Crown Royal/IRWIN Industrial Tools Ford) The File: • 30-years-old from Joplin, Mo., one career win • Two top fives, five top 10s • 18.5 average finish • Led one of 10 races for two laps Darlington Raceway Outlook: • Two top fives, three top 10s • 16.5 average finish in eight races • Finished 42nd last season; Led three of six races for 76 laps Loop Data Highlight: • Sixth-fastest Speed in Traffic

15 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 Ameriquest Ford) The File: • 35-years-old from Vancouver, Wash., 11 career victories • One top five, two top 10s • Average finish of 20.5 this season • Led in two of 10 races for three laps Darlington Raceway Outlook: • Two wins, three top 10s • 10.0 average finish • Finished first last season • Led in five of six races for a total of 427 laps Loop Data Highlight: • 59 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most