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NASCAR SCS (PHOENIX) - PRE-RACE ADVANCE


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Below is a look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12 going into the Checker Auto Parts 500 Presented by Pennzoil at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 11.

1 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet) The File: • 32 years old from El Cajon, Calif., 32 career wins • Nine wins, 19 top fives, 22 top 10s; three poles • Average finish of 11.1 • Led 22 of 34 races for 1,233 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Three top fives, six top 10s • Average finish of 7.3 • Finished fourth in April • Led three of eight races for 113 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Series-high 934 Fastest Laps Run

2 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) The File: • 36 years old, Vallejo, Calif., 81 career wins • Six wins, 20 top fives, 28 top 10s this year • Seven poles • Average finish of 7.4 • Led 23 of 34 races for 1,300 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • One win, eight top fives, 14 top 10s; three poles • Average finish of 8.2 • Won the Phoenix race in April • Led eight of 17 races for 247 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Series-best Average Running Position of 9.2

3 – Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet) The File: • 28 years old from Emporia, Kan., one career win • One win, five top fives, 17 top 10s; two poles • Average finish of 13.2 • Led 13 of 34 races for 387 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • One top five • Average finish of 20.5 • Finished 22nd in April • Led one of four races for 21 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Second-best Closer – 57 positions improved over the last 10% of races

4 – Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet) The File: • 22 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., four career wins • One win, 11 top fives, 19 top 10s • Average finish of 14.1 • Led 19 of 34 races for 636 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • One win, three top 10s; one pole • Average finish of 18.0 • Finished seventh in April • Led three of five races for 78 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Third-fastest average Green Flag Speed

5 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) The File: • 28 years old from Columbia, Mo., seven career wins • Three wins, 10 top fives, 14 top 10s • Average finish of 13.4 • Led 11 of 34 races for 428 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Two top fives, four top 10s • Average finish of 11.7 in six races • Finished 11th in April Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • 7,047 Laps in the Top 15, ninth-most

6 – Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet) The File: • 36 years old from Columbus, Ind., 32 career wins • Three wins, 10 top fives, 22 top 10s • Average finish of 12.9 • Led 20 of 34 races for 980 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • One win, five top fives, seven top 10s • Average finish of 9.9 • Finished second in April • Led four of 11 races for 293 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • 612 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

7 – Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet) The File: • 40 years old from South Boston, Va., 19 career wins • One win, nine top fives, 16 top 10s • Average finish of 14.1 • Led seven of 34 races for 79 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s • Average finish of 11.6 • Finished 13th in April • Led four of 16 races for 215 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • 2,758 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

8 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) The File: • 31 years old from Bakersfield, Calif., 11 career victories • One win, four top fives, 14 top 10s • Average finish of 15.7 this season • Led 12 of 34 races for 271 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Two wins, three top fives, four top 10s • Average finish of 14.0 • Finished 10th in April • Led three of nine races for 316 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Fourth-best Closer – 49 positions improved over the last 10% of races

9 – Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge) The File: • 29 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., 17 career wins • Two wins, five top fives, 13 top 10s • Average finish of 15.7 • Led 20 of 34 races for 868 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • One win, two top fives, five top 10s • Average finish of 13.6 • Finished 18th in April • Led four of nine races for 448 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Series-high 1,761 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green flag conditions)

10 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford) The File: • 35 years old from Cambridge, Wis., 15 career wins • One win, 11 top fives, 20 top 10s • Average finish of 13.6 • Led 18 of 34 races for 605 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • One win, four top fives, five top 10s • Average finish of 18.4 • Finished fifth in April • Led four of 10 races for 61 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • 9,330 laps run on the lead lap, second-most

11 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet) The File: • 26 years old, Chesterfield, Va., three career wins • One win, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s; one pole • Average finish of 14.3 • Led 17 of 34 races for 887 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Two top fives; one pole • Average finish of 13.3 • Finished third in April • Led two four races for 93 laps Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • 460 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

12 – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet) The File: • 27 years old from Mayetta, N.J., one career win • One win, seven top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole • Average finish of 16.9 • Led 15 of 34 races for 506 laps Phoenix International Raceway Outlook: • Average finish of 18.0 in three races • Finished 20th in April Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: • Series-high 2,960 Green Flag Passes

The Chase Is On The Top 12 Following 8 Chase Races (34 of 36 races overall)

Weeks Rank Season In Last Driver Driver Points Wins Top 12 Week Rating 1. Jimmie Johnson 6,382 9 32 2 109.8 2. Jeff Gordon 6,352 6 34 1 108.6 3. Clint Bowyer 6,201 1 32 3 87.6 4. Kyle Busch 6,043 1 32 6 98.7 5. Carl Edwards 6,025 3 31 4 92.4 6. Tony Stewart 6,009 3 31 5 101.2 7. Jeff Burton 5,951 1 34 8 87.6 8. Kevin Harvick 5,943 1 32 7 86.8 9. Kurt Busch 5,929 2 18 9 99.1 10. Matt Kenseth 5,928 1 33 11 93.6 11. Denny Hamlin 5,858 1 32 10 97.0 12. Martin Truex Jr. 5,858 1 22 12 88.6 ___________________________________________________

ADDITIONAL DRIVERS

13. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 3,840 34. Paul Menard 2,341 14. Ryan Newman 3,772 35. Kyle Petty 2,175 15. Casey Mears 3,705 36. Scott Riggs 2,135 16. Greg Biffle 3,697 37. Joe Nemechek 2,068 17. Kasey Kahne 3,355 38. Brian Vickers 1,928 18. Jamie McMurray 3,336 39. David Reutimann 1,790 19. Bobby Labonte 3,314 40. Sterling Marlin 1,600 20. J.J. Yeley 3,265 41. Dale Jarrett 1,472 21. J.P. Montoya 3,257 42. Bill Elliott 1,439 22. Reed Sorenson 3,067 43. AJ Allmendinger 1,165 23. David Ragan 3,045 44. Michael Waltrip 1,149 24. Elliott Sadler 3,009 45. Kenny Wallace 1,006 25. David Stremme 2,930 46. Jeremy Mayfield 995 26. Robby Gordon 2,841 47. Ward Burton 939 27. Mark Martin 2,822 48. John Andretti 932 28. Tony Raines 2,792 49. Ken Schrader 932 29. David Gilliland 2,778 50. Regan Smith 516 30. Johnny Sauter 2,717 51. Boris Said 510 31. Jeff Green 2,704 52. Mike Bliss 325 32. Dave Blaney 2,579 53. Ron Fellows 283 33. Ricky Rudd 2,464 54. Aric Almirola 272

Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season determine which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season