Below is a look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12 along with some other notable drivers, going into the Centurion Boats at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 12.

1 — Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)

The File:
* 36 years old, Vallejo, Calif., 79 career wins
* Four wins, 14 top fives, 19 top 10s this year
* Five poles
* Average finish of 6.3 this season
* Led 14 of 21 races for 764 laps

Watkings Glen International Outlook:
* Four wins, six top fives, seven top 10s
* Two poles
* Average finish of 12.6
* Finished 13th last season
* Led eight of 14 races for 176 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-best Closer — 80 positions improved over the last 10% of races

2 — Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet)

The File:
* 26 years old, Chesterfield, Va., three career wins
* One win, eight top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
* Average finish of 11.7
* Led 12 of 21 races for 721 laps

Watkings Glen International Outlook:
* One top 10
* Finished 10th last season, his only Watkins Glen start

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 336 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

3 — Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)

The File:
* 35 years old from Cambridge, Wis., 15 career wins
* One win, seven top fives, 14 top 10s
* Average finish of 11.4
* Led 13 of 21 races for 257 laps

Watkings Glen International Outlook:
* Three top 10s
* Average finish of 17.4
* Finished 21st last season
* Led one of seven races for one lap

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-high 5,704 laps run on the lead lap

4 — Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)

The File:
* 40 years old from South Boston, Va., 19 career wins
* One win, six top fives, 11 top 10s
* Average finish of 12.4
* Led five of 21 races for 27 laps

Watkings Glen International Outlook:
* Two top fives, three top 10s
* Average finish of 19.8
* Finished 11th last season
* Led three of 13 races for 54 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 1,181 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green flag conditions), third-most

5 — Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet)

The File:
* 36 years old from Columbus, Ind., 31 career wins
* Two wins, six top fives, 14 top 10s
* Average finish of 13.8
* Led 14 of 21 races for 831 laps

Watkings Glen International Outlook:
* Three wins, four top fives, six top 10s
* Average finish of 6.8
* Finished second last season
* Led four of eight for 170 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 457 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

6 — Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)

The File:
* 27 years old from Columbia, Mo., five career wins
* One win, five top fives, seven top 10s
* Average finish of 13.6
* Led eight of 21 races for 136 laps

Watkings Glen International Outlook:
* One top five
* Average finish of 12.0 in two races
* Finished fifth last season

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 4,325 Laps in the Top 15, seventh-most

7 — Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)

The File:
* 31 years old from El Cajon, Calif., 27 career wins
* Four wins, 10 top fives, 12 top 10s
* Average finish of 14.7
* Led 12 of 21 races for 763 laps

Watkings Glen International Outlook:
* Two top fives
* Average finish of 16.4
* Finish 17th last season
* Led three of five races for four laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Average Running Position of 9.5, second-best

8 — Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet)

The File:
* 22 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., four career wins
* One win, five top fives, 11 top 10s
* Average finish of 14.8
* Led 11 of 21 races for 174 laps

Watkings Glen International Outlook:
* One top 10
* Average finish of 21.0 in two races
* Finished ninth last season

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Fifth-fastest average Green Flag Speed

9 — Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)

The File:
* 31 years old from Bakersfield, Calif., 11 career victories
* One win, four top fives, 10 top 10s
* Average finish of 15.0 this season
* Led nine of 21 races for 251 laps

Watkings Glen International Outlook:
* One win, two top fives, four top 10s
* Average finish of 8.0
* Won last season
* Led two of six races for 29 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 1,843 Green Flag Passes, tied for seventh-most

10 — Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet)

The File:
* 28 years old from Emporia, Kan.
* One top five, 11 top 10s; one pole
* Average finish of 15.1
* Led eight of 21 races for 80 laps

Watkings Glen International Outlook:
* Finished 14th last season, his only Watkins Glen start

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Fifth-best Closer — 31 positions improved over the last 10% of races

11 — Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)

The File:
* 27 years old from Mayetta, N.J., 1 career win
* One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
* Average finish of 17.5
* Led nine of 21 races for 346 laps

Watkings Glen International Outlook:
* Finished 28th last season, his only Watkins Glen start

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 272 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-best

12– Kurt Busch (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)

The File:
* 29 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., 15 career wins
* One win, four top fives, six top 10s
* Average finish of 16.9
* Led 12 of 21 races for 536 laps

Watkings Glen International Outlook:
* One top 10; one poles
* Average finish of 25.0
* Finished 19th last season
* Led two of six races for 39 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-high 1,200 Quality Passes

13 — Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet)

The File:
* 32 years old from Kannapolis, N.C., 17 career wins
* Four top five, eight top 10s; one pole
* Average finish of 16.5
* Led 10 of 21 races for 345 laps

Watkings Glen International Outlook:
* Two top fives, three top 10s
* Average finish of 17.6
* Finished 18th last season
* Led three of seven races for 13 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 4,569 Laps in the Top 15, third-most

[NASCAR]

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