Below is a look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12 going into the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Oct. 28.

1– Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)

The File:
* 36 years old, Vallejo, Calif., 81 career wins
* Six wins, 20 top fives, 26 top 10s this year
* Seven poles
* Average finish of 7.4
* Led 22 of 32 races for 1,280 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
* Four wins, 12 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole
* Average finish of 13.3
* Finished 12th at Atlanta in March
* Led 19 of 30 races for 1,050 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-best Average Running Position of 9.1

2– Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)

The File:
* 32 years old from El Cajon, Calif., 30 career wins
* Seven wins, 17 top fives, 20 top 10s; three poles
* Average finish of 11.8
* Led 20 of 32 races for 1,216 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
* Two wins, seven top fives, eight top 10s
* Average finish of 10.1
* Won the Atlanta race in March
* Led six of 12 races for 338 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-high 891 Fastest Laps Run

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, 16 top 10s; two poles
* Average finish of 13.2
* Led 12 of 32 races for 386 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
* One top 10
* Average finish of 19.3
* Finished sixth in March
* Led one of three races for two laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Fifth-best Closer — 50 positions improved over the last 10% of races

4 — 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 12.4
* Led 20 of 32 races for 980 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
* Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s
* Average finish of 11.5
* Finished second in March
* Led 12 of 17 races for 790 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 599 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

5– Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)

The File:
* 28 years old from Columbia, Mo., seven career wins
* Three wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s
* Average finish of 13.3
* Led 11 of 32 races for 428 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
* Two wins, three top fives, five top 10s
* Average finish of 9.8
* Finished seventh in March
* Led four of six races for 140 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 6,750 Laps in the Top 15, sixth-most

6– Kyle Busch (No. 5 Kellogg’s/CARQUEST Chevrolet)

The File:
* 22 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., four career wins
* One win, 10 top fives, 18 top 10s
* Average finish of 14.2
* Led 17 of 32 races for 406 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
* Average finish of 23.0
* Finished 32nd in March
* Led one of six races for four laps

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

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

The File:
* 31 years old from Bakersfield, Calif., 11 career victories
* One win, four top fives, 13 top 10s
* Average finish of 15.9 this season
* Led 11 of 32 races for 270 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
* One win, two top fives
* Average finish of 25.2
* Finished 25th in March
* Led four of 13 races for 69 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Fourth-best Closer — 51 positions improved over the last 10% of races

8 — 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 13.5
* Led 15 of 32 races for 839 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
* One top 10
* Average finish of 19.3
* Finished 19th in March
* Led one of four races for 16 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 430 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

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

The File:
* 40 years old from South Boston, Va., 19 career wins
* One win, eight top fives, 14 top 10s
* Average finish of 14.6
* Led seven of 32 races for 79 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
* Six top fives, 11 top 10s
* Average finish of 17.2
* Finished fourth in March
* Led eight of 26 races for 103 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 2,606 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

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

The File:
* 29 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., 17 career wins
* Two wins, five top fives, 11 top 10s
* Average finish of 16.2
* Led 18 of 32 races for 760 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
* One win, three top 10s
* Average finish of 22.3
* Finished 11th in March
* Led five of 13 races for 182 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-high 1,673 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green flag conditions)

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

The File:
* 27 years old from Mayetta, N.J., one career win
* One win, six top fives, 11 top 10s
* Average finish of 16.9
* Led 13 of 32 races for 355 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
* One top 10
* Average finish of 28.2 five races
* Finished eighth in March

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-high 2,865 Green Flag Passes

12 — Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)

The File:
* 35 years old from Cambridge, Wis., 15 career wins
* One win, nine top fives, 18 top 10s
* Average finish of 14.3
* Led 17 of 32 races for 561 laps

Atlanta Motor Speedway Outlook:
* Five top fives, eight top 10s
* Average finish of 15.6
* Finished third in March
* Led four of 15 races for 60 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 8,672 laps run on the lead lap, second-most

[NASCAR]

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