Below is a look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12, going into the Dodge Dealers 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sept. 23.

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

The File: * 31 years old from El Cajon, Calif., 29 career wins * Six wins, 14 top fives, 17 top 10s * Average finish of 12.7 * Led 15 of 27 races for 966 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook: * Three wins, four top fives, seven top 10s * Average finish of 11.7 * Finished 15th at Dover in June * Led six of 11 races for 553 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: * Series-high 710 Fastest Laps Run

2 — Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)

The File: * 36 years old, Vallejo, Calif., 79 career wins * Four wins, 16 top fives, 22 top 10s this year * Six poles * Average finish of 8.0 this season * Led 18 of 27 races for 1,033 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook: * Four wins, 13 top fives, 18 top 10s; three poles * Average finish of 12.4 * Finished ninth in June * Led 17 of 29 races for 2,198 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: * Series-best Average Running Position of 8.5

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

The File: * 36 years old from Columbus, Ind., 32 career wins * Three wins, 10 top fives, 19 top 10s * Average finish of 11.9 * Led 18 of 27 races for 929 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook: * Two wins, nine top fives, 11 top 10s * Average finish of 10.7 * Finished 40th in June * Led 10 of 17 races for 1,066 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: * 563 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

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

The File: * 28 years old from Emporia, Kan., one career win * One win, three top fives, 13 top 10s; two pole * Average finish of 14.3 * Led 10 of 27 races for 306 laps * Scored perfect Driver Rating of 150.0 in his win at New Hampshire

Dover International Speedway Outlook: * Two top 10s * Average finish of 11.0 * Finished eighth in June * Led one of three races for two laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: * Seventh-best Closer — 33 positions improved over the last 10 percent of races

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

The File: * 22 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., four career wins * One win, seven top fives, 15 top 10s * Average finish of 13.6 * Led 14 of 27 races for 295 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook: * Three top fives * Average finish of 13.2 * Finished 17th June * Led two of five races for 112 laps

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

6 — 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 15.3 * Led 11 of 27 races for 351 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook: * One win, two top 10s * Average finish of 9.7 * Won at Dover in June * Led one of three races for 216 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: * Series-high 2,420 Green Flag Passes

7 — Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)

The File: * 35 years old from Cambridge, Wis., 15 career wins * One win, eight top fives, 17 top 10s * Average finish of 11.9 * Led 14 of 27 races for 288 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook: * One win, five top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole * Average finish of 14.2 * Finished fifth in June * Led four of 17 races for 357 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: * Series-high 7,372 laps run on the lead lap

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

The File: * 28 years old from Columbia, Mo., six career wins * Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s * Average finish of 13.3 * Led 10 of 27 races for 333 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook: * Two top fives, three top 10s * Average finish of 10.5 * Finished third in June * Led three of six races for 41 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: * 5,765 Laps in the Top 15, sixth-most

9 — Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet)

The File: * 26 years old, Chesterfield, Va., three career wins * One win, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole * Average finish of 12.4 * Led 13 of 27 races for 738 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook: * One top five, two top 10s * Average finish of 8.0 in three races * Finish fourth in June

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: * 397 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

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

The File: * 31 years old from Bakersfield, Calif., 11 career victories * One win, four top fives, 11 top 10s * Average finish of 15.6 this season * Led nine of 26 races for 251 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook: * Two top fives, five top 10s * Average finish of 17.8 * Finished 20th in June * Led one of 13 races for 133 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: * Third-best Closer — 39 positions improved over the last 10 percent of races

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

The File: * 40 years old from South Boston, Va., 19 career wins * One win, seven top fives, 12 top 10s * Average finish of 13.6 * Led six of 27 races for 28 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook: * One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s * Average finish of 17.3 * Finished 12th in June * Led eight of 27 races for 127 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: * 1,361 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green flag conditions), fourth-most

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

The File: * 29 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., 17 career wins * Two wins, five top fives, 10 top 10s * Average finish of 15.4 * Led 15 of 27 races for 651 laps

Dover International Speedway Outlook: * Two top fives, four top 10s * Average finish of 20.0 * Finished 42nd in June * Led three of 14 races for 205 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight: * Series-high 1,454 Quality Passes

[NASCAR]

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