DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 24, 2007) — Below is a look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12, going into the LifeLock 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sept. 30.

1 — 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 8.1 this season
*Led 18 of 28 races for 1,033 laps

Kansas Speedway Outlook:
*Two wins, three top fives, four top 10s
*Average finish of 11.5
*Finished 39th last season
*Led two of six races for 169 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
*Series-best Average Running Position of 8.7

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

The File:
*36 years old from Columbus, Ind., 32 career wins
*Three wins, 10 top fives, 20 top 10s
*Average finish of 11.8
*Led 18 of 28 races for 929 laps

Kansas Speedway Outlook:
*One win, three top fives, five top 10s
*Average finish of 6.5
*Won Kansas race last season
*Led two of six races for six laps

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

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

The File:
*28 years old from Columbia, Mo., seven career wins
*Three wins, eight top fives, 12 top 10s
*Average finish of 12.8
*Led 11 of 28 races for 428 laps

Kansas Speedway Outlook:
*One top fives, two top 10s
*Average finish of 10.3
*Finished sixth last season
*Led two of three races for eight laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
*6,111 Laps in the Top 15, fifth-most

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

The File:
*32 years old from El Cajon, Calif., 29 career wins
*Six wins, 14 top fives, 17 top 10s; two poles
*Average finish of 12.8
*Led 16 of 28 races for 967 laps

Kansas Speedway Outlook:
*Three top 10s; one pole
*Average finish of 13.8
*Finished 14th at Kansas last season
*Led three of five races for 126 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
*Series-high 731 Fastest Laps Run

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

The File:
*22 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., four career wins
*One win, eight top fives, 16 top 10s
*Average finish of 13.2
*Led 14 of 28 races for 295 laps

Kansas Speedway Outlook:
*One top 10
*Average finish of 21.7
*Finished seventh last season
*Led one of three races for 64 laps

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

6 — 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 poles
*Average finish of 14.2
*Led 10 of 28 races for 306 laps

Kansas Speedway Outlook:
*One top 10
*Finished ninth last season, his only Kansas start
*Led 43 laps in his one Kansas race

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
*Sixth-best Closer — 34 positions improved over the last 10 percent of races

7 — 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 15.2
*Led 11 of 28 races for 351 laps

Kansas Speedway Outlook:
*Finish 11th last season, his only Kansas start

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
*Series-high 2,454 Green Flag Passes

8 — 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, 13 top 10s
*Average finish of 13.3
*Led six of 28 races for 28 laps

Kansas Speedway Outlook:
*One top five
*Average finish of 16.8
*Finished fifth last season
*Led three of six races for five laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
*1,383 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green flag conditions), fifth-most

9 — 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 15.7 this season
*Led nine of 28 races for 251 laps

Kansas Speedway Outlook:
*One top 10
*Average finish of 17.8
*Finished 15th last season
*Led two of six races for 49 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
*Series-best Closer — 52 positions improved over the last 10 percent of races

10 — 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 12.8
*Led 15 of 28 races for 480 laps

Kansas Speedway Outlook:
*One top five, two top 10s; one pole
*Average finish of 20.0
*Finished 23rd last season
*Led two of six races for 85 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
*Series-high 7,722 laps run on the lead lap

11 — 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 15.9
*Led 16 of 28 races for 671 laps

Kansas Speedway Outlook:
*Two top 10s
*Average finish of 20.8
*Finished 25th last season
*Led two of six races for three laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
*Series-high 1,480 Quality Passes

12 — 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 13.3
*Led 14 of 28 races for 799 laps

Kansas Speedway Outlook:
*Average finish of 25.0 in two Kansas races
*Finish 18th last season

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

[NASCAR]

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