Below is a look at the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Top 12 along with some other notable drivers, going into the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 8.

1 — Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)

The File:
* 36 years old, Vallejo, Calif., 79 career wins
* Four wins, 14 top fives, 20 top 10s this year
* Six poles
* Average finish of 8.4 this season
* Led 17 of 25 races for 842 laps

Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
* Two wins, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s; five poles
* Average finish of 15.9
* Finished fourth at Richmond in May
* Led 18 of 29 races for 868 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-best Average Running Position of 8.9

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

The File:
* 36 years old from Columbus, Ind., 32 career wins
* Three wins, eight top fives, 17 top 10s
* Average finish of 12.7
* Led 16 of 25 races for 863 laps

Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
* Three wins, five top fives, 11 top 10s
* Average finish of 11.8
* Finished eighth in May
* Led nine of 17 races for 765 laps

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

3 — Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet)

The File:
* 26 years old, Chesterfield, Va., three career wins
* One win, 10 top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
* Average finish of 12.6
* Led 12 of 25 races for 721 laps

Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
* Two top fives
* Average finish of 6.7
* Finished third in May
* Led all three of his Richmond races for 50 laps

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

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

The File:
* 27 years old from Columbia, Mo., six career wins
* Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s
* Average finish of 12.2
* Led nine of 25 races for 318 laps

Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
* Two top 10s
* Average finish of 17.0 in six races
* Finished 12th in May

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 5,327 Laps in the Top 15, fifth-most

5 — Matt Kenseth (No. 17 DEWALT Ford)

The File:
* 35 years old from Cambridge, Wis., 15 career wins
* One win, eight top fives, 16 top 10s
* Average finish of 12.0
* Led 14 of 25 races for 288 laps

Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
* One win, three top fives, nine top 10s
* Average finish of 14.3
* Finished 10th in May
* Led seven of 15 races for 190 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-high 6,684 laps run on the lead lap

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

The File:
* 31 years old from El Cajon, Calif., 28 career wins
* Five wins, 13 top fives, 15 top 10s
* Average finish of 13.4
* Led 14 of 25 races for 862 laps

Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
* One win, two top fives; one pole
* Average finish of 19.4
* Won the Richmond race in May
* Led five of 11 races for 233 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-high 625 Fastest Laps Run

7 — Jeff Burton (No. 31 RCR Chevrolet)

The File:
* 40 years old from South Boston, Va., 19 career wins
* One win, seven top fives, 12 top 10s
* Average finish of 13.2
* Led six of 25 races for 28 laps

Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
* One win, seven top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
* Average finish of 15.4
* Finished 43rd in May
* Led nine of 26 races for 899 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 1,335 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green flag conditions), fourth-most

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

The File:
* 22 years old from Las Vegas, Nev., four career wins
* One win, six top fives, 14 top 10s
* Average finish of 13.7
* Led 13 of 25 races for 274 laps

Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
* Five top fives
* Average finish of 3.4
* Finished second in May
* Led four of five races for 292 laps

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

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

The File:
* 28 years old from Emporia, Kan.
* Two top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
* Average finish of 15.0
* Led eight of 25 races for 80 laps

Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
* Two top 10s
* Average finish of 10.3 in three races
* Finished ninth in May

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Eighth-best Closer — 29 positions improved over the last 10% of races

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

The File:
* 27 years old from Mayetta, N.J., one career win
* One win, five top fives, 10 top 10s
* Average finish of 15.7
* Led 10 of 25 races for 350 laps

Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
* Average finish of 36.3 in three races
* Finished 28th in May

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Series-high 2,255 Green Flag Passes

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, nine top 10s
* Average finish of 15.2
* Led 15 of 25 races for 651 laps

Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
* One win, two top fives, three top 10s
* Average finish of 18.8
* Finished fifth in May
* Led six of 13 races for 340 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 1,364 Quality Passes, second-most

12 — 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 15.8 this season
* Led nine of 25 races for 251 laps

Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
* One win, four top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
* Average finish of 12.5
* Finished seventh in May
* Led eight of 13 for 646 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* Fourth-best Closer — 38 positions improved over the last 10% of races

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

The File:
* 32 years old from Kannapolis, N.C., 17 career wins
* Six top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole
* Average finish of 16.4
* Led 13 of 25 races for 362 laps

Richmond International Raceway Outlook:
* Three wins, seven top fives, nine top 10s
* Average finish of 10.1
* Finished 13th in May
* Led eight of 16 races for 322 laps

Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight:
* 5,506 Laps in the Top 15, third-most

[NASCAR]

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