Sprint Cup top 12 and beyond heading into Daytona
June 30, 2008
Below is a look at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 along with other notable drivers, going into the Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night. (Note: Drivers listed below who are outside the top 12 are chosen based on past performances at the upcoming track and/or those within striking distance of the top 12.)
1– Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 108.7
2008 Rundown
*Five wins, 10 top fives, 11 top 10s
*Average finish of 10.5
*Led 12 races for 869 laps
Daytona International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 95.3
*Three top fives
*Average finish of 17.7
*Finished fourth in February
*Led four of seven races for 115 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Series-high Average Running Position of 10.1
2 — Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.9
2008 Rundown
*One win, four top fives, 10 top 10s
*Average finish of 8.7
*Led seven races for 62 laps
Daytona International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 85.2
*One win, six top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
*Average finish of 16.8
*Finished 13th in February
*Led six of 29 races for 100 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*786 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most
3– Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.7
2008 Rundown
*One win, seven top fives, 11 top 10s
*Average finish of 11.4
*Led 12 races for 570 laps
Daytona International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 87.5
*Two wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s
*Average finish of 13.9
*Finished ninth in February
*Led 12 of 17 races for 331 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*359 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
4 — Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.0
2008 Rundown
*Three wins, six top fives, 12 top 10s
*Average finish of 11.5
*Led eight races for 395 laps
Daytona International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 78.1
*One top five
*Average finish of 24.7
*Finished 19th in February
*Led one of seven races for two laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Series-high 497 Fastest Laps Run
5 — Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.3
2008 Rundown
*One win, four top fives, eight top 10s
*Average finish of 13.8
*Led 12 races for 600 laps
Daytona International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 95.5
*One win, five top fives, eight top 10s; two poles
*Average finish of 13.2
*Finished 27th in February
*Led six of 13 races for 55 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Average Running Position of 10.6, second-most
6 — Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.4
2008 Rundown
*Seven top fives, eight top 10s
*Average finish of 13.9
*Led eight races for 211 laps
Daytona International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 91.9
*Six wins, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s; three poles
*Average finish of 14.7
*Finished 39th in February
*Led 23 of 31 races for 511 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Average Running Position of 12.3, sixth-best
7 — Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.2
2008 Rundown
*One win, five top fives, nine top 10s
*Average finish of 14.7
*Led nine races for 664 laps
Daytona International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 72.2
*Average finish of 27.0
*Finished 17th in February
*Led two of five races for 42 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Series-high 811 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green)
8 — Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.5
2008 Rundown
*Five top fives, seven top 10s
*Average finish of 14.8
*Led eight races for 283 laps
Daytona International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 78.8
*One win, three top 10s
*Average finish of 20.8
*Finished 10th in February
*Led four of 11 races for 30 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*257 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
9 — Tony Stewart (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.9
2008 Rundown
*Five top fives, eight top 10s
*Average finish of 16.5
*Led eight races for 520 laps
Daytona International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 108.1
*Two wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole
*Average finish of 17.6
*Finished third in February
*Led 10 of 19 races for 531 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*3,803 Laps in the Top 15 (72.3%), seventh-most
10 — Kasey Kahne (No. 9 Budweiser Dodge)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.5
2008 Rundown
*Two wins, three top fives, eight top 10s
*Average finish of 16.9
*Led seven races for 144 laps
Daytona International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 78.4
*Three top 10s
*Average finish of 18.1
*Finished seventh in February
*Led three of nine races for five laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*207 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
11 — Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel’s Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 80.4
2008 Rundown
*One win, four top fives, eight top 10s
*Average finish of 16.4
*Led four races for 150 laps
Daytona International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 88.0
*Three top 10s
*Average finish of 13.0
*Finished 24th in February
*Led two of five races for 59 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*158 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most
12 — Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.5
2008 Rundown
*Two top fives, five top 10s
*Average finish of 15.8
*Led four races for 88 laps
Daytona International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 83.2
*One win, three top fives, five top 10s; one pole
*Average finish of 16.2
*Finished 14th in February
*Led 10 of 14 races for 88 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*Eighth-fastest average Green Flag Speed rank
13 — Matt Kenseth (No. 14 DEWALT Ford)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.9
2008 Rundown
*Three top fives, 10 top 10s
*Average finish of 16.9; Led nine races for 191 laps
Daytona International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 92.4
*One top five, six top 10s
*Average finish of 20.4; Finished 36th in February
*Led nine of 17 races for 59 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*165 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
15 — Ryan Newman (No. 12 Alltel Dodge)
*Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 80.6
2008 Rundown
*One win, two top fives, six top 10s
*Average finish of 18.0
*Led six races for 60 laps
Daytona International Speedway Outlook:
*Driver Rating of 98.6
*One win, two top fives, three top 10s
*Average finish of 18.7; Won the Daytona 500 in February
*Led five of 13 races for 35 laps
Season-to-Date Loop Data Highlight
*19 “Closer” positions improved (positions improved in the last 10% of races), ninth-most
[NASCAR]
Sprint Cup top 12 and beyond heading into Daytona
No. 33 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Preview
June 30, 2008
No. 33 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Preview
DAVE BLANEY/CATERPILLAR RACING LENOX INDUSTRIAL TOOLS 301
June 30, 2008
DAVE BLANEY/CATERPILLAR RACING LENOX INDUSTRIAL TOOLS 301
KINGSFORD TEAM, AMBROSE, HANG TOUGH AT NEW HAMPSHIRE
June 30, 2008
KINGSFORD TEAM, AMBROSE, HANG TOUGH AT NEW HAMPSHIRE
Hornaday ‘Leaves the Building’ with Elvis after Dominating Win at Memphis
June 30, 2008
Hornaday ‘Leaves the Building’ with Elvis after Dominating Win at Memphis
Kevin Harvick No. 33 Camping World Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Camping World RV Sales 200 presented by RVs.com Race Recap
June 30, 2008
Reports: Almirola full time in the No 8, Martin in the No 5 full time in 2009
June 30, 2008
An official announcement that Aric Almirola will drive the No. 8 car at Dale Earnhardt Inc. full time next season will be made on Tuesday, sources close to the situation said.
DEI decided to put Aric Almirola in the No. 8 car full-time because he has developed a good relationship with crew chief Tony Gibson.
Meanwhile, Mark Martin is expected to announce this week at Daytona International Speedway plans to move from his part-time role in the 8 to a full-time ride in the No. 5 car at Hendrick Motorsports in 2009.
The decision to put Almirola into the U.S. Army-sponsored car full time had nothing to do with Martin’s decision to return to a full-time Sprint Cup schedule and make one last run at a championship, sources said.
It had more to do with advancing Almirola’s talents and taking advantage of the appeal he has shown with sponsors looking for a younger driver. One of those is U.S. Army, whose target audience fits the 24-year-old Almirola much more than the 49-year-old Martin.
Sources said DEI informed Martin during the All-Star race in May that the organization planned to move forward with Almirola in a full-time ride, either in the No. 8 or 01.
At that time, Martin expressed an interest in competing in more than the 15 to 19 races he was contracted to run next season at DEI.
It was decided soon afterwards that the 8 would be the best situation for Almirola because he had developed a good relationship with crew chief Tony Gibson while splitting time with Martin.
Almirola was eighth in his first start at Bristol and was 23rd on Sunday at New Hampshire.
Martin also made it known then that he had other opportunities, Hendrick one of them, to run a full-time schedule next season.
Martin was unavailable for comment. A team spokesman said he would address the media in Daytona.
Reports: Almirola full time in the No 8, Martin in the No 5 full time in 2009
Montoya vs Busch, Almirola vs Kahne, and Bowyer vs Hornish Jr
June 30, 2008
Montoya vs Busch, Almirola vs Kahne, and Bowyer vs Hornish Jr
Track Trash - Newbie Humpshire
June 30, 2008
Track Trash - Newbie Humpshire
Petty, Dallenbach to be at Daytona for book signing
June 30, 2008
NASCAR fans can meet Kyle Petty and Wally Dallenbach at a book-signing event Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.
Petty, Dallenbach to be at Daytona for book signing
Father of three Germain Racing team owners dies
June 30, 2008
Bob Germain Sr., 85, father of NASCAR team owners Bob Jr., Steve and Rick Germain, died peacefully at home while sleeping last Friday night. Germain was one of the most visible residents of Naples, Fla., and a pioneer of the Southwest Florida business community and chairman of the board of Germain Motor Company.
Father of three Germain Racing team owners dies
Montoya penalized by NASCAR at Loudon
June 30, 2008
Juan Pablo Montoya was assessed a two lap penalty for rough driving and not following race procedure following the conclusion of the rain-shortened Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Montoya penalized by NASCAR at Loudon
rowdy Racing 06-30-08
June 30, 2008
Kurt wins a weird rain soaked affair, Smoke lets another slip through his hands and Kyle gets what he asked for - a big ole punch in the mouth.
Gibbs drivers wondering what might’ve been at N.H.
June 30, 2008
If misery loves company, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Tony Stewart had to pick up a few thousand more fans after Sunday’s rain-whacked Lenox Industrial Tools 301.
Gibbs drivers wondering what might’ve been at N.H.
Impressive / Unimpressive: New Hampshire
June 30, 2008
Impressive / Unimpressive: New Hampshire
Taking a Risk, Kurt Busch Gambles on Fuel and Wins
June 30, 2008
Taking a Risk, Kurt Busch Gambles on Fuel and Wins
PHOTOS: New Hampshire weekend
June 30, 2008
Didn’t get to see the crashes and passes at New Hampshire? No worries, we’ve got the best moments from the weekend.
The Hot Pass: It ain’t over until it’s over
June 30, 2008
Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. But Kurt Busch and others created their luck in rainy New Hampshire, Lee Spencer says.
The Hot Pass: It ain’t over until it’s over
Rowdy Racing 06-28-08
June 29, 2008
Rowdy’s race preview with Pick of the Week, Track Facts and NASCAR Scene’s Jeff Owens.
Stewart races to another Nationwide win in 20 car
June 29, 2008
Aside from Tony Stewart becoming the 22nd different winner in 22 Nationwide Series races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the outcome of Saturday’s Camping World RV Sales 200 was more of the same for NASCAR’s Triple-A division.
Stewart races to another Nationwide win in 20 car
Braun Racing mourns passing of team member
June 29, 2008
On Wednesday, Braun Racing lost a beloved member of its team. Linda Braun, known as “Mama B” and mother of Nationwide Series team owner, Todd Braun, passed away suddenly of natural causes in her hometown of Winamac, Ind.
Braun Racing mourns passing of team member
Loss leaves Barrett, crew racing with heavy hearts
June 29, 2008
Stanton Barrett’s qualifying speed for Saturday’s Nationwide Series race wasn’t as fast as he had hoped. But it was easy to understand why his thoughts might have been far away from New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Loss leaves Barrett, crew racing with heavy hearts
Smith: New Hampshire’s two Cup dates are safe
June 29, 2008
New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s two Sprint Cup dates aren’t going anywhere, according to new track owner Bruton Smith.
Smith: New Hampshire’s two Cup dates are safe
Ganassi teams strong in practice sessions at NHMS
June 29, 2008
• Speeds: Practice 1 | Practice 2 | Practice 3
Ganassi teams strong in practice sessions at NHMS
NASCAR, teams discuss no-limits testing policy
June 29, 2008
When Sprint Cup officials met with series crew chiefs Saturday to discuss testing for next season, director John Darby threw out several options — including no limits on testing at all.