Here's a look at the Chasers going into the race this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway (stats provided by NASCAR):
1 - Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet) 6561 points, 2008 Rundown:
Seven wins, 15 top fives, 22 top 10s
Average finish of 10.4
Led 28 races for 1,953 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 85.0
Two top fives, five top 10s; one pole
Average finish of 13.4
Finished seventh last season
2 - Carl Edwards (No. 99 Office Depot Ford) 6420 points, 2008 Rundown:
Eight wins, 18 top fives, 26 top 10s
Average finish of 9.7
Led 20 races for 1,125 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 107.2
Two top fives, three top 10s; one pole
Average finish of 7.8
Finished fifth last season
3 - Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford) 6358 points, 2008 Rundown:
Two wins, 12 top fives, 17 top 10s
Average finish of 12.7
Led 20 races for 465 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 111.0
Three wins
Average finish of 12.7
Finished 13th last season
4 - Jeff Burton (No. 31 AT&T Mobility Chevrolet) 6292 points, 2008 Rundown:
Two wins, seven top fives, 18 top 10s
Average finish of 11.7
Led 11 races for 140 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 84.4
Three top fives, four top 10s
Average finish of 13.1
Finished eighth last season
5 - Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet) 6233 points, 2008 Rundown:
Six top fives, 18 top 10s
Average finish of 12.7
Led seven races for 191 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 88.4
Two top fives, five top 10s
Average finish of 10.1
Finished 19th last season
6 - Clint Bowyer (No. 07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet) 6266 points, 2008 Rundown:
One win, six top fives, 16 top 10s
Average finish of 14.3
Led six races for 188 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 84.4
One top 10
Average finish of 24.5 in two races
Finished 39th last season
7 - Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet) 6151 points, 2008 Rundown:
12 top fives, 18 top 10s
Average finish of 14.8
Led 19 races for 431 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 92.8
Four top fives, seven top 10s
Average finish of 10.6
Finished fourth last season
8 - Matt Kenseth (No. 14 DEWALT Ford) 6091 points, 2008 Rundown:
Nine top fives, 20 top 10s
Average finish of 16.2
Led 18 races for 531 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 115.6
One win, two top fives, three top 10s
Average finish of 20.0
Won last season's Homestead race
9 - Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota) 6090 points, 2008 Rundown:
One win, 12 top fives, 18 top 10s
Average finish of 15.5
Led 15 races for 766 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 81.8
Two top fives
Average finish of 13.0
Finished third last season
10 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrol) 6087 points, 2008 Rundown:
One win, 10 top fives, 16 top 10s
Average finish of 13.3
Led 22 races for 896 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 68.7
Average finish of 21.3
Finished 36th last season
11 - Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota) 6080 points, 2008 Rundown:
Eight wins, 17 top fives, 21 top 10s
Average finish of 12.3
Led 23 races for 1,673 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 76.6
Average finish of 33.0
Finished 20th last season
12 - Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Toyota) 6059 points, 2008 Rundown:
One win, 10 top fives, 15 top 10s
Average finish of 15.1
Led 14 races for 622 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
Driver Rating of 81.0
Two wins, three top fives, four top 10s
Average finish of 12.2
Finished 30th last season
Here's the NASCAR Newscast: Chase for the Sprint Cup Homestead-Miami Preview:
Qualifying for the Ford 400 is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. this afternoon.
I am so glad that the last race of the season is here. It's really too long of a season. I'm going with Greg Biffle for the win this weekend. Who do you think will win?
I can't bet against Biffle. I'll even say it less enthusiastically than Jen (if that is possible) that the season seems longer this year. Maybe because the outcome of the championship was dictated early in the chase? There certainly hasn't been a lot of great racing. I don't think it got discussed here, but did anyone get lost when they did the ABC to ESPN swap over last week?
I didn't get lost, but thought it was handled poorly, son of racefan. I would love to see Rowdy win Sunday.
Posted by MsBoogity November 14, 2008 08:44 PM
I'd like to see Jimmie win of course but since that probably wouldnt be the best idea-to wrestle at the beginning of the pack and risk getting wrecked. I'd like to see Jeff Gordon or Earnhardt Jr win the last race of the season. And as always GO JIMMIE!!!!
Jennifer is the newsroom
administrative assistant and
executive
assistant to the editor for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. She is married, lives in Pownal with her husband and son, and has been following NASCAR for many years.
About this blog:
I am hopeful that this will be a place where people can air their two cents' worth about a race, catch up on the gossip and share their opinions on the rules and regulations of NASCAR. I have always felt that there has been a need for such a place in Maine and that this blog helps to fill the void.
Subscribe