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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers.appHeader = "Drivers in the 2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2008 highlights
• Season Driver Rating: 107.3
• Seven wins, 15 top fives, 22 top 10s
• Average finish of 10.5
• Led 29 races for 1,959 laps
• Series-best Average Running Position of 10.1
Finished the 2008 season in first place
Ford 400: Clinching a special spot in the NASCAR record books, Jimmie Johnson earned his third consecutive Sprint Cup championship with a 15th-place finish in Florida. All he needed to win was to finish 36th or higher.
Remained in first in the Chase standings after nine races
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500: Jimmie Johnson won for the seventh time in the 2008 season, dominating virtually the entire race in Phoenix. He led a race-high 217 laps and raced in the top 10 for 312 of the race's 313 laps. Johnson also started the race in first.
Remained in first place in the Chase standings after eight races
Dickies 500: Jimmie Johnson finished in 15th place in Texas, one lap down. He had trouble early on with a car that was difficult to handle. While his team determined the changes that needed to be made, he never was able to race back onto the lead lap.
Remained in first place in the Chase standings after seven races
Pep Boys Auto 500: Despite being flagged for speeding on pit road early in the race and dropping one lap off the pace, Jimmie Johnson masterfully worked his way back up through the field. He was 11th with eight laps to go but picked off cars in the final laps to finish in second.
Remained in first place in the Chase standings after six races
TUMS QuikPak 500: Jimmie Johnson added a little padding to his Sprint Cup lead, winning for the sixth time this season. Leading for a race-high 339 laps of the 504-lap race, he finished in the same position in which he started: first. The victory at Martinsville was his fourth in the last five races at the track.
Remained in first place in the Chase standings after five races
Bank of America 500: Jimmie Johnson led a race-high 67 laps at Lowe's Motor Speedway, but he was unable to finish in first. Johnson was in second as late as Lap 318, but then he faded and finished in sixth place.
Remained in first place in the Chase standings after four races
• Amp Energy 500: Jimmie Johnson managed to avoid a 12-car accident with 16 laps to go at Talladega and finished in ninth place. The finish was high enough to keep him in first and increase his lead over second by 72 points.
Surpassed Carl Edwards for first in the Chase standings after three races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman: Jimmie Johnson looked to be assured of the Kansas win after reclaiming the lead on Lap 220 of 267, but Carl Edwards made it close at the end. Johnson held off the charge of the No. 99 car, however, and earned the win.
Dropped into second in the Chase standings after two races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA: Ford cars swept the first three places in Dover, but Chevrolet cars took the next six spots. Driving one of those Chevys, Jimmie Johnson finished fifth after leading three times for 81 laps.
Moved up from third to a tie for first in the Chase standings after one race
• Sylvania 300: After leading a race-high 96 laps in New Hampshire, Jimmie Johnson wasn't able to hold on for the win. Greg Biffle passed him with 12 laps to go, but Johnson finished second and moved into a tie atop the Chase standings with Carl Edwards.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Birthdate: Sept. 17, 1975
Hometown: El Cajon, Calif.
Resides: Charlotte, N.C.
Hobbies: Snowboarding, biking, golf
Car: No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
• Johnson and his wife, Chandra, founded the Jimmie Johnson Foundation in 2006 to assist children, families and communities in need throughout the United States
• During the 2000 season, Johnson was selected as one of People Magazine’s “Sexiest Men in the Fast Lane,” along with other NASCAR drivers
• Johnson was the youngest driver ever in the Mickey Thompson Stadium Truck Series
• Johnson and Jeff Gordon joined World Superbike champion Colin Edwards in Europe, and won the 2002 Race of Champions Nations Cup, an annual event pitting the world’s best rally, motorcycle and circuit racers against one another in head-to-head competition.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "• Heads into the Chase third in the standings with 5,040 points
• Four wins on the year – Phoenix (4/12); Indianapolis (7/27); California (8/31); and Richmond (9/7).
• In 26 starts, he has nine top fives and 14 top 10s
• Four poles this season at Daytona (2/18); Indianapolis (7/27); Pocono (8/3); and California (8/31)
• One DNF on the year – Charlotte (5/25).
• Has been in the top-12 in the standings since Martinsville (3/30) and has remained there for 19 straight weeks. ";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Best championship finish: First (2006, 2007)
• In 2007, he won the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship for the second consecutive season. He posted eight top-10 finishes including four wins at Martinsville (10/21); Atlanta (10/28); Texas (11/4) and Phoenix (11/11). He also posted three poles during the Chase at Dover (9/23); Kansas (9/30); and Homestead (11/18).
• In 2006 he came back from ninth in the Chase standings to win the championship with six top 10s which included a win at Martinsville (10/22) and four second-place finishes.
• In 2005 he finished fifth in the standings with seven top-10 finishes including two wins at Dover (9/25) and Charlotte (10/15).
• In 2004 he finished second in the standings, eight points behind Kurt Busch. He posted seven top-10 finishes including wins at Charlotte (10/16); Martinsville (10/24); Atlanta (10/31); and Darlington (11/14). ";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Prior to the 2008 Chase
Career Starts: 245
Career Wins: 37
Career Poles: 17
Best Points Finish: 1st (2006, '07)
First Full Season: 2002
First Start: Oct. 7, 2001 (Charlotte)
First Win: April 28, 2002 (California)
First Pole: Feb. 9, 2002 (Daytona)
• 2006 and 2007 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion
• 2006 Daytona 500 champion
• Top-five finish in final points, in all six NASCAR Sprint Cup seasons
• Series runner-up in 2003 and ’04
• Coca-Cola 600 champion in 2003, ’04 and ’05";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2007: Won second consecutive series title. ... Finished with 10 wins, 20 top fives, 24 top 10s and four poles. ... Became first driver since Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon in ’97 and ’98 to win consecutive series titles; also the first since Gordon in ’98 to win 10 races in a season. ... Became 15th driver to win multiple titles in NASCAR’s premier series. ... Became 14th driver in series history to win consecutive titles. ... Four consecutive wins late in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup solidified title run. ... Came from 68 points behind Gordon following season’s 31st race to win title by 77 points over Gordon. ... One of only two drivers (Matt Kenseth is the other) to qualify for all four “Chases.”
2006: Won the series title. ... Finished with five wins, 13 top fives, 24 top 10s and one pole. ... His 24 top 10s led the series. ... Spent all 36 weeks of the season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup top 10. ... Won Daytona 500. ... Also won his first events at Talladega Superspeedway (in May) and at Indianapolis (in August). Other two victories came at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway.... Pole came at Martinsville (in April).
2005: Finished fifth in series points. ... Won four races in his fourth season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, including the season sweep at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, which included a third consecutive Coca-Cola 600 win. Johnson is the first driver to win three straight Coca-Cola 600s. ... Other victories came at the September event at Dover and Las Vegas.
2004: Finished second in series points, only eight behind champion Kurt Busch, in the closest championship finish in NASCAR Sprint Cup history. ... Led points for nine race weeks during season. ... Led series in wins with eight and top fives with 20. ... Started Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup fifth in the standings, and dropped to ninth after first three races of Chase. Rallied by winning four of the year’s last six races, including three consecutive (Charlotte- Martinsville-Atlanta). ... Had three season sweeps, winning both events held at Darlington, Charlotte and Pocono.... Repeated as Coca-Cola 600 champion and also won the Southern 500. ... String of 70 consecutive weeks in series’ top 10 ended in Week 2, after 41st-place finish at Rockingham.
2003: Finished second in series points. ... Spent all 36 weeks in the standings’ top 10, the only driver to do so. Started 2004 with a string of 69 consecutive weeks in the points standings’ top 10, best among active drivers. ... Finished two spots above his car owner, Jeff Gordon, in the top 10. ... Season highlight was winning rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 in May at Charlotte, one week after winning the all-star event, a non-points event also held at Charlotte.... Swept season events at New Hampshire. ... Ended season by finishing in the top three in the last six events to secure runner- up finish in series championship.
2002: Finished fifth in series points as a rookie. ... Won Daytona 500 pole in fourth career start. ... First career victory (at California) came in 13th start. ... Won three races (California and both Dover races). ... Became first rookie in series history to sweep both races at a track. ... Led point standings for one week following Kansas in September.
2001: Finished 52nd in series points. ... Made series debut with three starts, best finish 25th at Homestead.
More:
• Finished eighth in NASCAR Nationwide Series points in 2001, driving for Herzog Motorsports
• Earned first career NASCAR Nationwide Series victory in the series’ first race at Chicagoland Speedway
• During first full season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, had six top-10 finishes and finished 10th in the point standings
• In 1999, started five NASCAR Nationwide Series races, led 22 laps and collected one top-10 finish
• Won Rookie of the Year honors in the ASA ACDelco Challenge Series in 1998
• Johnson won six off-road racing championships, including two MTEG Superlite championships (1992, '95), the 1992 Miller Challenge Superlite title, the 1993 SCORE Class 10 Desert championship, and two SODA Winter Series Overall titles (1996, '97)
• Also was named 1991 MTEG Rookie of the Year in the Superlite Class and 1995 SCORE Rookie of the Year
• Began racing in motocross events at age five.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2008 highlights
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 108.6
• Nine wins, 19 top fives, 27 top 10s
• Average finish of 9.5
• Led 21 races for 1,282 laps
• Series-high 1,091 Fastest Laps Run
Finished the 2008 season in second place
Ford 400: Clearly the fastest and best car on the track the entire day, Carl Edwards ultimately won on the Homestead-Miami track by staying on the track and gambling on fuel late in the race. Still, even that exemplary performance wasn't enough to earn him the series championship, as he finished 69 points behind champion Jimmie Johnson. Edwards led a race-high 157 laps en route to his series-high ninth win of the season.
Remained in second in the Chase standings after nine races
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500: By finishing the Phoenix race in fourth, Carl Edwards lost ground to Jimmie Johnson in the Chase standings. He ran 205 laps in the top 10 but never led.
Remained in second place in the Chase standings after eight races
Dickies 500: Despite leading 212 of the race's 334 laps, Carl Edwards needed a daring move at the end of the race to win for the second straight week. He gambled by not going in for fuel when his competitors were, and it paid off.
Moved up two places to second in the Chase standings after seven races
Pep Boys Auto 500: An aggressive strategy paid off for Carl Edwards in Atlanta, as he made a daring jump beneath Denny Hamlin on a restart on Lap 309 to take a lead he would not relinquish. Those final 17 laps were part of the 98 total Edwards led throughout the race. Despite Edwards' win, Jimmie Johnson increased his cushion atop the Chase standings.
Remained in fourth place in the Chase standings after six races
TUMS QuikPak 500: Despite finishing in third place in Martinsville, Carl Edwards couldn't improve his Chase position. He did, however, break up a Hendrick 1-2-3, bumping Jeff Gordon to a fourth-place finish. Edwards took advantage of a good car and ran in the top five for the majority of the race.
Dropped down to fourth place in the Chase standings after five races
Bank of America 500: Ignition problems ruined Carl Edwards' day at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He couldn't get the engine to fire in lap 68 and had to be towed to pit road. His team eventually got him back on track, but by that point he was 16 laps down. Edwards finished in 33rd place.
Remained in second place in the Chase standings after four races
• Amp Energy 500: When Carl Edwards tried to give Roush Fenway Racing teammate Greg Biffle a bump to the front with 16 laps to go, he inadvertently sent Biffle spinning into fellow teammate Matt Kenseth and sparked a 12-car accident. Edwards apologized following the race and finished in 29th place.
Dropped from first to second in the Chase standings after three races, trailing new leader Jimmie Johnson by 10 points
• Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman: Despite starting in 34th and getting bumped a number of times, Carl Edwards came close to winning in Kansas. Instead, even a strategic bounce off the concrete wall on the final couldn't give him the momentum he needed to pass Jimmie Johnson. Edwards finished in second.
Earned sole possession of first place in the Chase standings after two races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA: Carl Edwards led the second-most laps (85) but finished third in a 1-2-3 finish with Roush Fenway Racing teammates Greg Biffle (who won) and Matt Kenseth in Dover.
Moved up from second to first in the Chase standings after one race
• Sylvania 300: Carl Edwards finished third in New Hampshire and moved into a tie atop the Chase standings with Jimmie Johnson. He led early in the race and was in the top five for most of the afternoon.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Birthdate: Aug. 15, 1979
Hometown: Columbia, Mo.
Resides: Mooresville, N.C.
Hobbies: Riding dirt bikes, remote-control cars, weightlifting
Car: No. 99 Office Depot Ford
Team: Roush Fenway Racing
• Was college student at the University of Missouri and a part-time substitute teacher prior to signing with Roush Fenway Racing
• Father Mike won more than 200 feature races driving modified stock cars and midgets at several Midwestern tracks
• Works with children’s charities at home and on the road.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "• Heads into the Chase second in the standings with 5,050 points
• Six wins on the year – California (2/25); Las Vegas (3/02); Texas (4/06); Pocono (8/03); Michigan (8/17); and Bristol (8/23).
• In 26 starts, he has 11 top fives and 19 top 10s
• One pole this season at Bristol (8/23).
• One DNF on the year – Atlanta (3/09).
• Has been in the top-12 in the standings since Texas (4/6) and has remained there for 20 straight weeks. ";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Best championship finish: Third (2005)
• In 2007, finished ninth in the Chase posting one win at Dover (9/23), four top fives and one pole at Phoenix (11/11).
• In 2006, failed to make the Chase, but he went on to finish the season 12th in the standings. It was his first full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup season he did not make the Chase.
• In 2005, ran his first full season in NASCAR Sprint Cup and finished third in the series standings with nine top-10 finishes including wins at Atlanta (10/30) and Texas (11/6).
• In 2004, did not participate in a full season in NASCAR Sprint Cup, he only ran 13 races but posted five top-10 finishes during that time. ";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Prior to the 2008 Chase
Career Starts: 147
Career Wins: 13
Career Poles: 4
Best Points Finish: 3rd (2005)
First Full Season: 2005
First Start: Aug. 22, 2004 (Michigan)
First Win: March 20, 2005 (Atlanta)
First Pole: Sept. 4, 2005 (California)
• Finished third in the 2005 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings
• 2007 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion
• 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2007: Finished ninth in series points. ... Won three races, ending 52-race winless streak. Wins came at Michigan (June), Bristol (August) and Dover (September). ... Win at Bristol secured second career appearance in Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Started as fourth seed in Chase. ... Led 12 races for a total of 515 laps. ... Was in the top 10 in points for the final 26 weeks of the season.
2006: Finished 12th in series points. ... Experienced sophomore slump, going winless after winning four races in rookie campaign. ... Finished the season with 10 top five and 20 top-10 finishes. ... Spent the final seven weeks of the season in 12th place, his highest position in the standings all year. ... Best finish was second at Michigan (August) and Dover (September).
2005: Finished third in series points. ... Finished with 13 top fives and 18 top 10s. ... Entered the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in eighth place. ... Won four races, including a sweep of the races at Atlanta in March (his first series career win) and October. Also won at Pocono in June and Texas in November.... Captured his first career pole at California in September.
2004: Finished 37th in series points. ... Finished with one top five, five top 10s and two DNFs in 13 starts. ... Followed Jeff Burton in the No. 99 after Burton moved to Richard Childress Racing in August. ... Started 13 of the final 14 races, the exception being the October event at Lowe’s Motor Speedway; that day, Edwards finished ninth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Texas. ... Finished 10th in his first series start in August at Michigan, becoming one of only five active drivers to post a top-10 finish in their first series race.
More:
• Won 2007 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship and finished the season with four wins, 15 top fives and 21 top 10s
• Has 13 NASCAR Nationwide Series wins in 106 career starts
• Finished second in 2006 NASCAR Nationwide Series standings with four wins and 25 top-10 finishes
• Was third in 2005 NASCAR Nationwide Series standings
• Finished fourth in the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points with six wins, nine top-five and 17 top-10 finishes
• Won 2003 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors
• Won the Baby Grand Stock Car Association national championship in 2002
• Won two NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championships at Capital Speedway near Jefferson City, Mo., in modifieds in 1999 and pro modifieds in 2000.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2008 highlights
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.4
• Two wins, 12 top fives, 17 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.9
• Led 20 races for 465 laps
• 501 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
Finished the 2008 season in third place
Ford 400: An 18th-place finish in Florida was enough to keep Greg Biffle third overall in the standings. A free pass on Lap 169 brought him back to the lead lap after an early pit road speeding penalty put him at the back of the pack.
Remained in third place in the Chase standings after nine races
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500: Greg Biffle made up 20 positions from the start of the race to the end to finish in 11th. At one point he was even in first, leading seven laps throughout the race.
Remained in third place in the Chase standings after eight races
Dickies 500: After starting the race in 19th place, Greg Biffle quickly made his way up through the field. He raced in the top five much of the day before finishing in fifth.
Dropped to third place in the Chase standings after seven races
Pep Boys Auto 500: Greg Biffle ran in the top five for much of the early part of the race but faded in the middle. He needed a free pass on Lap 210 to get back on the lead lap, after which he worked his way up to a final finish of 10th.
Moved up into second place in the Chase standings after six races
TUMS QuikPak 500: Leading nine laps to pick up five bonus points and finishing in 12th place, Greg Biffle moved ahead of Jeff Burton and into second place in the Chase. Biffle almost didn't finish on the lead lap, however, as pit strategy left him a lap down late in the race. He needed a free pass on a Lap 485 caution to be bumped up.
Remained in third place in the Chase standings after five races
Bank of America 500: After inheriting the lead in Lap 267 when Reed Sorenson took a pit stop, Greg Biffle could only hold off Jeff Burton for 10 laps before getting bumping from first. Biffle led a total of 16 laps at Lowe's Motor Speedway and finished in seventh place.
Remained in third place in the Chase standings after four races
• Amp Energy 500: While battling for the lead along with Roush Fenway Racing teammates Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle spun out and took numerous other Chase contenders with him. Biffle finished in 24th place.
Remained in third place in the Chase standings after three races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman: Continuing his surprising Chase run, Greg Biffle passed Jeff Gordon on the last lap to finish in third at the Kansas Speedway.
Remained in third place in the Chase standings after two races (has the same number of points as Jimmie Johnson, but Johnson holds the tiebreaker)
• Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA: Building on his win the previous week, Greg Biffle took the checkered flag for the second straight race. He passed Matt Kenseth with nine laps remaining to lead a 1-2-3 finish for Roush Fenway Racing.
Moved up from ninth to third in the Chase standings after one race
• Sylvania 300: Greg Biffle's first win in 33 races propelled him from ninth to third in the Chase standings. Biffle took advantage of two late cautions and passed Jimmie Johnson with just 12 laps remaining. He then held on to take the checkered flag. ";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Birthdate: Dec. 23, 1969
Hometown: Vancouver, WA.
Resides: Mooresville, N.C.
Hobbies: Flying, fishing
Car: No. 16 3M Ford
Team: Roush Fenway Racing
• Is the only driver in NASCAR history to win both the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championships, and the only driver to win Raybestos Rookie of the Year awards in both series
• Delivered Roush Fenway Racing’s first NASCAR title by winning the 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship
• Won 27 races in 43 starts during NASCAR Whelen All-American Series competition in 1995.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "• Heads into the Chase ninth in the standings with 5,000 points
• Has not won this season
• In 26 starts, has 8 top fives and 11 top 10s
• Two poles this season at Darlington (5/13) and Dover (6/1)
• Two DNFs on the year – Darlington (5/13) and Daytona (7/07)
• Has been in the top-12 in the standings since Daytona (2/18), and has remained there for 25 straight weeks ";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Past Chases","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_GregBiffle4_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Greg Biffle", "", "", "", "", "", "Todd Warshaw", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "273", "396", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Best championship finish: Second (2005)
• In 2007, he failed to make he Chase, but went on to finish 14th in the standings. He posted four top-10 finishes including a win at Kansas (9/30) and a pole at Atlanta (10/28).
• In 2006, he failed to make the Chase, but went on to finish 13th in the standings. He posted three top-10 finishes in the 10 races of the Chase; including a win at Homestead (11/19).
• In 2005 he finished second in the standings with six top-10 finishes including one win at Homestead (11/20).";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Career stats and highlights","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_GregBiffle2_v.vlarge.jpg","","Image: Greg Biffle", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "", "358", "274", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Prior to the 2008 Chase
Career Starts: 212
Career Wins: 12
Career Poles: 6
Best Points Finish: 2nd (2005)
First Full Season: 2003
First Start: April 28, 2002 (California)
First Win: July 5, 2003 (Daytona)
First Pole: Feb. 15, 2004 (Daytona)
• Finished second in the 2005 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings, claiming six victories
• Only driver to win NASCAR Nationwide Series (2002) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2000) titles
• 2001 NASCAR Nationwide Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year
• 1998 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","History","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2007: Finished 14th in series points. ... Won at Kansas to pick up win in fifth consecutive season. ... Led seven races for a total of 78 laps. Led 37 laps at Kansas, a personal high for the season. ... Earned only pole of season at Atlanta in October.... Finished 13th at Homestead after winning three straight races at the track.
2006: Finished 13th in series points. ... Won Darlington race for the second consecutive season. ... Win at Homestead was his third consecutive at the track. ... Captured poles at Las Vegas and Richmond (May). ... Led the most laps in a race four different times. ... Put together streak of seven consecutive top-10 finishes in June and July, the longest such streak of his career.... Finished season with two wins, eight top fives and 15 top 10s.
2005: Finished second in series points. ... Captured a series-high six wins at Fontana (February), Texas (April), Darlington (May), Dover (June), Michigan (June) and Homestead (November). ... Win by 0.017 seconds over Mark Martin at Homestead was the closest finish of the year and the eighth-closest since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993. ... Entered the standings for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in second place.
2004: Finished 17th in series points. ... Captured his first career pole at the season-opening Daytona 500. ... Won two races - the August event at Michigan and the season finale at Homestead. ... Became second driver in history to complete the full NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series schedules in the same season. ... Finished third in the final NASCAR Nationwide Series point standings with five wins.
2003: Finished 20th in series points. ... Won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway, his first career win, by holding off teammate Jeff Burton and Bobby Labonte in the closing laps. The victory came in his 23rd start. ... Finished with three top fives, six top 10s and seven DNFs. ... Started 35 of 36 races, missing only the season’s third event (Las Vegas) when he failed to qualify.... Finished second to Jamie McMurray in Raybestos Rookie of the Year competition. ... Was the top-finishing rookie in nine races.
2002: Finished 48th in series points. ... Made series debut at California in No. 16 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing. ... Also made four starts in No. 55 Chevrolet subbing for Bobby Hamilton, and two starts for Petty Enterprises. ... Qualified in the top five at three events. ... Finished a season-best 13th at California. ... Drove the No. 44 Dodge for Petty at Rockingham and the season finale at Homestead, finishing 25th in both events. ... Won the 2002 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship.
More:
• A superb example of NASCAR’s developmental system, Biffle progressed through every level in NASCAR racing before making his series debut in 2002
• He was the 2002 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion
• The 2001 NASCAR Nationwide Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year
• The 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion
• Earned nine Craftsman Truck Series victories in 1999 and finished second in points
• He was the 1998 Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year
• Participated in the Raybestos Brakes Northwest Series, a NASCAR Touring Division in 1997, capturing one victory
• Competed in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series from 1994-1997, earning Late Model track championships at Tri City Raceway in West Richland, Wash. and Portland (Ore.) Speedway.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","4. Kevin Harvick - 6408","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","2008 Chase","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080910_KevinHarvick_v.vlarge.jpg","","Image: Kevin Harvick", "", "", "", "", "left", "Nam Y. Huh", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "249", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2008 highlights
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.0
• Seven top fives, 19 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.4
• Led eight races for 192 laps
• Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 69.0%, ninth-best
Finished the 2008 season in fourth place
Ford 400: After racing in the top five for much of the afternoon, Kevin Harvick earned a second-place finish for the second time in the 2008 season.
Jumped up to fifth place in the Chase standings after nine races
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500: Kevin Harvick was seventh in Phoenix, which moved him out of seventh and into fifth in the Chase standings. While Harvick never raced up front, he was in the top 10 for 213 of the 313 laps.
Dropped to seventh place in the Chase standings after eight races
Dickies 500: Despite finishing on the lead lap in seventh place, Kevin Harvick fell two spots in the Chase standings. Still, his final position was an improvement from his starting one of 23rd.
Moved up to fifth place in the Chase standings after seven races
Pep Boys Auto 500: Slipping from his starting spot of sixth almost immediately into the race, Kevin Harvick raced 162 laps in the top 10 but finished in 13th place in Atlanta.
Remained in sixth place in the Chase standings after six races
TUMS QuikPak 500: Kevin Harvick finished just one spot lower than he started, crossing the finish line in Martinsville in seventh place.
Remained in sixth place in the Chase standings after five races
Bank of America 500: After starting the race in sixth, Kevin Harvick didn't have a good car early on and dropped out of the top 10. He finished in 13th.
Dropped to sixth place in the Chase standings after four races
• Amp Energy 500: Kevin Harvick was caught up in the 12-car wreck toward the end of the race, and he called out Carl Edwards for the mistake. Prior to accident, Harvick had led a total of 22 laps, the second-most in the field. He finished in 20th.
Remained in fifth place in the Chase standings after three races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman: For the second straight week, Kevin Harvick finished in sixth place. He improved 30 spots during the Kansas race after starting in 36th.
Jumped up from 10th to fifth in the Chase standings after two races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA: With a sixth-place finish in Delaware, Kevin Harvick made the biggest positive move in the Chase standings. Harvick led one lap in Dover.
Moved up from 11th to 10th in the Chase standings after one race
• Sylvania 300: Kevin Harvick started in 11th but dropped back to 20th early in the race. His team was able to make changes on his car, however, and Harvick ended the day in New Hampshire in 10th. Harvick flip-flopped places with Jeff Gordon in the Chase standings, moving into 10th.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Personal","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_KevinHarvick3_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Kevin Harvick", "", "", "", "", "", "Jason Smith", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "273", "384", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Birthdate: Dec. 8, 1975
Hometown: Bakersfield, Calif.
Resides: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Hobbies: Radio-controlled race cars
Car: No. 29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet
Team: Richard Childress Racing
• Kevin and his wife, DeLana, were married in Las Vegas in February 2001, two days after he made his debut in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
• Won the 2002 IROC championship in his rookie season
• Favorite track is Bristol Motor Speedway.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","2008 regular season recap","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_KevinHarvick4_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Kevin Harvick", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "273", "378", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "• Heads into the Chase 11th in the standings with 5,000 points
• Has not won this season
• In 26 starts, has 6 top fives and 12 top 10s
• Zero poles this season
• Zero DNFs on the year
• Has been in the top-12 in the standings since Pocono (8/03) and has remained there for 6 straight weeks. ";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Past Chases","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_KevinHarvick2_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Kevin Harvick", "", "", "", "", "", "Doug Pensinger", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "273", "423", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Best championship finish: Fourth (2006)
• In 2007, finished 10th in the Chase with four top-10 finishes and five top-10 starts.
• In 2006, finished fourth in the Chase with six top-10 finishes including wins at New Hampshire (9/17) and Phoenix (11/12). He took an early lead in the 2006 Chase after winning at New Hampshire from the pole, but a 32nd-place finish at Dover (9/24) knocked him off the top spot.
• In 2005, failed to make the Chase, but went on to finish the season 14th in the standings posting three top 10s in the 10 races that make up the Chase.
• In 2004, failed to make the Chase, but went on to finish the season 14th in the standings posting four top 10s in the 10 races that make up the Chase ";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Career stats and highlights","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_KevinHarvick1_v.vlarge.jpg","","Image: Kevin Harvick", "", "", "", "", "left", "Rusty Jarrett", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "358", "244", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Prior to the 2008 Chase
Career Starts: 276
Career Wins: 11
Career Poles: 5
Best Points Finish: 4th (2006)
First Full Season: 2001
First Start: Feb. 26, 2001 (Rockingham)
First Win: March 11, 2001 (Atlanta)
First Pole: July 4, 2002 (Daytona)
• 2007 winner of Daytona 500
• 2001 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year
• 2001 and 2006 NASCAR Nationwide Series champion
• 2000 NASCAR Nationwide Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year
• 1998 NASCAR Camping World Series, West champion";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","History","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2007: Finished 10th in series points. ... Started year in grand style, winning Daytona 500 by only .020-second over Mark Martin. ... Qualified for Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, but highest advancement in the Chase standings was fifth. ... Finished second in road-course race at Sonoma.
2006: Finished fourth in series points. ... Qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the first time, and won second NASCAR Nationwide Series crown. ... Victory at Watkins Glen was first road-course win in NASCAR Sprint Cup. ... Won first Chase race, at New Hampshire, to take over the series points lead. Engine problem the following week at Dover led to 32nd-place finish and a drop to fifth in the Chase standings. ... Five victories included a sweep of the two Phoenix races.
2005: Finished 14th in series points. ... Sole victory came at Bristol spring race. ... Had poles at Talladega spring race and Richmond fall race. ... Season-high points position was sixth, after Bristol win. ... Fell out of contention for Chase field with only one top-10 finish in the 10 races preceding Chase “cut-off” race at Richmond.
2004: Finished 14th in series points. ... Scored career-best finish at Daytona 500 with a fourth-place finish. ... Posted five top fives and 14 top 10s, his best a second-place effort at Talladega. ... First season without a win. ... Placed on probation in June and November for separate incidents.
2003: Finished fifth in series points. ... Season highlight was winning the pole and the race at Indianapolis. ... Crew chief Todd Berrier replaced Gil Martin beginning with Bristol event in March. ... Win at Indianapolis began a five-race streak of top-five finishes, solidifying him as a title contender. ... Improved to second in points after a fourth-place finish at Dover in September. ... Slid to sixth in the championship race after finishing 20th at Atlanta and 34th at Phoenix.
2002: Finished 21st in series points. ... Won at Chicagoland Speedway, his second consecutive win at the track. .... Finished season with five top fives and eight top 10s. ... Started on the pole at Daytona for the Pepsi 400. ... Placed on probation in April for incident in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
2001 Finished ninth in series points. ... Earned Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in NASCAR Sprint Cup and won the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship. ... Competed in 35 races, taking over as driver of the Chevrolets owned by Richard Childress after the death of seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt in season-opening Daytona 500. ... Won in his third career start, edging Jeff Gordon at Atlanta Motor Speedway by .006 second. ... Won inaugural race at Chicagoland Speedway. ...Counting one start in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ran 69 races in NASCAR’s top three series.
More:
• Won Raybestos Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2000, winning three races and two poles on his way to a third-place finish in points
• Ran the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 1999, with 11 top-10 finishes
• Won 1998 NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series championship
• Was Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Southwest Series in 1995, winning at Tucson and finishing 11th in points
• Won the 1993 Late Model championship at Mesa Marin Raceway in his hometown of Bakersfield, Calif
• Began racing go-karts at age 5, winning seven national titles and two Grand National championships.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","5. Clint Bowyer - 6381","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","2008 Chase","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080910_ClintBowyer_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Clint Bowyer", "", "", "", "", "", "Terry Renna", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "273", "427", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2008 highlights
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 82.8
• One win, seven top fives, 17 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.1
• Led six races for 188 laps
• 241 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
Finished the 2008 season in fifth place
Ford 400: Having already clinched top Nationwide Series honors for 2008, Clint Bowyer rounded out the top five both in the Florida race and in the series standings. His fifth-place race finish was a big improvement on his starting position of 27th.
Remained in sixth place in the Chase standings after nine races
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500: Clint Bowyer was the highest finisher among those never to drive a lap in the top 10 in Phoenix. He crossed the finish line in 12th place.
Moved up to sixth place in the Chase standings after eight races
Dickies 500: Clint Bowyer was in second place as late as Lap 318, but he had to pit and finished in fourth. Bowyer was in the top five for much of the day after starting in third place, and he led the third-most laps (36).
Dropped to seventh in the Chase standings after seven races
Pep Boys Auto 500: Clint Bowyer clipped Juan Pablo Montoya on pit road late in the race, causing damage to both their cars and forced Bowyer to return to pit road the next lap for fixes. Bowyer had trouble with a loose car most of the afternoon and finished in 20th.
Remained in fifth place in the Chase standings after six races
TUMS QuikPak 500: Clint Bowyer ran as high as second early in Sunday's race, but he had dropped a bit by the end and finished in ninth.
Remained in fifth place in the Chase standings after five races
Bank of America 500: Crashing in the final practice session didn't hamper Clint Bowyer too badly, as he ran in the top five often at Lowe's Motor Speedway and finished in 12th place.
Jumped up three spots to fifth place in the Chase standings after four races
• Amp Energy 500: Rounding out the top five in Talladega, Clint Bowyer earned a big boost in the Chase standings.
Dropped one spot to seventh after three Chase races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman: Clint Bowyer was running in the top 10 with fewer than 50 laps to go in Kansas, but he was hit with a pit road speeding violation and sent to the back. Bowyer finished the race in 12th place.
Moved up three spots into sixth after two races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA: Clint Bowyer led once for two laps and finished the race in eighth.
Fell from fifth to ninth in the Chase standings after one race
• Sylvania 300: Clint Bowyer won the Chase-opening race in 2007, but he finished 12th this time around. He got out of the groove on Lap 273 and tumbled from 10th to 17th was was never able to totally regain the ground he had lost. Because so many of his fellow Chasers finished ahead of him, Bowyer fell from fifth to ninth in the standings.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Personal","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_ClintBowyer1_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Clint Bowyer", "", "", "", "", "", "Jonathan Moore", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "273", "387", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Birthdate: May 30, 1979
Hometown: Emporia, Kan.
Resides: Clemmons, N.C.
Hobbies: Hot rods, go-karts and motorcycles
Car: No. 07 Jack Daniels Chevrolet
Team: Richard Childress Racing
• Bowyer caught the eye of legendary car owner Richard Childress following a 2003 ARCA race at Nashville where he finished second. After that race, Childress tracked down Bowyer, who was at a fabrication shop in his hometown of Emporia, Kan. When told that someone from RCR was on the phone, wanting to talk about hiring him, Bowyer almost didn’t take the call, thinking that someone was pulling a practical joke.
• Bowyer is a huge Elvis Presley fan; one of his main off-track highlights of 2005 was meeting Presley’s daughter Lisa Marie during the NASCAR Nationwide Series race weekend in Memphis.
• Bowyer’s favorite sports teams to follow are University of Kansas basketball and the Kansas City Chiefs.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","2008 regular season recap","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_ClintBowyer2_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Clint Bowyer", "", "", "", "", "", "Todd Warshaw", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "273", "400", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "• Heads into the Chase fifth in the standings with 5,010 points
• One win on the year – Richmond (5/03).
• In 26 starts, has four top fives and 12 top 10s
• Zero poles this season
• Zero DNFs on the year
• Has been in the top-12 in the standings since Bristol (8/23) and has remained there for 3 straight weeks. ";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Past Chases","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_ClintBowyer3_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Clint Bowyer", "", "", "", "", "", "Rusty Jarrett", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "273", "404", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Best championship finish: Third (2007)
• In 2007, finished third in the Chase with five top-10 finishes including winning at New Hampshire (9/16) from the pole.
• In 2006, failed to make the Chase, but went on to finish the season 17th in the standings posting four top 10s in the 10 races that make up the Chase.
• In 2005, participated full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and only ran one race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Phoenix and finished 22nd.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Career stats and highlights","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_ClintBowyer4_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Clint Bowyer", "", "", "", "", "", "Rusty Jarrett", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "273", "389", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Prior to the 2008 Chase
Career Starts: 99
Career Wins: 2
Career Poles: 2
Best Points Finish: 3rd (2007)
First Full Season: 2006
First Start: April 23, 2005 (Phoenix)
First Win: Sept. 16, 2007 (New Hampshire)
First Pole: May 13, 2007 (Darlington)
• Third in 2007 final NASCAR Sprint Cup standings
• First NASCAR Sprint Cup victory in September 2007 at New Hampshire
• 2005 runner-up in NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings
• 2002 NASCAR Weekly Series Midwest Region champion";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","History","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2007: Finished third in series points. ... Started from the pole and got first series victory to lead off the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, at New Hampshire, to move from 12th to fourth in Chase standings. Led 222 of 300 laps. ... Moved into third in the Chase after a runner-up finish at Kansas, the Chase’s third race, and retained that spot the remainder of the season. ... First pole in the series came at Darlington.
2006: Finished 17th in series points, in first full NASCAR Sprint Cup season. ... Started year with impressive sixth-place finish in Daytona 500. ... Was in the series standings’ top 10 for first four weeks of the season. ... Got first top-five finish (fifth) at Phoenix spring race. ... Qualified on the outside pole for the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
2005: Finished 69th in series points, having run one race, at Phoenix in April where he started 25th and finished 22nd. ... Amid a runner-up season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, announced plans in October for a move into NASCAR Sprint Cup in 2006.
More:
• Competed full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2004 and ‘05, finishing as series runner-up in ’05
• Raced in NASCAR Midwest Series in 2003
• Won NASCAR Weekly Series Midwest Region championship in 2002
• Also won two NASCAR Dodge Weekly track titles in 2002
• Began racing at the age of five; raced motocross for nine years with more than 200 wins.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","6. Jeff Burton - 6335","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","2008 Chase","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080910_JeffBurton_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Jeff Burton", "", "", "", "", "", "Carolyn Kaster", "AP", "273", "396", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2008 highlights
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.2
• Two wins, seven top fives, 18 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.5
• Led 12 races for 140 laps
• 1,605 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fifth-most
Finished the 2008 season in sixth place
Ford 400: Contact with Joe Nemechek in Lap 178 sent Jeff Burton spinning out of control. Burton finished in 40th place, eight laps off the lead.
Remained in fourth place in the Chase standings after eight races
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500: While Jeff Burton finished in the top 10 in ninth place, he raced with the leaders for just 49 of the race's 313 laps.
Remained in fourth place in the Chase standings after eight races
Dickies 500: Jeff Burton received a free pass on Lap 241, but he couldn't maintain his position on the lead lap. He was the first car to finish one back, crossing the finish line in 13th place.
Dropped to fourth in the Chase standings after seven races
Pep Boys Auto 500: Jeff Burton ran into a slowing Dave Blaney on Lap 302, causing a multi-car wreck and damaging the front of his car. His team was able to patch his car enough to keep it on the track, but he finished in 18th. Burton also had trouble earlier in the race both when he was penalized for speeding on pit road and when his car started smoking.
Dropped one spot to third in the Chase standings after six races
TUMS QuikPak 500: Running in the top 15 late in the race, Jeff Burton ran into issues on pit road on Lap 463. He pitted outside his pit box and was hit with a one-lap penalty. He finished the race one lap down in 17th place, a far fall from second, which is where he started.
Jumped up into second place in the Chase standings after five races
Bank of America 500: Using three gas-only pit stops to his advantage, Jeff Burton took the checkered flag at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Finishing across the finish line .946 seconds ahead of Kasey Kahne, Burton earned his second win of the season and moved up into second in the Chase standings. Burton passed Greg Biffle for first on Lap 278, then held on to the lead for the final 57 laps.
Remained in fourth place in the Chase standings after four races
• Amp Energy 500: After leading a total of eight laps in Talladega, Jeff Burton settled for a fourth-place finish.
Remained in fourth in the Chase standings after three races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman: Jeff Burton was supposed to start in 37th, but he began instead at the rear of the field after his crew had to change out his tachometer prior to the race. He didn't let a bad start become a bad finish, however, placing seventh in Kansas.
Moved up into fourth in the Chase standings after two races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA: After starting the race in 21st, Jeff Burton raced his way into a top-10 finish. His ninth-place finish in Dover was strong enough to bump him up one spot in the Chase standings.
Moved up from seventh to fifth in the Chase standings after one race
• Sylvania 300: Finishing fourth in New Hampshire, Jeff Burton improved his Chase standing two spots from seventh to fifth. After starting the race in seventh, he raced in the top five for most of the day.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Personal","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_JeffBurton2_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Jeff Burton", "", "", "", "", "", "Rusty Jarrett", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "273", "404", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Birthdate: June 29, 1967
Hometown: South Boston, Va.
Resides: Huntersville, N.C.
Hobbies: Duke basketball, boating and deep sea fishing
Car: No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet
Team: Richard Childress Racing
• Huge fan of Duke University basketball team
• Outstanding high school athlete in several sports in his hometown of South Boston, Va.
• Longtime involvement with Duke’s Children’s Hospital.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "• Heads into the Chase seventh in the standings with 5,010 points
• One win on the year – Bristol (3/16)
• In 26 starts, has 4 top fives and 12 top 10s
• No poles this season
• Two DNFs on the year – Daytona (7/05); and Bristol (8/23).
• Has been in the top-12 in the standings since Daytona (2/17) and has remained there for 26 straight weeks. ";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Best championship finish: Third (2000)
• In 2007, finished eighth in the Chase with six top-10 finishes.
• In 2006, finished seventh in the Chase with five top-10 finishes including a win at Dover (9/24), which moved him into the points lead. He held the lead for four straight weeks until an untimely engine failure landed him a 42nd-place finish at Martinsville (10/22), which knocked him from the top spot.
• In 2005, failed to make the Chase, but went on to finish the season 18th in the standings and posted three top 10s in the 10 races that make up the Chase.
• In 2004, failed to make the Chase, but went on to finish the season 18th in the standings with two top 10s in the 10 races that make up the Chase. ";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Career stats and highlights","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_JeffBurton4_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Jeff Burton", "", "", "", "", "", "Chris Graythen", "Getty Images", "273", "389", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Prior to the 2008 Chase
Career Starts: 501
Career Wins: 20
Career Poles: 6
Best Points Finish: 3rd (2000)
First Full Season: 1994
First Start: July 11, 1993 (New Hampshire)
First Win: April 6, 1997 (Texas)
First Pole: Aug. 16, 1996 (Richmond)
• Finished a career-high third in 2000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings
• Finished in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series top 10 five consecutive seasons (1997-2001)
• Won a career-high six races in 1999 season";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2007: Finished seventh in series points. ... Made Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for second time. ... Third-place finish in Daytona 500 began a strong early-season run; had five top-five finishes in first seven races, capped by his 19th career victory, at Texas. ... Ended season strongly, with top 10s in five of the last six events.
2006: Finished seventh in series points. ... In big rebound season, qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for first time. ... Started on the pole for two of the series’ major events – the Daytona 500 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. ... Victory at Dover in September was first victory since October 2001 at Phoenix. The Dover win vaulted Burton to the top of the Chase standings, a position he held for four weeks. ... Fell out of title contention at Martinsville, when an engine problem led to a 42nd-place finish – and a plunge to fifth in the Chase standings.
2005: Finished 18th in series points. ... Only three top-five finishes, with season’s best finish a second place at the Bristol night race in August. ... Best starting position was sixth in the season-opening Daytona 500; that start resulted from a runner-up effort in one of the two 150-mile qualifying races for the 500. ... Highest standing in the series points was 15th after an 11th-place finish at Daytona in July.
2004: Finished 18th in series points. ... Began ninth season with Roush Racing but moved to Richard Childress Racing following the Watkins Glen race and took over the No. 30 Chevrolet for the final 14 events. ... Posted two top-five finishes and six top-10 finishes, with best finish a fourth at the Dover spring race and Bristol fall race. ... Best qualifying performance was fifth at Richmond’s spring race. ... Announced in October that he would drive the No. 31 Chevrolet in 2005 for RCR.
2003: Finished 12th in series points for second consecutive season. ... Best finish was a second in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July. ... Finished season with three top-10 efforts in final five races to secure top-15 finish in final standings.
2002: Finished 12th in series points, lowest finish since 1996 – his first year with Roush Racing. ... Finished with five top fives and 14 top 10s. ... First winless season since 1996. ... Finished third at both Richmond and Dover.
2001: Finished 10th in series points. ... Finished 30th or lower in four of the first six races and had only two top-10 finishes in the first 11 races. ... Was outside the top 30 in points until a third-place finish in Talladega in April. ... Won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte in May, his second victory in three seasons in the series’ longest event. ... Won for the second straight year at Phoenix, capping a stretch of four straight top-five finishes.
2000: Finished third in series points, a career-best result. ... Finished behind Bobby Labonte and seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt. ... Fourth straight year of finishing fifth or better.... Tied for second in races won with four, including leading all 300 laps at New Hampshire. ... Other victories came at the Pepsi 400 in Daytona and Phoenix. ... Two DNFs (at Atlanta and Dover) ranked him fourth behind Labonte (0), Earnhardt (0) and Ricky Rudd (1) for fewest of year. ... Won second career pole, at Richmond in September.... In two of his wins (Las Vegas and second Darlington) brother Ward finished second.
1999: Finished fifth in series points. ... Had 18 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes. ... Had most wins in a single season (six) with triumphs at Charlotte, Las Vegas, New Hampshire, Rockingham and both Darlington races, both of which were rain-shortened.
1998: Finished fifth in series points. ... 18 top-five, 23 top-10 finishes. ... Had victories at New Hampshire and Richmond.
1997: Finished fourth in series points. ... First-time finish in top 10 of series points. ... Won first series race in the first race at Texas in April, then went on to victories at New Hampshire and Martinsville. ... Had 13 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes.
1996: Finished 13th in series points. ... Had six top fives and 12 top 10s. ... Best start and finish was third at Richmond.
1995: Finished 32nd in series points. ... Final year driving with Stavola Brothers. ... Had one top five and two top 10s. ... Best finish was fifth at North Carolina.
1994: Finished 24th in series points. ... Drove for the Stavola Brothers. ...Won series Rookie of the Year honors with two top fives and three top 10s.
1993: Made series debut at New Hampshire, qualifying sixth and finishing 37th in lone race of season.
More:
• Won five NASCAR Nationwide Series races in 2002, in only 13 starts
• Finished 12th in point standings in 1991 and 1992
• Got his first career win at Martinsville in 1990 and finished 15th in points
• Won seven of 21 NASCAR weekly series late model stock races at South Boston Speedway in 1988 and was voted the track’s most popular driver
• Won six late model races in 1986, his second full season at that level
• Began pure stock class at South Boston in 1984
• Two-time Virginia state go-kart champion and second four times
• Began racing go-karts at age of 8.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2008 highlights
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.8
• 13 top fives, 19 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.5
• Led 20 races for 447 laps
• Average Running Position of 12.0, fifth-best
Finished the 2008 season in seventh place
Ford 400: Starting the race in 37th place didn't hurt Jeff Gordon, as he picked off position by position to move into the lead by Lap 170. He led for a total of 16 laps in Florida before finishing the race in fourth.
Dropped to seventh in the Chase standings after nine races
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500: Jeff Gordon's day at Phoenix finished in Lap 269, when his car began smoking and he retreated to the garage. He had fallen a lap down by Lap 195 and ultimately finished in 41st.
Moved up to fifth in the Chase standings after eight races
Dickies 500: Jeff Gordon chose to join Carl Edwards by gambling on fuel, and he earned a second-place finish because of it. He crossed the finish line over eight seconds behind Edwards, but it was almost as satisfying as a win considering the trouble Gordon had in Texas. After starting on the pole, he had dropped to 17th place by Lap 177 due to trouble controlling his car.
Moved up one spot to sixth in the Chase standings after seven races
Pep Boys Auto 500: In Atlanta, Jeff Gordon raced a third-best 301 laps in the top 10, many of which were in the top five, before crossing the finish line in ninth.
Moved up to seventh in the Chase standings after six races
TUMS QuikPak 500: Leading 57 laps throughout the day and running most of the race in the top five, Jeff Gordon earned 165 points and five bonus points for his fourth-place finish. He passed Matt Kenseth on Lap 478 to move into his final position.
Remained in eighth place in the Chase standings after five races
Bank of America 500: Despite leading for 47 laps throughout the race, Jeff Gordon finished in eighth place. He also had started the race in eighth, and the finish helped him remain in eighth place in the standings.
Dropped to eighth place in the Chase standings after four races
• Amp Energy 500: Jeff Gordon's troubles at Talladega started early. When David Reutimann blew a tire in lap 55, Gordon spun into the wall. His team tried to fix his car and sent him back out on the track, but he was forced to the garage on Lap 140 when smoke and fluid started spewing out of his car. Gordon finished in 38th place.
Moved up to sixth in the Chase standings after three races.
• Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman: Despite getting passed on the last lap, Jeff Gordon still finished in the top five in Kansas. His fourth-place finish was impressive considering he had been fighting an illness leading up to the race.
Made a three-spot jump up to eighth in the Chase standings after two races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA: After starting on the pole, Jeff Gordon led for 30 laps in Dover. He remained in the top five for much of the race but finished in seventh.
Fell from 10th to 11th in the Chase standings after one race
• Sylvania 300: Jeff Gordon finished out of the top 10 in New Hampshire, coming in 14th place, and dropped a spot in the Chase standings.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Birthdate: Aug. 4, 1971
Hometown: Vallejo, Calif.
Resides: Charlotte, NC
Hobbies: Skiing, video games, racquetball, bowling, scuba diving
Car: No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
• Gordon is one of NASCAR’s most active drivers on behalf of charitable causes. The Jeff Gordon Foundation, founded in 1999, primarily supports charities working on behalf of children in need. The Foundation supports the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Hendrick Bone Marrow Foundation and Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.
• Hosted \"Saturday Night Live\" on Jan. 11, 2003, in addition to making guest-host appearances on \"Live with Regis and Kelly.\"";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "• Heads into the Chase 10th in the standings with 5,000 points
• Has not won this season
• In 26 starts, has 9 top fives, 12 top 10s
• Two poles this season at Atlanta (3/9) and Martinsville (3/30)
• Four DNFs on the year – Daytona (2/18); Las Vegas (3/11); Texas (4/15); and Michigan (8/21)
• Has been in the top-12 in the standings since Darlington (5/13) and has remained there for 15 straight weeks. ";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Best championship finish: First (1995, 1997, 1998, 2001)
• In 2007, finished second in the standings with nine top-10 finishes including two wins at Talladega (10/7) and Charlotte (10/13). He also posted a pole at Martinsville (10/21).
• In 2006, finished sixth in the standings with six top-10 finishes and four finishes of 24th or worse.
• In 2005, failed to make the Chase, but finished the season 11th in the standings.
• In 2004, finished the season third in the standings only 16 points behind champion Kurt Busch. Gordon finished the Chase with seven top-10 finishes, five of which were third or better. ";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Prior to the 2008 Chase
Career Starts: 535
Career Wins: 81
Career Poles: 65
Best Points Finish: 1st (1995, '97, '98, 2001)
First Full Season: 1993
First Start: Nov. 15, 1992 (Atlanta)
First Win: May 29, 1994 (Charlotte)
First Pole: Oct. 8, 1993 (Charlotte)
• Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion (1995, ’97, ’98, ’01)
• Three-time winner of Daytona 500 (1997, ’99, 2005)
• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ all-time winnings leader with $93,300,213
• Sixth on all-time win list with 81";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","History","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2007: Finished second in series points. ... Finished with six wins, 21 top fives, 30 top 10s and seven poles. Top fives, top 10s and poles were series highs. ... His second career series runner-up finish. ... Tied Dale Earnhardt for sixth on NASCAR’s all-time wins list on April 21 at Phoenix; surpassed him the next week, on April 29, at Talladega. ... Phoenix win was first at that track. ... Had two wins and eight top 10s in season’s final 10 races, finishing 77 points behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson.
2006: Finished sixth in series points. ... Finished with two wins, 14 top fives, 18 top 10s and two poles. ... Returned to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup following a year’s absence. ... Wins came at Infineon Raceway and Chicagoland Speedway; the latter his first victory at Chicagoland. ... Poles came during the Chase, at Dover International Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway.
2005: Finished 11th in series points. ... Won four races, including his third Daytona 500, and the season sweep at Martinsville Speedway. ... Other win came in May at Talladega Superspeedway ... Finished with eight top fives, 14 top 10s and two poles.
2004: Finished third in series points, only 16 points behind champion Kurt Busch. ... Won five races, including back-to-back victories twice: Talladega-California in the spring, and Infineon-Daytona in the summer. Season’s fifth win was the obvious highlight: A fourth Indianapolis victory.... Six poles was series’ second-best total behind Ryan Newman’s nine. ... Led standings four weeks, including the opening week of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. During Chase, never was lower than third.
2003: Finished fourth in series points. ... Won three races, sweeping Martinsville’s two events and winning at Atlanta in the fall. ... The second Martinsville win and the win at Atlanta came on consecutive weeks, the 14th time he had won consecutive races. ... Won poles at both Martinsville races, at Watkins Glen and at Bristol’s summer race. ... Climbed to second in the series standings after finishing second at Chicago in July, but finished 24th (New Hampshire) and 36th (Pocono) the next two weeks to drop from serious contention. ... Also had runner-up finishes at Atlanta in March, and Dover and Infineon in June. ... Also, Jimmie Johnson, driver of the car Gordon co-owns with Rick Hendrick, finished second in the standings.
2002: Finished fourth in series points. ... Overtook rookie sensation – and Hendrick Motorsports teammate – Jimmie Johnson in the standings by one place; 2002 was Gordon’s first year as part-owner with Rick Hendrick of Johnson’s No. 48 Lowe’s team. ... Won at Darlington the next week, the 13th time in his career he had back-to-back victories. ... Darlington win pushed him to second in the standings with 11 races to go, but four finishes of 36th or lower in the following seven races ended his shot at a fifth title. ... Had first DNF in 57 races Sept. 7 at Richmond, dating back to March 18, 2001, at Darlington. ... Used first-ever provisional – the first time in 329 events – to start season’s final race at Homestead; was 37th on the grid but managed a fifth-place finish.
2001: Won fourth series title, third on the all-time title list behind only seven-time champions Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. ... Won series single-season record $10,879,757, breaking own mark set in 1998 and passed Earnhardt to take over the all-time money lead. ... Series highs in wins and poles with six, the sixth time in seven years he led the series in wins. ... Finished second six times and totaled 18 top-five and 24 top-10 finishes, best in the series in all three categories. ... Won all-star event for the third time after coming back from a first-lap crash. Also tied Earnhardt for the most wins in the event. ... Became first three-time winner of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and scored seventh career road course win at Watkins Glen the next week, extending his series record for road-course wins. ... Won inaugural Kansas event in September.
2000: Finished ninth in series points. ... His three wins – at Talladega, Infineon and Richmond – accounted for the fewest of his career since 1994. ... Had 10 top-10 finishes in the final 11 races of the season.
1999: Finished sixth in series points. ... Won seven times, breaking a streak of three consecutive seasons in which he won at least 10 races. ... Set all-time series record for road course wins, sweeping races at Infineon and Watkins Glen for the second straight year.
1998: Won third series title in four years – his second straight – becoming the youngest three-time champion at age 27. ... Won 13 races, tying the seventh-best single-season win total; had four straight wins during summer. ...Became first repeat winner of Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. ... Scored career bests with 26 top-five finishes, 28 top 10s and seven poles.
1997: Won second series title ... For second consecutive season, won 10 races. ... Won Daytona 500 for the first time. At 26, became youngest driver to win NASCAR’s primere event. ... Followed up with another victory the next week at Rockingham.
1996: Finished second in series points, only 37 points behind champion – and Hendrick Motorsports teammate – Terry Labonte.... Mechanical problems in season finale at Atlanta put him two laps down by only the 10th lap and effectively ended his chance to catch Labonte. ... Won series-high 10 races.
1995: Won first series title. ... Had seven wins and eight poles. ... Won back-to-back races for the first time in his career, in July at Daytona and New Hampshire. ... Had accumulated 21 DNFs in his first two full seasons; in his first championship campaign registered only three.
1994: Finished eighth in series points. ... Got his first win – starting on the pole – at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, and also won the inaugural Allstate 400 at the Brickyard in his adopted home state of Indiana.
1993: Finished 14th in series points. ... Named series’ Rookie of the Year, becoming the first driver to do so after also winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series’ Rookie of the Year (1991). ... Took first career pole at Lowe’s Motor Speedway fall race, and at 23 was the youngest driver in 30 years to win a 125-mile qualifying race at Daytona. ... First career top five was at the Daytona 500 where he finished fifth.
1992: Made first series at Atlanta in the final race of the season where he started 21st and finished 31st. ... Gordon’s first race was also the last in the illustrious career of Richard Petty.
More:
• Set NASCAR Nationwide Series record with 11 poles in 1992; also won three races that season – all from the pole – including his first in NASCAR, in March at Atlanta
• Named NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year in 1991 following an 11th-place finish in the points; also won U.S. Auto Club Silver Crown Series championship that season
• 1990 USAC Midget champion at age 19, the youngest driver ever to win the title; was also youngest driver ever awarded a USAC license at 16
• Won three quarter-midget national championships and four karting titles
• Won more than 600 short-track races as a youngster after beginning in the sport in his native California at age 5; family relocated to Pittsboro, Ind., where he honed his skills.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2008 highlights
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.4
• One win, 12 top fives, 18 top 10s
• Average finish of 15.4
• Led 15 races for 766 laps
• 1,669 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most
Finished the 2008 season in eighth place
Ford 400: After running in the top five for much of the first half of the Florida race, Denny Hamlin faded late and finished out of the top 10 in 13th place.
Moved up to ninth in the Chase standings after nine races
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500: A fifth-place finish propelled Denny Hamlin up to ninth place in the Chase standings. He was in the top 10 for 302 of the race's 313 laps.
Dropped to 12th place in the Chase standings after eight races
Dickies 500: Denny Hamlin was the second-to-last Chase finisher in Texas, crossing the finish line in 17th place. It was the exact same position as the one in which he started.
Remained in 11th place in the Chase standings after seven races
Pep Boys Auto 500: Jimmie Johnson scooted by Denny Hamlin with just one lap remaining, dropping Hamlin, who had led 56 laps, into a third-place finish. Hamlin had a strong day, racing 318 of 325 laps in the top 10.
Moved up to 11th place in the Chase standings after six races
TUMS QuikPak 500: Earning his best finish of the 2008 Chase, Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five in Martinsville by crossing the finish line behind Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards and Jeff Gordon.
Remained in 12th place in the Chase standings after five races
Bank of America 500: Denny Hamlin got loose in the second turn of Lap 232 and hit the wall. Contact with Clint Bowyer also left him with rear damage to his car, but he was able to continue racing. He finished on the lead lap in 16th place.
Dropped to 12th place in the Chase standings after four races
• Amp Energy 500: A blown tire sent Denny Hamlin spinning into the outside wall midway through the race and subsequently sent him to the hospital for evaluation. Hamlin didn't respond on the in-car radio after the hit and took a considerable amount of time to get out of the car. When he emerged, he complained of a headache and was favoring his right foot. Hamlin finished in 39th place and dropped to last place in the Chase standings.
Moved up one spot to 10th in the Chase standings after three races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman: Denny Hamlin led one lap under caution in Kansas and finished in 11th, by far the best performance by a Gibbs Racing car in the race.
Fell five spots to 11th in the Chase standings after two races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA: It was a bleak day for Denny Hamlin, whose highlight was starting in third. He was penalized for speeding off pit road on Lap 67, then had to take a trip to pit road on Lap 173 in an attempt to fix the oil lead from the rear of his car. He raced his way back up to 10th, but then had to head to the garage on Lap 243 when his car lost power. Hamlin finished in 38th.
Remained in sixth in the Chase standings after one race
• Sylvania 300: Denny Hamlin restarted at the end of the pack late in the race, but he worked his way back up to 13th by Lap 246. He continued to move up in the field and finished the race in ninth to remain at sixth in the Chase standings.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Birthdate: Nov. 11, 1980
Hometown: Chesterfield, Va.
Resides: Davidson, N.C.
Hobbies: Online racing
Car: No. 11 FedEx Chevrolet
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
• Hamlin began his racing career in go-karts at age seven, and from there on his family hasn’t looked back pouring all they have into Denny’s career in motorsports. From the moment he began his family knew he would be a success, so much so that they almost went into financial ruin trying to support his early career.
• He now is a successful fulltime Sprint Cup driver with a lakefront home right next to his team owner Joe Gibbs.
• Hamlin’s favorite driver since he was a boy has been Bill Elliott.
• Hamlin also is an avid pilot.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "• Heads into the Chase sixth in the standings with 5,010 points
• One win on the year – Martinsville (3/30)
• In 26 starts, has nine top fives and 14 top 10s
• One pole this season at Richmond (5/3).
• Two DNFs on the year – Dover (6/01); and Michigan (8/17).
• Has been in the top-12 in the standings since Martinsville (3/30) and has remained there for 19 straight weeks. ";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Best championship finish: Third (2006)
• In 2007, finished 12th in the Chase with three top-10 finishes.
• In 2006, participated in his first full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup season. He became the first – and thus far only – rookie to make the Chase, going on to finish third in the standings. He posted seven top-10 finishes in the 10 races that make up the Chase.
• In 2005, only participated in seven races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series capturing three top 10s. ";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Prior to the 2008 Chase
Career Starts: 105
Career Wins: 4
Career Poles: 6
Best Points Finish: 3rd (2006)
First Full Season: 2006
First Start: Oct. 9, 2005 (Kansas)
First Win: June 11, 2006 (Pocono-1)
First Pole: Nov. 13, 2005 (Phoenix-2)
• 2006 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year
• Finished third in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings in 2006
• Won both 2006 Pocono races from the pole
• Finished fifth in 2005 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship standings as a rookie";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","History","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2007: Finished 12th in the series standings. ... Had one win (at New Hampshire summer race), 12 top fives and 18 top 10s. ... Made the Chase for the second consecutive year. ... Best start of the season was on the pole at Martinsville.
2006: Finished third in series points. ... NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year.... Swept both 2006 Pocono races from the pole. ... Completed first full season of competition.
2005: Finished 41st in series points. ... Made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Kansas, starting seventh and finishing 32nd. ... Competed in seven NASCAR Sprint Cup races and registered three top-10 finishes at Charlotte, Martinsville and Texas. ... Earned his first pole at Phoenix in November.
More:
• Finished fifth in the 2005 NASCAR Nationwide Series points with one top five and 11 top-10 finishes
• Finished 37th in 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points
• Made his first start in one of NASCAR’s national series in the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at IRP, starting seventh and finishing 10th
• Hamlin is a product of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, where he collected nearly 50 wins from 2002-2004
• Won 2003 Southern National Speedway Track Championship, posting 25 wins and 30 poles on the season
• Won his first NASCAR races in 2002 – 10 total – along with 15 poles at Southampton (Va.) Motor Speedway
• Rookie of the Year at Southside (Va.) Speedway in Late Model Stocks
• Mini Stock Rookie of the Year in 1997 at Southside and Langley Speedways in Virginia; youngest driver to win NASCAR Mini Stock track title at Langley (16)
• Rookie of the Year at Southside
• Collected five championships and 127 feature wins in Kart Racing career with limited participation in three classes over two seasons
• Started racing at age seven in Junior Sportsman competition; won the first event he entered.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","9. Tony Stewart - 6202","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","2008 Chase","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080910_TonyStewart_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Tony Stewart", "", "", "", "", "", "Carlos Osorio", "AP", "273", "410", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2008 highlights
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.2
• One win, 10 top fives, 16 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.9
• Led 15 races for 633 laps
• 404 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
Finished the 2008 season in ninth place
Ford 400: In his final race with Gibbs Racing after a 10-team tenure with that team, Tony Stewart crossed the finish line in ninth place. He led 11 laps during the Florida race, giving up first with just 12 laps remaining when he had to pit for fuel.
Dropped all the way to last place in the Chase standings after nine races
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500: He finished on the lead lap in Phoenix, but Tony Stewart's 22nd-place finish dropped him dramatically in the Chase standings. He was involved in a spin out with Matt Kenseth in Lap 305 but was able to stay on the track.
Dropped one spot to ninth in the Chase standings after eight races
Dickies 500: Tony Stewart finished one lap back in Texas, coming in 16th place. He struggled with a loose car for much of the afternoon.
Remained in eighth place in the Chase standings after seven races
Pep Boys Auto 500: In just the first 30 laps, Tony Stewart dropped 13 positions from eighth to 21st. He improved his position slightly by the end of the race, coming in 17th.
Dropped to eighth place in the Chase standings after six races
TUMS QuikPak 500: Suffering a blown right front tire twice in the Sunday race, Tony Stewart finished four laps back in 26th place. It was a disappointing second half of the Martinsville race for Stewart, as he had been running in the top five earlier in the day.
Remained in seventh in the Chase standings after five races
Bank of America 500: When he was in clean air, Tony Stewart opened up a lead of more than seven seconds, but his handling wasn't as good in traffic. He finished in 11th place at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Moved up to seventh in the Chase standings after four races
• Amp Energy 500: Tony Stewart led a race-high 24 laps en route to winning the Amp Energy 500. The victory snapped a 43-race drought, was his first at Talladega in 10 years and shot him three spots up in the Chase standings. Stewart's win came after officials ruled that Regan Smith's last-lap pass was illegal.
Suffered a big drop in the Chase standings after three races, falling to 11th
• Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman: Tony Stewart started the Kansas race in 41st, and his day didn't improve from there. His first problem was when he was caught speeding down pit road on Lap 118. Less than 10 laps later, contact with Brian Vickers sent him spinning into the infield grass, where he tore up his front splitter. After his team made repairs he was seven laps down. Stewart finished in 40th place.
Remained in seventh after two races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA: Tony Stewart finished just out of the top 10 in Dover, crossing the finish line in 11th, but he had started the race in 33rd.
Moved up from eighth to seventh in the Chase standings after one race
• Sylvania 300: Despite a number of issues, Tony Stewart was able to finish the Sylvania 300 in eighth place and move up to seventh in the Chase standings. He bumped Johnny Sauter leaving his pit box and had to return to the fits for a quick repair. The miscue dropped Stewart from second into 35th. He had raced back into the mid-20s when he was penalized for speeding off pit road.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Personal","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_TonyStewart4_v.vlarge.jpg","","Image: Tony Stewart", "", "", "", "", "left", "John Harrelson", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "358", "239", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Birthdate: May 20, 1971
Hometown: Columbus, Ind.
Resides: Columbus, Ind.
Hobbies: Bowling, boating, fishing, scuba diving
Car: No. 20 Home Depot Chevrolet
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
• Stewart’s World of Outlaws sprint car team won the 2001 series title with driver Danny Lasoski
• Stewart’s favorite driver is four-time Indy 500 champion A.J. Foyt
• Appeared in a music video for rock band 3 Doors Down
• Donated $1 million to Kyle and Pattie Petty and their Victory Junction Gang Camp in November 2003
• As a team owner, won the USAC Triple Crown with driver J.J. Yeley. Purchased Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, in November 2004
• Named 2004 NASCAR USG Driver of the Year for charitable efforts earning a $100,000 award which he donated to the Victory Junction Gang Camp
• Named USA Weekend Magazine’s 2004 Most Caring Athletes along with NASCAR driver Kyle Petty.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","2008 regular season recap","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_TonyStewart1_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Tony Stewart", "", "", "", "", "", "Todd Warshaw", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "273", "405", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "• Heads into the Chase eighth in the standings with 5,000 points
• Has not won this season
• In 26 starts, has 9 top fives and 13 top 10s
• No poles this season
• Three DNFs on the year – Las Vegas (3/02); Talladega (4/29); and Dover (6/04).
• Has been in the top-12 in the standings since Daytona (2/18) and has remained there for 25 straight weeks. ";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Past Chases","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_TonyStewart2_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Tony Stewart", "", "", "", "", "", "Geoff Burke", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "273", "399", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Best championship finish: First (2002, 2005)
• In 2007, finished sixth in the Chase with five top-10 finishes.
• In 2006, failed to make the Chase by 45 points. Went on to finish the season 11th in the standings, winning three of the 10 Chase races Kansas (10/1); Atlanta (10/29); and Texas (11/5).
• In 2005, won the NASCAR Sprint Cup title for the second time. During the Chase he posted seven top-10 finishes, five of which were top fives.
• In 2004 finished sixth in the series standings with six top-10 finishes and one pole.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Career stats and highlights","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_TonyStewart3_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Tony Stewart", "", "", "", "", "", "Rusty Jarrett", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "273", "392", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Prior to the 2008 Chase
Career Starts: 346
Career Wins: 32
Career Poles: 10
Best Points Finish: 1st (2002, ’05)
First Full Season: 1999
First Start: Feb. 14, 1999 (Daytona)
First Win: Sept. 11, 1999 (Richmond)
First Pole: April 16, 1999 (Martinsville)
• 2002 and 2005 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion
• 1999 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year
• Two-time winner of the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (2005,’07)
• 1997 Indy Racing League champion";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","History","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2007: Finished 6th in the series points. ... Earned three wins, 11 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes. ... Led 20 of 36 races for 980 laps. ... Won the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard for the second time in his career.
2006: Finished 11th in series points. ... Posted five wins, three of which (Kansas Atlanta, and Texas) were races during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. ... Had 15 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes.
2005: Won second series championship. ... Ranked first in points heading into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. ... Won five races (Infineon Raceway, Daytona, New Hampshire, Indianapolis and Watkins Glen) over a seven race stretch. ... His three poles were at Daytona (July), Watkins Glen and New Hampshire (September). ... The Daytona win was Stewart’s first point-paying restrictor plate victory. Won Gatorade Duel qualifying race at Daytona to earn fourth-place starting spot in the Daytona 500. ... Had seven top-10 finishes in the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, including three runner-up finishes.
2004: Finished sixth in series points. ... Entered the inaugural Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in fourth place. ... Finished second in the Daytona 500 after leading 98 of 200 laps. ... Scored the first of two wins at Chicago after leading 160 of 267 laps. ... Enjoyed a mid-season run that included two wins and five top fives in six races. ...Was caught up in an accident and finished 39th at New Hampshire, round one of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. ... Was one of four drivers in the top 10 all season.
2003: Finished seventh in series points. ... On par to defend series title after four top 10s in first five races, but a string of four DNFs and inconsistent finishes – including consecutive finishes of 41st (California), 41st (Richmond) and 40th (Charlotte) – dropped him to 20th by late May.... Won two races, Pocono in June and Charlotte in October. ... Rebounded late in the year with six consecutive top fives (Dover through Atlanta) bumping him from 11th to seventh in series points. ... Won second career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Richmond in September. ... Signed contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing in September through 2009.
2002: Won series championship. ... Gave team owner Joe Gibbs his second championship in three seasons (Bobby Labonte in 2000 was Gibbs’ other champion). ... Championship season marked the fourth consecutive season in the final top 10 in points. ... Won three races – Atlanta in March, Richmond in May and Watkins Glen in August. ...Bounced back after last-place finish (43rd) in season-opening Daytona 500. ... Took lead in points after Talladega race in October.... March to the top began at New Hampshire in July with the first of nine consecutive top-15 finishes. ... Clinched championship in season finale at Homestead with 18th-place finish; finished 31 points ahead of Mark Martin in the final standings.
2001: Finished second in series points, behind four-time champion Jeff Gordon. ... Started season by winning Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, a non-points event; that was his first victory in restrictor-plate racing. ... Won three series races. ... Won at Infineon for first series road-course victory, with dramatic late-race pass of leader Robby Gordon. ... Also won at Richmond and at the Bristol night race. ... Completed 1,100 miles of racing on May 27, finishing sixth in the Indianapolis 500 and third in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
2000: Finished sixth in series points. ... Won six races, including both Dover’s two events. Also won at Michigan, New Hampshire, Martinsville and Homestead. ... Homestead win came on day that Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Bobby Labonte clinched series championship. ... Had streak of six consecutive top-10 finishes. ... Took two poles.
1999: Finished fourth in series points. ... Raybestos Rookie of the Year in first season with Joe Gibbs Racing. ...Won three races during great second half of season. ... First win at Richmond on Sept. 11, in 25th series start.... Also won back-to-back events at Phoenix and Homestead. ... First series rookie to win three races. ... Had two poles, plus an outside pole for the season-opening Daytona 500. ... Finished second in all-star event after winning all-star qualifying race. ... Raced in Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on May 30, finishing ninth at Indy and fourth at Charlotte.
More:
• In 1998, ran 22 NASCAR Nationwide Series races for Joe Gibbs Racing, getting two poles and five top-five finishes; also in ’98 ran full Indy Racing League schedule
• Ran five NASCAR Nationwide Series races for Gibbs in 1997
• In 1996, ran nine Nationwide Series races for Ranier/Walsh Racing
• Won Indy Racing League championship in 1997
• Earned 1996 IRL Rookie of the Year; also Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year in ’96 after taking the pole and leading the first 44 laps
• In 1995, swept championships in United States Auto Club (USAC) Midget, Sprint Car and Silver Crown competition, the first driver to do so
• Won 1994 USAC Midget national champion
• In 1991, USAC Sprint Car Rookie of the Year
• Won 1987 World Karting Association national title
• In 1983, won International Karting Foundation Grand National title.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","10. Kyle Busch - 6186","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","2008 Chase","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080910_KyleBusch_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Kyle Busch", "", "", "", "", "", "Russ Hamilton", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "273", "425", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2008 highlights
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.9
• Eight wins, 17 top fives, 21 top 10s
• Average finish of 12.5
• Led 24 races for 1,673 laps
• 707 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
Finished the 2008 season in 10th place
Ford 400: Kyle Busch was the first driver to finish one lap back in Florida. His 19th-place finish capped a disappointing Chase for Busch. During the 10-race stretch, he placed 28th or worse four times.
Lost one spot and fell to 11th in the Chase standings after nine races
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500: Racing in the top 10 for more than half of the laps, in the top 10 is where Kyle Busch finished. He crossed the finish line in eighth place.
Moved up two spots to 10th in the Chase standings after eight races
Dickies 500: Kyle Busch climbed his way up from a starting position of 29th to finish in sixth place at Texas Motor Speedway. He led two laps in the race.
Remained in last place in the Chase standings after seven races
Pep Boys Auto 500: Despite a fifth-place finish in Atlanta, Kyle Busch wasn't able to climb out of the bottom spot in the Chase standings.
Moved up two spots to ninth place in the Chase standings after six races
TUMS QuikPak 500: Undoing the recent upward moves he had made in the Chase standings, Kyle Busch fell all the way back down to 12th place by finishing in 29th in Martinsville. He completed just 497 of the 504 laps. Not only did he have multiple blown tire issues, but he was also hit with a two-lap penalty on Lap 162 for intentionally bringing out the caution by stopping on the track when he could have continued.
Moved up two spots to ninth place in the Chase standings after five races
Bank of America 500: Coming on strong at the end of the race, Kyle Busch finished in the top five at Lowe's Motor Speedway. After leading 14 laps throughout the race, he finished in fourth place and equalled the week's biggest jump in the Chase standings.
Moved up one spot to 11th place in the Chase standings after four races
• Amp Energy 500: Kyle Busch earned his first top 15 finish of the Chase, ending the Talladega race in 15th. He even led at some points, racing up front for 20 laps. Busch still ran into trouble, however, getting involved in the late crash that collected so many other Chase drivers as well.
Remained in 12th place in the Chase standings after three races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman: Kyle Busch's dismal Chase continued in Kansas. Problems with his car arose early in the race, as he faded from 27th to 36th in just 10 laps. His team later worked on his car's engine problems and got him back in the race, but he was never able to contend. Busch finished in 28th place, one lap behind.
Lost five spots in the Chase standings and dropped all the way to 12th after two races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA: After a strong regular season, Kyle Busch's hopes of a Chase win have disappeared after two races. His car began smoking on Lap 141, and he dropped to the back of the pack to continue racing for as long as his engine would let him. It blew on lap 172, and he finished in dead last.
Fell from first to eighth in the Chase standings after one race
• Sylvania 300: The Chase-opening race was a disaster for Kyle Busch. Just minutes after the race began, he broke his Toyota's sway bar, and his luck didn't get better. He was two laps off the pace (one of which was due to a penalty) by the first caution at lap 35, and after getting involved in a wreck later in the race he finished in 34th.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Personal","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_KyleBusch1_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Kyle Busch", "", "", "", "", "", "Todd Warshaw", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "273", "381", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Name: Kyle Busch
Birthdate: May 2, 1985
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nev.
Resides: Mooresville, N.C.
Hobbies: Video games, water sports
Car: No. 18 M&Ms Toyota
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Noteworthy:
• Older brother Kurt won 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship
• Graduated with honors from Durango (Nev.) High School in 2002, a year early, to accelerate his racing career
• Learned how to surf in Hawaii in the 2006/2007 offseason.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","2008 regular season recap","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_KyleBusch2_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Kyle Busch", "", "", "", "", "", "Jerry Markland", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "273", "401", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "• Heads into the Chase as the standings leader with 5,080 points
• Eight wins on the year – Atlanta (3/09); Talladega (4/27); Darlington (5/10); Dover (6/01); Sonoma (6/22); Daytona (7/05); Chicago (7/12); and Watkins Glen (8/10);
• In 26 starts, he has 15 top fives and 17 top 10s
• Two poles this season at Las Vegas (3/2) and Lowe’s Motor Speedway (5/25).
• One DNF on the year – Pocono (6/08).
• Has led the standings for 21 weeks of the 26 week regular season, and 17 weeks consecutively since Richmond (5/03). ";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Past Chases","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_KyleBusch4_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Kyle Busch", "", "", "", "", "", "Todd Warshaw", "Getty Images for NASCAR", "273", "410", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Best championship finish: Fifth (2007)
• In 2007, finished fifth in the Chase posting five top-five and six top-10 finishes.
• In 2006, finished 10th in the Chase posting three top-10 finishes in the 10 races that make up the Chase.
• In 2005, failed to make the Chase, but went on to finish the season 20th in the standings and posted three top-10 finishes in the last 10 races of the season which included a win at Phoenix (11/13)
• In 2004, only participated in six races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. ";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","Career stats and highlights","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080908_KyleBusch3_h.hlarge.jpg","","Image: Kyle Busch", "", "", "", "", "", "Chris Graythen", "Getty Images", "273", "414", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Prior to the 2008 Chase
Career Starts: 140
Career Wins: 12
Career Poles: 4
Best Points Finish: 5th (2007)
First Full Season: 2005
First Start: March 7, 2004 (Las Vegas)
First Win: Sept. 4, 2005 California)
First Pole: Feb. 27, 2005 (California)
• Finished a career-high fifth in final 2007 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings
• Won the first ever Car of Tomorrow race at Bristol Motor Speedway
• 2005 Raybestos Rookie of the Year in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
• Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup race and pole winner in series history";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","History","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2007: Finished fifth in the series standings. ... Made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup for the second time. ...Finished with one win, 11 top fives and 20 top 10s. ... Won the first Car of Tomorrow race at Bristol Motor Speedway. ... Announced a 2008 move to Joe Gibbs Racing, leaving Hendrick Motorsports.
2006: Finished 10th in series points. ... Finished with one win, 10 top fives, 18 top 10s and one pole. ... Earned first Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup berth. ... Victory came July 16 at New Hampshire International Speedway. ... Pole came in April at Phoenix International Raceway. ... Spent only four weeks out of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Top 10, the first two following the season-opening Daytona 500 and the first California event in February, and the next two following back-to-back June events at Michigan International Speedway and Infineon Raceway.
2005: Finished 20th in series points. ... Won two races in his rookie season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. ...First victory came Sept. 4 at Auto Club Speedway. Second followed Nov. 13 at Phoenix International Raceway.... First pole came Feb. 27 at Auto Club Speedway ... Finished with nine top fives and 13 top 10s.
2004: Finished 52nd in series points. ... Ran six races, debuting in hometown of Las Vegas; started 18th and finished 41st. ... Best finish a 24th at Auto Club Labor Day weekend race. ... Named as full-time driver for Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 Kellogg’s car, for 2005 season.
More:
• Finished second in 2004 NASCAR Nationwide Series standings behind champion Martin Truex Jr., but won Raybestos Rookie of the Year title
• Made seven NASCAR Nationwide Series starts for Hendrick Motorsports in 2003 season, finishing second in debut at Charlotte fall event
• Also in 2003, won two ARCA events, driving for Hendrick Motorsports
• In 2002, finished eighth in ASA standings
• In 2001 – his junior year in high school – made six NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts for Roush Racing; had two top-10 finishes. ... Started racing Legend Cars at the age of 13. Won two Legend Car championships at hometown track, Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Ended up with 65 Legend victories
• Moved to Late Model competition in 2001 and won 10 races at Las Vegas.";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","11. Matt Kenseth - 6184","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","2008 Chase","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Fiss%2C%20Stirling/Images/2008%20Chase%20drivers/080910_MattKenseth_v.vlarge.jpg","","Image: Matt Kenseth", "", "", "", "", "left", "Terry Renna", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "270", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2008 highlights
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 89.0
• Nine top fives, 20 top 10s
• Average finish of 16.4
• Led 20 races for 604 laps
• 333 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
Finished the 2008 season in 11th place
Ford 400: Gambling on fuel like teammate Carl Edwards didn't pay off for Matt Kenseth. In first with just three laps remaining, Kenseth ran out of fuel and had to pit. Despite leading the second-most laps (73), Kenseth crossed the finish line in 25th place, one lap back.
Remained in eighth place in the Chase standings after nine races
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500: Matt Kenseth got caught up with Tony Stewart in Lap 305 to bring out the 10th caution in Phoenix. Kenseth still finished on the lead lap in 15th.
Moved up to eighth place in the Chase standings after eight races
Dickies 500: Despite battling a loose car and having his team make many adjustments during the race, Matt Kenseth finished on the lead lap in ninth place in Texas.
Moved up to ninth place in the Chase standings after seven races
Pep Boys Auto 500: Matt Kenseth led a race-high 128 laps in Atlanta, but he relinquished that advantage on Lap 255 when he lost a race with Denny Hamlin off pit road. He crossed the finish line in fourth place.
Moved up to 10th in the Chase standings after six races
TUMS QuikPak 500: Matt Kenseth led for eight laps and finished in eighth place in Martinsville. Kenseth was running as high as second place with a little more than 30 laps to go, but he had to pit on Lap 487 and lost valuable spots.
Remained in 11th place in the Chase standings after five races
Bank of America 500: A multi-car crash in Lap 194 claimed Matt Kenseth. After getting crashed into by Travis Kvapil, neither car could drive away. Kenseth was taken to the track's medical center for evaluation but was fine. He finished in 41st place.
Remained in ninth place in the Chase standings after four races
• Amp Energy 500: The \"Big One\" with 16 laps remaining in Talladega claimed Matt Kenseth as he was battling for the lead. He had led five laps in the race but ended up in 26th place, which was still an improvement from his starting position of 31st.
Moved up to ninth place in the Chase standings after three races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman: Matt Kenseth took the lead from Jimmie Johnson in Lap 16 and ran in first for a total of 49 of the 267 laps. He rounded out the top five in Kansas, his second straight top-five finish in the Chase.
Moved up to 10th in the Chase standings after two races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA: Matt Kenseth led twice in Dover for a race-high 136 laps, but he settled for a second-place finish. Winner Greg Biffle passed Kenseth with nine laps remaining.
Remained in 12th in the Chase standings after one race
• Sylvania 300: When Chad McCumbee spun out in Lap 229, Matt Kenseth was caught up in the resulting five-car crash. It wasn't the start to the Chase that Kenseth, who entered and ended the day in 12th in the Chase standings, needed. He finished the race in 40th, 72 laps back.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Birthdate: Mar. 10, 1972
Hometown: Cambridge, Wis.
Resides: Mooresville, N.C.
Hobbies: Motorcycles, flying, video games
Car: No. 17 DeWalt Tools Ford
Team: Roush Fenway Racing
• Worked on father’s race car for three years before starting to drive it. “My dad made me a deal when I was 13,” said Kenseth. “He would buy a race car and drive it if I would work on it and keep it up. Then, when I turned 16, I could drive the car. It was hard work but it was also a great experience and really prepared me to do more than just steer the car.”
• Avid Green Bay Packers fan who exchanged helmets with quarterback Brett Favre at a 2003 Monday Night Football game at Lambeau Field.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "• Heads into the Chase 12th in the standings with 5,000 points
• Has not won this season
• In 26 starts, has 6 top fives and 15 top 10s
• Zero poles this season
• Zero DNFs on the year
• Has been in the top-12 in the standings since Watkins Glen (3/12) and has remained there for five straight weeks. ";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Best championship finish: First (2003)
• In 2007, finished fourth in the Chase with six top-10 finishes including a win at Homestead (11/18).
• In 2006, finished second in the Chase with five top-10 finishes in last 10 races of the season. His lowest finish in the 2006 Chase was 23rd.
• In 2005, finished seventh in the Chase with six top-10 finishes.
• In 2004, finished eighth in the Chase with only one top-10 finish in last 10 races of the season. ";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Prior to the 2008 Chase
Career Starts: 318
Career Wins: 16
Career Poles: 3
Best Points Finish: 1st (2003)
First Full Season: 2000
First Start: Sept. 20, 1998 (Dover)
First Win: May 28, 2000 (Charlotte)
First Pole: May 31, 2002 (Dover)
• 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion
• One of two drivers to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field all four years of the formats existence
• Finished second in 2006 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings
• Led points for NASCAR-record 33 consecutive weeks in 2003
• 2000 series Raybestos Rookie of the Year";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2007: Finished fourth in series points. ... Has finished in the top 10 in the standings for six consecutive seasons, tied with Jimmie Johnson for the most. ... Won two races – California (February) and Homestead. Has won at least one race in six consecutive seasons. ... Finished season with 13 top fives and 22 top 10s. ... Led a lap in 20 different races, leading the most in four of them.
2006: Finished second in series points. ... Won four races – California (February), Dover (June), Michigan (August) and Bristol (August). ... Won back-to-back races (Michigan and Bristol) for the second time in his career. ... Tied for the series high with 15 top-five finishes. ... Only spent one week outside the top 10 (finished 15th in season-opening Daytona 500). ... Was either first or second in points for 27 of 36 weeks. ... Led 1,132 laps, second among all drivers.
2005: Finished seventh in series points. ... Led a career high 1,001 laps ... With 12 races to go before the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, rallied from 24th place in the standings and 320 points out of 10th, to make the Chase. 2004 Finished eighth in series points. ... Finished with two wins. Won back-to-back races early in the year at North Carolina Speedway on Feb. 22 and Las Vegas on March 7. ... His win at North Carolina Speedway was a photo finish with Raybestos Rookie of the Year Kasey Kahne – and a series season highlight. ... Began the 10-race Chase in fifth place and finished eighth. ... One of only four drivers to be ranked in the top 10 all season.
2003: Won the series championship. ... Finished with one win, 11 top fives and a series-high 25 top 10s. ... Only two DNFs, the first at Kansas in the season’s 30th event, and the second at Homestead in the season finale, after clinching the series crown. ... Spent 35 of 36 weeks in the top 10, his only week outside it coming after a 20th-place finish in the season-opening Daytona 500. ... Assumed the points lead after a fourth-place finish at Atlanta, the season’s fourth race, and held it for 33 consecutive weeks. ... Clinched the title following a fourth-place finish at Rockingham in Week 35.
2002: Finished eighth in series points. ... Won a series high five races (Texas, Phoenix, Michigan, North Carolina and Richmond), a career best. ... Finished with 11 top fives and 19 top 10s. ... Polesitter at Dover spring race.
2001: Finished 13th in series points. ... Finished fourth at Michigan, Talladega, New Hampshire and Phoenix for his only top fives. ... Had only six qualifying attempts of 20th or better and none better than 13th. ... Team won the 2001 World Pit Crew Competition championship at Rockingham in October.
2000: Finished 14th in series points. ... Won NASCAR Sprint Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year title over Dale Earnhardt Jr.... Won the circuit’s longest race, the Coca-Cola 600, at Lowe’s Motor Speedway for his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup win. ... Followed that performance with a second-place finish the following weekend at Dover.... Posted 11 top-10 finishes, including the Daytona 500.
1999: Finished 49th in series points. ... Drove five races for Roush Fenway Racing in preparation for his rookie season. ... Scored his first career top-five finish at Dover, where he finished fourth. ... Also ran at Michigan, Darlington, Charlotte and Rockingham in second half of season.
1998: Finished 57th in series points, driving in only one race. ... Drove the No. 94 Ford in place of Bill Elliott at Dover so Elliott could attend his father’s funeral. ... Finished sixth in the race.
More:
• Won the 2004 International Race of Champions (IROC) competition by winning the final two races in the four-race schedule
• Has 23 career NASCAR Nationwide Series wins in 222 starts
• Has won at least won race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in five straight seasons, nine of the last 10
• Finished third in 1999 NASCAR Nationwide Series standings with four wins and two poles
• Was second in 1998 NASCAR Nationwide Series points race with three victories
• First NASCAR Nationwide Series win came at Rockingham
• First NASCAR Nationwide Series ride in April 1997 was with a team owned by Robbie Reiser, his crew chief in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for eight years
• Started just 21 races that season and finished second in the Rookie of the Year race
• Was running second in the American Speed Association standings when he left for the NASCAR Nationwide Series
• Began his short-track career at age 16, winning his first feature in his third race while he was still a high-school junior
• Won 10 features in his first two seasons at tracks around Wisconsin and had 46 super late-model victories over the next three seasons
• Won Alan Kulwicki Memorial race in 1993 and track titles at Madison International and Wisconsin International tracks the following year
• Won another track title at Wisconsin International in 1995 and had 15 wins in 60 races
• Made his NASCAR Southeast Series debut in 1995, finishing in the top-three in three of four starts
• Won one race and finished third in the Hooters ProCup Series in 1996.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2008 highlights
• Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.0
• One win, 10 top fives, 16 top 10s
• Average finish of 14.1
• Led 22 races for 896 laps
• 614 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
Finished the 2008 season in 12th place
Ford 400: With the lowest finish of a Chase driver in Florida, Dale Earnhardt Jr. dropped to last place in the Chase standings. Earnhardt Jr. officially dropped out of the race in Lap 260, although his car was pushed to the garage in Lap 249 with wheel bearing issues. He had complaining of handling problems throughout much of the second half of the race.
Moved up one spot to 10th in the Chase standings after nine races
Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500: Taking advantage of a strong car, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a strong day of racing in Phoenix. Racing in the top five for virtually the entire time, he finished in sixth.
Dropped one spot to 11th in the Chase standings after eight races
Dickies 500: Running in second place late in the race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. decided to follow Carl Edwards' lead and gamble on fuel. The move didn't pay off, as he ran out of fuel on the track and had to retreat to pit road. He finished in 20th place, two laps back.
Dropped to 10th place in the Chase standings after seven races
Pep Boys Auto 500: Running in sixth place with less than 10 laps to go, Dale Earnhardt Jr. faded in the final stretch and finished in 11th. He was involved in some bumps on pit road late in the race, when he hit Kurt Busch on the right and was then hit by Carl Edwards on the left.
Moved up to ninth in the Chase standings after six races
TUMS QuikPak 500: He was unable to catch up with Jimmie Johnson in first, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. still had his best race of the Chase by finishing in second place. After being assessed a speeding penalty on pit road early in the race, he worked his way up from 41st to race in the top five for most of the second half of the 504 laps in Martinsville.
Remained in 10th place in the Chase standings after five races
Bank of America 500: A cut tire on Lap 103 ruined Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s race, as he slammed into the wall on Turn 2. He finished 36th, 45 laps down, after starting the race in 10th.
Dropped to 10th place in the Chase standings after four races
• Amp Energy 500: After Dale Earnhardt Jr. blew a tire in a Friday practice session, his team worked feverishly to fix the damaged car. Their efforts initially paid off, as Junior went on to lead a total of 19 laps at Talladega, but as the race progressed he was caught up in a late crash and ultimately finished in 28th place.
Moved up one spot to eighth in the Chase standings after three races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by Coleman: For the second straight race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished out of the top 10. After starting the race in 11th, he ended in 13th in Kansas.
Dropped five spots in the Chase standings to ninth after two races
• Camping World RV 400 presented by AAA: A blown right-rear tire in Lap 141 dropped Dale Earnhardt Jr. one lap down in Dover, and he was never in contention. Junior finished the race in 24th place.
Remained in fourth in the Chase standings after one race
• Sylvania 300: After leading for much of the first half of the race in New Hampshire, Dale Earnhardt Jr. slipped from first to eighth from Lap 175 to Lap 198. He had raced back into the top five by the end of the race, though, finishing in fifth to remain fourth in the standings.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Birthdate: Oct. 10, 1974
Hometown: Kannapolis, N.C.
Resides: Mooresville, N.C.
Hobbies: Car restoration, music, computers, video games
Car: No. 88 AMP Energy-National Guard Chevrolet
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
• Owner of JR Motorsports
• Co-owner of Chance 2 Motorsports when that organization won consecutive NASCAR Nationwide Series titles with driver Martin Truex Jr. in 2004 and ’05
• Says his hero is his late father, seven-time series champion Dale Earnhardt
• His first NASCAR Nationwide Series title in 1998 made him NASCAR’s first third-generation champion coupled with his father’s record-tying seven NASCAR Sprint Cup titles and grandfather Ralph Earnhardt’s 1956 NASCAR Sportsman Division title
• Lists the Washington Redskins as his favorite sports team
• 2006 Corvette Z 06, 2001 Corvette C5-R with LeMans wing, 2005 Corvette, 2001 “Intimidator SS” Camaro, 1996 Hummer, 2002 Mini Cooper and a Chevrolet Z-71 pickup are just some of the vehicles in his personal fleet.";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "• Heads into the Chase fourth in the standings with 5,010 points
• One win on the year – Michigan (6/15)
• In 26 starts, has eight top fives and 13 top 10s
• One pole this season at Texas (4/6).
• Zero DNFs on the year
• Has been in the top-12 in the standings since Las Vegas (3/02) and has remained there for 24 straight weeks. ";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Best championship finish: Third (2003)
• In 2007, he failed to make the Chase, but went on to finish 16th in the standings having posted three top-10 finishes in the last 10 races of the season.
• In 2006, he finished fifth in the standings with five top-10 finishes; two of which were top fives.
• In 2005, he failed to make the Chase, but went on to finish 19th in the standings having posted three top-10 finishes in the last 10 races of the season.
• In 2004, he finished fifth in the standings with six top-10 finishes including wins at Talladega (10/3) and Phoenix (11/7).";
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spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "Prior to the 2008 Chase
Career Starts: 317
Career Wins: 18
Career Poles: 8
Best Points Finish: 3rd (2003)
First Full Season: 2000
First Start: May 30, 1999 (Charlotte)
First Win: April 2, 2000 (Texas)
First Pole: May 24, 2000 (Charlotte)
• 2004 Daytona 500 champion
• NASCAR Nationwide Series champion in 1998 and '99
• Career-high six victories in 2004
• Voted Most Popular Driver for fifth consecutive season in 2007";
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i++] = new Array("","History","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_NASCAR_Chasedrivers[i-1].body = "2007: Finished 16th in series points. ... Finished with one pole, seven top fives and 12 top 10s in a disappointing season, his last with Dale Earnhardt Inc. ... Announced in May that he would join Hendrick Motorsports for the ‘08 season. ... Nine DNFs marked a career-high. ... First fulltime season without a win. ... Voted NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver for a fifth consecutive year.
2006: Finished fifth in series points. ... Fourth career finish in NASCAR Sprint Cup top 10. ... Finished with one win, 10 top fives and 17 top 10s. ... Only victory came at Richmond in May.... Earned a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup following a one-year absence. ... Voted NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver for a fourth consecutive year.
2005: Finished 19th in series points. ... Captured his only victory under the leadership of DEI Technical Director Steve Hmiel, who took over for crew chief Pete Rondeau after the spring Charlotte race. ... Crew chief Tony Eury Jr. led the No. 8 team from the fall New Hampshire race to the end of the season. ... Posted seven top fives and 13 top 10’s. ... Voted NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver for the third consecutive year.
More:
2004: Finished fifth in series points. ... Had six victories, second only to Jimmie Johnson’s eight. ... Daytona 500 victory made the Dale Earnhardt/Dale Earnhardt Jr. tandem only the third father/son combination to win The Great American Race, along with Lee and Richard Petty and Bobby and Davey Allison. ... Won two restrictor-plate races and was the only driver to post top-10 finishes in each of the four restrictor-plate races.
2003: Finished third in series points, his best career finish. ... Was second in the standings for 19 raced weekends. ... Posted two victories – Talladega in April and Phoenix in November; his Talladega win was his record fourth straight there. ... Narrowly missed a fifth consecutive win at Talladega in September with a runner-up finish to DEI teammate Michael Waltrip. ... Posted career bests with 13 top fives and 21 top 10s, totals that were fourth and third in the series, respectively.... Voted NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver, marking the first time a father and son have received the award; his father won posthumously in 2001.
2002: Finished 11th in series points. ... Won two races, via season sweep at Talladega Superspeedway.... Two poles, at Michigan (August) and Kansas. ... Led a series-high 1,068 laps. ... Recorded 11 top-five finishes, 16 top 10s and had the most consecutive top-five finishes (three) in his career.... Also posted career bests in top-five starts (13) and fewest DNFs (three). ... Won in his first NASCAR Nationwide Series race as driver/owner at Richmond (Sept).
2001: Finished eighth in series points. ... Scored a trio of dramatic, emotional victories. ... First win came in July at Daytona, the first race there since his father’s death in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18. He held off DEI teammate Michael Waltrip, to whom he finished second in February, for that win. ... Next victory came at Dover in the series’ first race back after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and he punctuated that win with a victory lap carrying an American flag.... Third win came in October at Talladega, the site of his father’s final career victory a year earlier.
2000: Finished 16th in series points. ... Became first rookie to win the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Challenge. ... Came up 42 points shy of winning the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title behind former NASCAR Nationwide Series foe Matt Kenseth. ... Joined Jeff Burton as second first-time winner at Texas Motor Speedway. ... Along with Tony Stewart, became second rookie in two years to win at Richmond.
1999: Competed in five races. ... Best start was eighth in the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.... Best finish was 10th at Richmond in September.
• Won back-to-back NASCAR Nationwide Series titles in 1998 and 1999, his only two full seasons of NASCAR Nationwide Series competition
• Has won 20 races and more than $3 million in NASCAR Nationwide Series earnings
• Entered three NASCAR Nationwide Series races and won all three in 2003
• Won six times with 22 top-10 finishes and three poles in 1999
• Won seven races and three poles in 1998
• Scored his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory in his 16th start at Texas, where he would later get his first NASCAR Sprint Cup win
• Made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Myrtle Beach, S.C. in 1996, starting seventh and finishing 14th
• Began his professional career at age 17 competing in the street stock division at Concord Motorsport Park, later moving up to the late model stock division
• First race car was a 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo that he owned along with his brother, Kerry
• Raced against Kerry and sister Kelley at the beginning of his career
• Won three feature victories in his NASCAR weekly series late model stock career (1994-1996)
• When he raced in the Pepsi 400 at Michigan in 2000 along with his late father, Dale and Kerry, it was the second time a father and two sons ran in the same NASCAR Sprint Cup event. Lee Petty also raced against his sons, Richard and Maurice.";
// END editorial data