Full Throttle

After two races, a number of 2008 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup participants are facing a daunting uphill climb if they want to make the 2009 edition.

Luckily for them, Las Vegas should be a perfect place for many to erase their early season woes.

On the top of that list is Jimmie Johnson, winner of three consecutive Las Vegas races from 2005-2007. Johnson currently sits 19th in series points, but a launch up the standings seems likely – if his statistics hold true.

Johnson owns series-best stats in Driver Rating (112.0) and Fastest Laps Run (149) and has solid numbers in Average Running Position (11.6), Green Flag Speed (164.583 mph) and Laps in the Top 15 percentage (70.2%).

Vegas native Kyle Busch is a spot ahead of Johnson, in 18th. That should improve this weekend, as Busch has a third-best Driver Rating of 109.8, a series-best Average Running Position of 6.8 and the fifth-most Fastest Laps Run (64).

Most figured Mark Martin would immediately jump to the top of the standings after rejoining the series on a full-time basis. That has yet to happen. Martin sits a surprising 27th, but is strong at Las Vegas. Since the inception of Loop Data in 2005, at Las Vegas, Martin has a Driver Rating of 96.8 (sixth-best), an Average Running Position of 12.2 (seventh), 36 Fastest Laps Run (eighth) and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 72.8% (fifth).

Even further back of the pack is Jeff Burton, who has made the Chase the last three years. Currently, he’s well off that pace – in 30th-place. But he, too, is strong at Las Vegas. At Vegas, Burton has a Driver Rating of 95.4 (seventh-best), an Average Running Position of 10.5 (third), 268 Green Flag Passes (second) and a Laps in the Top 15 percentage of 80.9% (third).

Last Sunday at Auto Club Speedway, Kevin Harvick ended a record-setting streak of 81 consecutive races running at the finish. His DNF knocked him to 16th in the standings. That position could improve, as he has a Driver Rating of 88.8 at Las Vegas.