By Bill Marx
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
 
Here’s a look at the top five in points and five drivers to watch in Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. All statistical references are for Sprint Cup races at Daytona unless otherwise indicated. Driver rating is based on the past nine races at the track.

1. Tony Stewart, 104.4 driver rating. Both of Stewart’s wins at Daytona have come in the July race. But even when he’s not winning, he’s driving among the leaders. He has led laps in all but two of the past 11 races, 539 laps total.

By Bill Marx
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
 
The drivers atop the top 12 should be feeling good with nine races to go before the Chase field is set. But from sixth place on down, not so much—and we have a restrictor-plate race coming up, which could knock out any one of those seven drivers. Here’s our weekly breakdown of the top 12:
 
1. Tony Stewart, 2,524. Stewart’s fifth-place finish Sunday gives him nine top fives—he had 10 all of last season—and improves his average finish to a series-best 8.2. His career best is 9.9 when he won his second Cup championship in 2005.

• Upwards Of 250 Competitors Expected For First-Year Initiative At TMS To Help Curb Illegal Street Racing
• Racing Program Complemented By “Show & Shine” Competition
• Event Will Feature “First” Fourth Of July Fireworks Display In Metroplex

FORT WORTH, Texas (June 29, 2009) – The Scion Drag-n-Brag program, an initiative to help curtail illegal street racing in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and provide a safer environment for racing enthusiasts, is expected to draw more than 250 competitors for Friday’s opening night at Texas Motor Speedway.