Kyle Busch Is NASCARs Top Driver

Author: Jeremy Dunn

Published: Wednesday May 7 2008 2:46pm

Earnhardt Nation does not want to take notice of this, but Kyle Busch is currently NASCAR’s top driver. At least he is according to statistical data. It is no secret that Busch is public enemy number one right now. After bumping Dale Earnhardt, Jr. out of the lead and into a fifteenth place finish last Saturday night at Richmond, the last thing Junior fans want to see or hear is how talented Busch is. Well, the numbers do not lie.

Not only is Kyle Busch leading the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings, but also he owns the highest driver rating of 109.4. For those who are unfamiliar with the driver ratings- a complex formula that involves wins, finishes, top 15 finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green-flag conditions, fastest laps, most laps led, and lead-lap finishes. There are many variables, so it is an accurate indication as to how a driver is performing.

Do not worry Earnhardt fans, your favorite driver is second in the driver rating category with a rating of 108.7. If you pay attention to comprehensive stats such as these, then you would agree that the Sprint Cup championship might come down to a duel between Busch and Earnhardt, Jr.

Busch also leads the average running position category. His average running position is currently 9.05. Right behind Busch is, once again, Earnhardt, Jr. with an average running position of 9.72. The irony in this is that Rick Hendrick replaced Busch with Earnhardt, Jr. in his driver roster following the 2007 season. Nevertheless, Busch seems to be doing all right in his new ride at Joe Gibbs Racing.

For you Earnhardt fans that want to see their driver ahead of Busch in an important statistical category, he has completed more quality passes. Earnhardt, Jr. is fourth in this particular category. He has completed 547 quality passes compared to Busch’s 495. The quality passes are valid only if they occur within the top fifteen, and under green flag conditions. Surprisingly, Roush Fenway Racing second-year driver David Ragan has completed the most quality passes with 570.

Busch’s superb season includes being first in another significant category, miles led. He has led 704.07 miles in 2008 after ten races. His Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin is second with 559.54 miles led. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is third with 494.89 miles led.

One category in which Busch is not near the top of the charts is laps spent on the lead lap. He is spent 85.59 percent of the laps on the lead lap. Jeff Burton leads that category as he has spent 99.39 percent of the laps on the lead lap.

Clearly, Kyle Busch is enjoying a remarkable season much to the chagrin of the fans. His success has not translated into popularity. Judging by Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, winning often does not help either.

Driver Rating

1. Kyle Busch 109.4 (5-1 championship nascar odds)
2. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 108.7 (4-1 championship nascar odds)
3. Denny Hamlin, 104.2 (7-1 championship nascar odds)
4. Carl Edwards, 104.0 (6-1 championship nascar odds)
5. Tony Stewart, 100.00 (6-1 championship nascar odds)
6. Jimmie Johnson, 96.0 (6-1 championship nascar odds)
7. Kevin Harvick, 94.2 (15-1 championship nascar odds)
8. Jeff Burton, 93.7 (15-1 championship nascar odds)
9. Jeff Gordon, 93.6 (8-1 championship nascar odds)
10. Clint Bowyer, 90.4 (12-1 championship nascar odds)