NASCAR Countdown Pre-race: ESPN - 1:00pm/et

Television Race Coverage: ESPN, 2:00pm/et

In the Booth: Allen Bestwick, Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree
Pit Reporters: Dave Burns, Mike Massaro, Dr. Jerry Punch, Vince Welch
NASCAR Countdown: Nicole Briscoe, Brad Daugherty, Rusty Wallace, Ray Evernham

SPEED's NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 11:00 am/et with John Roberts, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace

Scheduled Race Re-Air Dates/Times: Monday, October 1 at 12:00am/et on ESPN2
Wednesday, October 3 at 12:00pm/et on SPEED

TV Listings, Links and Info:
Jayski's TV Listings Page
ESPN Network Schedules
SPEED TV Schedule
NASCAR on TV
TV Racer

This Week - Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite NASCAR Channel 90

motorracingnetwork.com

MRN Live Streaming

Practices:
Friday, September 28, 11:00am - 12:25 pm/et, TV-SPEED

Happy Hour 'Final' practice: Friday, September 28, 2:40 - 4:15pm/et, TV-SPEED

Qualifying: 2 laps for positions 1-42, Saturday, September 29 at 1:40 pm/et, TV-SPEED, re-air scheduled at 11:00pm/et.

Track Specifications:
Superspeedway: 1.0-mile oval
Track/Race Length: 1.0 concrete oval, 400 laps, 400 miles
Banking: turns: 24°; straights: 9°
Straights: Frontstretch - 1,076 feet; Backstretch - 1,076 feet
Pit Stalls: 43 stalls, 15 feet wide x 32 feet long
Grandstand Seating: 135,000
Pit Road Speed: 35mph
Pace Car Speed: 45mph
Opened: 1969
Carry-In Items
Coolers: Allowed (14"x14"x14" limit).
Glass containers: Not allowed.
Alcoholic beverages: Beer allowed, no hard liquor or wine.
Cameras/binoculars: Allowed, must be worn separately.

Race Festivities/Officials:
Grand Marshal: Philadelphia Eagles legned Brian Dawkins
Command to start engines: Brian Dawkins
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: Terry Rubitz, vice president of marketing for AAA Mid-Atlantic
Invocation: Pastor Dan Schafer, Calvary Assembly of God in Heightstown, N.J.
National Anthem: Lonestar
Military Flyover: Four F-16's, 119th Fighter Wing

Track Websites:
doverspeedway.com
Dover International Speedway - Facebook
Dover International Speedway - Twitter
Dover Motorsports
Monster Racing

June 2012: see my Dover Race Info page

October 2011: see my Dover Race Info page

June 2012 Race Winner: #48-Jimmie Johnson, 122.835mph, started 2nd

October 2011 Race Winner: #22-Kurt Busch, 119.413mph, started 2nd

Race Speed Record: Mark Martin, 132.719, 9/17/1997

Slowest Race Record: Mark Martin, 97.042mph, 6/6/2004

Oldest Winner: Harry Gant, 52 years, 4 months, 21 days, 5/31/1992

Youngest Winner: Kyle Busch, 23 years, 0 month, 29 days, 6/1/2008

June 2012 Pole Sitter: #55-Mark Martin, 158.297mph, finished 14th

October 2011 Pole Sitter: #56-Martin Truex Jr., 159.004mph, finished 30th

Track Qualifying Record: Jeremy Mayfield, 161.522mph, 6/4/2004

Worst Starting Spot to Win: Kyle Petty, started 37th, 6/1995

Oldest Pole Winner: Mark Martin, 53 years, 4 months, and 24 days, 6/2/2012

Youngest Pole Winner: Jeff Gordon, 23 years, 10 months, 0 days, 6/04/1995

The Numbers for the AAA 400:
0 - fewest cautions (6/6/71)
1 - fewest cars on lead lap at finish (11 times, most recent 9/15/91)
3 - fewest leaders (five times, most recent 5/16/82)
3 - fewest lead changes (10/17/71)
4 - number of jet dryers available for track drying this weekend
6 - fewest laps led by race winner (Jeff Burton, 9/24/06)
6 - most poles (David Pearson)
7 - most wins (Jimmie Johnson, Bobby Allison and Richard Petty)
13 - fewest cars running at finish (5/17/81)
13 - most leaders (three times, most recent 9/24/00)
13 - wins from the pole
16 - most cautions (9/19/93)
18 - races won from a starting position outside the top 10
21 - most cars on lead lap at finish (6/4/06)
29 - most lead changes (twice, most recent 5/18/86)
33 - different race winners
35 - different pole winners
40 - most running at finish (9/21/08)
52 - wins from a top-five starting position
90 minutes - approximate amount of time it takes to dry the one-mile, all-concrete track after a significant rainfall
103 - most caution laps (9/19/93)
491 - most laps led by race winner (Richard Petty, Dodge, 9/15/74)
2012 Caution Update
1 - fewest cautions this season (Fontana)
7 - races extended beyond scheduled distance (Daytona1, Martinsville, Talladega, Darlington, Sonoma, Michigan2, and Atlanta)
13 - most cautions this season (Bristol2)
156 - cautions in the first 28 races of 2012; includes 73 for accidents, 41 for debris and 15 for spins
827 of 7,831 - laps under caution in 2012
1,152.568 of 10,430.436 - miles under caution in the first 28 races
(Darnell Communications for SRT Motorsports and Dodge)(9-28-2012)

Facts and Notes for Dover International Speedway:
· The official opening of Dover International Speedway, then called Dover Downs International Speedway, was in 1969.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on July 6, 1969.
· The first two races at Dover were 300 miles. The race length was changed to 500 miles in 1971.
· The track surface was changed to concrete in 1995.
· The race length was changed to 400 miles beginning with the second race in 1997.
· The track name was changed to Dover International Speedway in 2002.
· There have been 85 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Dover International Speedway since the track opened in 1969.
· There was one race in 1969 and 1970. There has been two-a-year since 1971.
· Richard Petty won the track's first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.
· 33 different drivers have posted victories led by Jimmie Johnson, Bobby Allison and Richard Petty, each with seven. Johnson leads all active drivers.
· David Pearson won the first pole in July 1969.
· There have been 35 different pole winners, led by David Pearson (six).
· Mark Martin leads all active drivers with five poles.
· Hendrick Motorsports has a series-high 14 wins.
· 52 races at Dover have been won from a top-five starting position; 18 races have been won from a starting position outside the top 10.
· 13 drivers have won from the pole. The last to do so was Jimmie Johnson, in the 2010 September race.
· The furthest back in the field a race winner has started was 37th, by Kyle Petty in 1995.
· Several active drivers had their first start at Dover, including three past champions: David Ragan (finished 42nd in 2006), Kurt Busch (18th in 2000), Matt Kenseth (sixth in 1998) and Bobby Labonte (34th in 1991).
· In addition, Matt Kenseth (2002) and Michael Waltrip (1991) earned their first pole at Dover. Martin Truex Jr. won his first race there (2007).
· There have been 85 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Delaware, all at Dover International Speedway.
· Eight drivers in NASCAR's three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as Delaware, though none have posted victories.(NASCAR)(9-25-2012)

For news, stats, records and more about this race track, see: Jayski's Dover International Speedway Track News/Rumors/Links page

Keselowski wins at Dover: #2-Brad Keselowski won the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway for his 5th win of year and 9th career win.
#24-Gordon finished 2nd followed by #55-Martin, #48-Johnson, #99-Edwards, #56-Truex, Jr., #18-Busch, #11-Hamlin, #15-Bowyer, and #20-Logano.
The race came down to fuel mileage with several drivers having to pit late and others slowing down to save gas. Keselowski managed to work his way to the front and save enough gas to win.
#2-Keselowski regains the points lead with 2142, a lead of 5 points over #48-Johnson.
There were 5 cautions for 28 yellow flag laps. There were 11 lead changes among 6 drivers. The average speed was 125.076mph.
The estimated attendence was 85,000, the same as in June and up from 83,000 last September.
See race results, awards, money won, laps led, cautions and more on the Dover Race Results page (pdf) and the official race and points rundown on the Official Dover Race & Points Report.(9-30-2012)

Where did the 12 Chase drivers finish at Dover?
[by points standings before the race (start pos)]
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson, 4th (11)
2) #2-Brad Keselowski, WON (10)
3) #11-Denny Hamlin, 8th (1)
4) #14-Tony Stewart, 20th (24)
5) #5-Kasey Kahne, 15th (9)
6) #15-Clint Bowyer, 9th (2)
7) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr., 11th (25)
8) #29-Kevin Harvick, 13th (13)
9) #16-Greg Biffle, 16th (6)
10) #56-Martin Truex Jr., 6th (3)
11) #17-Matt Kenseth, 35th (12)
12) #24-Jeff Gordon 2nd (7)
(9-30-2012)

2012 Sprint Cup Driver CHASE Championship Points Standings:
[after Dover, race 29 of 36]
1) #2-Brad Keselowski [5 wins], 2142
2) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 2137, -5
3) #11-Denny Hamlin [5 wins], 2126, -16
4) #15-Clint Bowyer [2 wins], 2117, -25
5) #14-Tony Stewart [3 wins], 2110, -32
6) #5-Kasey Kahne [2 wins], 2110, -32
7) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 2103, -39
8) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 2100, -42
9) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 2096, -46
10) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 2094, -48
11) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 2091, -51
12) #17-Matt Kenseth [1 win], 2070, -72
(ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings (pdf)

Race Fast Facts - Dover
Brad Keselowski won the 43rd Annual AAA 400, his ninth victory in 118 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his fifth victory and 18th top-10 finish in 2012.
This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in six races at Dover International Speedway.
Keselowski has now won two of the first three races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Jeff Gordon (second) posted his 22nd top-10 finish in 40 races at Dover International Speedway. It is his 14th top-10 finish in 2012.
Mark Martin (third) posted his 32nd top-10 finish in 53 races at Dover International Speedway.
Brad Keselowski leads the point standings by 5 points over Jimmie Johnson.
(NASCAR Integrated Sports Marketing)(9-30-2012)

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Talladega:
#36 remains in 35th and is now 129 points ahead of 36th, the #21 team.
there virtually no chance the top-35 will change the rest of the season.
Rank) Car#-Driver/Team, owners pts, +/-
34) #32-TBA/FAS Lane Racing, 385 +152
35) #36-Yeley/Baldwin, 362 +129 ahead of 36th
these teams / drivers will need to qualify by speed:
36) #21-Bayne/Wood Bros., 233, -129pts out of the top 35
37) #33-Leicht/Childress-Falk, 230, 132
38) #30-Stremme/Inception, 200, -162
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
For the owner points standings, see the Owners Points Standings (pdf).(9-30-2012)

Dover Notes-n-Nuggets:
" Brad Keselowski captured the ninth win of his career in his 118th race.
" Brad Keselowski earned his first victory at Dover in his sixth start at the Monster Mile.
" Brad Keselowski has now won on seven different tracks.
" Brad Keselowski is the 34th different driver to win at Dover.
" Brad Keselowski picked up his fifth win of 2012, and is now tied for the most with Denny Hamlin.
" Brad Keselowski garnered his second career win during the Chase, both have come in 2012.
" Brad Keselowski took the lead on lap 391 for the final time; he led twice for 14 laps.
" Brad Keselowski assumes the points lead; sixth time in nine Chases that the points lead has changed at Dover.
" Brad Keselowski now has top-nine finishes in 12 of the last 13 races, including three wins.
" Three of Brad Keselowski's nine Cup wins have occurred in fuel mileage races.
" All nine Dover chase races have been won by a Chase driver.
" Penske Racing picked up its 76th career win, including its eighth all-time at Dover and fifth victory in 2012.
" Dodge captured its seventh Dover win and fifth victory of 2012.
" Jeff Gordon (second) picked up his fifth top-three finish in the last six races of 2012; lost three points to the leader.
" Mark Martin (third) posted his 24th top-five finish in 53 Dover starts, the 24 top-fives lead all drivers.
" Jimmie Johnson (fourth) became the only driver with top-five finishes in the first three races of the Chase.
" Carl Edwards (fifth) posted only his third top-five finish of the season and first since the fifth race of the season at Auto Club Speedway.
" Martin Truex Jr (sixth) garnered his seventh top-10 finish in the last 11 races of the season.
" Kyle Busch (seventh) led 302 of the 400 laps, the most of all drivers; failed to win in the last seven races after leading the most laps.
" Denny Hamlin (eighth) posted his first top-10 finish in the last four Dover races.
" Clint Bowyer (ninth) has now captured top-10 finishes in eight of the last nine races; one of three drivers with top-10 finishes in all three Chase races this season.
" Joey Logano (10th) posted his fourth top-10 finish in the last six races of the season including in each of the last three races.
(Racing Resources and Services -- Statistics Racing Recall / nascar.com)(9-30-2012)

2012 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings without Chase:
(classic system using current points but NOT the chase system)
[after Dover, race 29 of 36]
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson(X) [3 wins], 1008
2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(X) [1 win], 1002, -6
3) #2-Brad Keselowski(X) [5 wins], 1001, -7
4) #16-Greg Biffle(X) [2 wins], 999, -9
5) #15-Clint Bowyer(X) [2 wins], 969, -39
6) #11-Denny Hamlin(X) [4 wins], 964, -44
7) #17-Matt Kenseth(X) [1 win], 964, -44
8) #56-Martin Truex Jr.(X) [0 wins], 962, -46
9) #29-Kevin Harvick(X) [0 wins], 937, -71
10) #14-Tony Stewart(X) [3 wins], 911, -97
11) #5-Kasey Kahne(X) [2 wins], 894, -114
12) #24-Jeff Gordon(X) [1 win], 871, -137
13) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 870, -138
14) #99-Carl Edwards [0 wins], 836, -172
15) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win], 830, -178
16) #27-Paul Menard [0 wins], 814, -194
(ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
(X) = a Chase driver.

Lucky Dogs - Who got a lap back on each caution at Dover: (and their finish)
Caution 1: #47-Labonte, 14th
Caution 2: #99-Edwards, 5th
Caution 3: #5-Kahne, 15th
Caution 4: #55-Martin, 3rd
Caution 5: #56-Truex, Jr., 6th
(9-30-2012)

Race Coverage of the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, September 30, 2012.
Television (TV): ESPN at 2:00 pm/et; NASCAR Countdown Pre-Race show at 1:00 pm/et; green flag approx 2:15pm/et
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio 90
Scheduled Race Re-Airs: ESPN2, Monday, October 1 at 12:00am/et; SPEED, Wednesday, October 3 at 12:00pm/et

Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway have been made.
Pole sitter #11-Hamlin chose pit stall 1 [as do most pole sitters].
Outside pole sitter #15-Bowyer took pit stall 10, the next pitstall with an opening in front of it.
#56-Truex, Jr., who starts 3rd took the 17th pit stall, the next with an opening in front of it.
The 43rd and final pit stall was taken by #24-Gordon, who starts 7th.
To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(9-29-2012)

Links to results, practices, qualifying PDF's:
Official Race Report
Race Results
Drivers Points
Owners Points
Pitstalls
Starting Lineup
Qualifying Results
Happy Hour Practice Speeds
Qualifying Order
Practice 1 Speeds
Entry List

NASCAR Green-White-Checkered Race Procedure: NASCAR allows a maximum of three restart attempts prior to the White Flag under NASCAR's Green-White-Checkered flag finish. If the leader has taken the White Flag and the caution flag is displayed, the field is frozen and the race will not be restarted. Previously, there was only one restart attempt. The procedure applies to all three national series. See rule and notes on the Green-White-Checker rule page.

Wave-around rule: The wave-around rule dictates that cars under penalty at the time of the caution are ineligible for the wave around.

See Jayski's - 2012 Sprint Cup Race Results Page for pole winner, race winner with speed and starting/finishing position, links to race results, drivers & owners points, pit stall selections, qualifying results/starting lineup, practice speeds and chase stats as well as link to race track and race information page for each race

Hamlin wins pole at Dover: #11-Denny Hamlin won the pole for the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway with a speed of 159.299mph for his 3rd pole of 2012 and 12th career pole.
#15-Bowyer will start 2nd followed by #56-Truex, Jr., #22-Hornish, Jr., #18-Busch, #16-Biffle, #24-Gordon, #39-Newman, #5-Kahne, and #2-Keselowski.
The go-or-go homers who made the race (8): #6-Stenhouse, Jr., #26, Wise, #91-Sorenson, #98-McDowell, #95-Speed, #23-Riggs, #87-Nemechek, and #37-Blaney.
The go-or-go homers who failed to qualify for the race (5): #30-Stremme, #19-Bliss, #49-Leffler, #33-Whitt, #79-Bires.
See qualifying results, starting lineup, pole progreession, go-or-go-homers on the Dover Qualifying Page. (9-29-2012)

Qualifying Fast Facts - Dover:
Denny Hamlin won the Coors Light Pole Award for the 43rd Annual AAA 400 with a lap of 22.599 seconds, 159.299 mph.
This is his 12th pole in 252 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.
This is his third pole and 17th top-10 start in 2012.
This is his first pole in 14 races at Dover International Speedway. His previous best start was third in September 2007 and September 2008.
Clint Bowyer (second) posted his 12th top-10 start of 2012 and his fifth in 14 races at Dover International Speedway.
Martin Truex Jr. (third) posted his sixth top-10 start at Dover International Speedway. It is his 13th in 29 races this season.
(NASCAR Statistics)(9-29-2012)

Coverage of Qualifying for the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, September 29, 2012 at 1:40pm/et.
Television (TV): SPEED, 1:30pm/et
Scheduled Qualifying Re-Air: 11:00pm/et

Qualifying Order for the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is posted. 48 cars/drivers are listed.
The first of the drivers scheduled to go out is #10-Patrick, slowest in practice.
The final driver scheduled to go out is #56-Truex, Jr., who was fastest in first practice.
Qualifying order is set by the first practice session, with slowest driver going out by speed and the fastest going out last. The non-top 35 drivers are now mixed in with the top-35 in owners points, slowest to fastest.
See the full qualifying order on the Dover Qualifying Page.(9-28-2012)

Rain Out Procedures: the rain-out qualifying procedure for all three NASCAR national series is as follows: If first practice is run, but qualifying is unable to take place, the starting lineup will be based on speeds from the car's fastest lap from the first practice, with top-35 cars in owner points no longer segregated from the non-top 35 cars. Previously, the top 35 cars lined up in front of all other eligible car owners.

Final practice for the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is over after 95 schedule minutes, the top 5, slowest and notes:
#24-Gordon 155.743
#20-Logano 154.586
#48-Johnson 154.579
#51-Busch 154.314
#30-Stremme 153.263
slowest: #93-Kvapil 149.696 & #32-Bell 148.828.
note: Qualifying will be held Saturday at 1:40pm/et and will be shown on SPEED.
See speeds, best top-10 average and laps run on the Dover practice 2 speeds page (pdf).(9-28-2012)

Go-or-Go Homers final practice at Dover: how fast/slow were the drivers who are not in the top-35 of owners points and must qualify by speed to make the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway , where they practiced in the final practice:
the eight drivers who would make the race if things stayed the same:
#30-Stremme, 5th fastest
#95-Speed, 7th
#98-McDowell, 11th
#6-Stenhouse, Jr., 12th
#91-Sorenson, 15th
#23-Riggs, 20th
#87-Nemechek, 24th
#26-Wise, 25th
the five drivers who would miss the race if things stayed the same:
#79-Bires, 27th
#37-Blaney, 30th
#33-Whitt, 33rd
#49-Leffler, 40th
#19-Bliss, 42nd
(9-28-2012)

First Friday practice for the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is over after 58 minutes, the top 5, slowest and notes:
#56-Truex, Jr. 157.092
#15-Bowyer 156.597
#11-Hamlin 156.563
#55-Martin 156.325
#16-Biffle 156.311
slowest: #32-Bell 150.075 & #10-Patrick 148.723.
notes: Practice started about 30 minutes late after early morning rain showers pushed the schedule back and NASCAR had to remove some water from the track after K&N East qualifying. Practice was delayed again for more water on the track.
This practice will set the order for qualifying, which is scheduled for Saturday at 1:40pm/et and will be shown on SPEED.
See speeds, best top-10 average and laps run on the Dover practice 1 speeds page (pdf).(9-28-2012)

Go-or-Go Homers practice at Dover: how fast/slow were the drivers who are not in the top-35 of owners points and must qualify by speed to make the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway , where they practiced in the first practice:
the eight drivers who would make the race if things stayed the same:
#91-Sorenson, 20th fastest
#98-McDowell, 22nd
#6-Stenhouse, Jr., 23rd
#23-Riggs, 24th
#37-Blaney, 27th
#30-Stremme, 28th
#26-Wise, 30th
#87-Nemechek, 31st
the five drivers who would miss the race if things stayed the same:
#95-Speed, 34th
#33-Whitt, 35th
#49-Leffler, 37th
#79-Bires, 39th
#19-Bliss, 40th
(9-28-2012)

Practice delayed: Due to rain showers at Dover this morning, the schedule was delayed slightly. K&N East qualifying concluded at 11:15am/et and Cup practice is expected to start as soon as NASCAR takes care of some water on the track.(9-28-2012)

The Entry List for the AAA 400 Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway is posted, 48 teams/drivers [for 43 spots] are listed, including:
Yeley is in the #36. Patrick back in the #10. Blaney will be in the #37.
Not in top 35 of owners points:
#6-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (none/0)
#19-Mike Bliss (45th in owners pts/22 race attmepts)
#23-Scott Riggs (44/26)
#26-Josh Wise (40/28)
#30-David Stremme (38/28)
#33-Cole Whitt (37/28)
#37-Dave Blaney (50/13)
#49-Jason Leffler (39/24)
#79-Kelly Bires (53/7)
#87-Joe Nemechek (42/28)
#91-Reed Sorenson (54/8)
#95-Scott Speed (43/11)
#98-Michael McDowell (41/28)
In the event that qualifying is cancelled:
the eight who would make it [8]: #'s 33,30,26,98,87,23,49,19
missing the race would be [5]: # 37,95,91,79,6
See the full entry list at my Jayski's Dover Entry List

Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Dover:
#36 remains in 35th and is now 119 points ahead of 36th, the #21 team.
there virtually no chance the top-35 will change the rest of the season.
Rank) Car#-Driver/Team, owners pts, +/-
34) #32-TBA/FAS Lane Racing, 374 +141
35) #36-Yeley/Baldwin, 352 +119 ahead of 36th
these teams / drivers will need to qualify by speed:
36) #21-Bayne/Wood Bros., 233, -119pts out of the top 35
37) #33-Leicht/Childress-Falk, 230, 122
38) #30-Stremme/Inception, 200, -152
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
For the owner points standings, see the Owners Points Standings (pdf).(9-23-2012)

2012 Sprint Cup Driver CHASE Championship Points Standings:
[after New Hampshire, race 28 of 36]
1) #48-Jimmie Johnson [3 wins], 2096
2) #2-Brad Keselowski [4 wins], 2095, -1
3) #11-Denny Hamlin [5 wins], 2089, -7
4) #14-Tony Stewart [3 wins], 2086, -10
5) #5-Kasey Kahne [2 wins], 2081, -15
6) #15-Clint Bowyer [2 wins], 2081, -15
7) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. [1 win], 2070, -26
8) #29-Kevin Harvick [0 wins], 2065, -31
9) #16-Greg Biffle [2 wins], 2063, -33
10) #56-Martin Truex Jr. [0 wins], 2062, -34
11) #17-Matt Kenseth [1 win], 2061, -35
12) #24-Jeff Gordon [1 win], 2051, -45
(ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
See drivers championship points standings on the Drivers Points Standings (pdf)

2012 Sprint Cup Driver Championship Points Standings without Chase:
(classic system using current points but NOT the chase system)
[after Chicago, race 27 of 36]
1) #16-Greg Biffle(X) [2 wins], 971
2) #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr.(X) [1 win], 969, -2
3) #48-Jimmie Johnson(X) [3 wins], 967, -4
4) #17-Matt Kenseth(X) [1 win], 955, -16
5) #2-Brad Keselowski(X) [4 wins], 954, -17
6) #15-Clint Bowyer(X) [2 wins], 933, -38
7) #11-Denny Hamlin(X) [4 wins], 927, -44
8) #56-Martin Truex Jr.(X) [0 wins], 924, -47
9) #29-Kevin Harvick(X) [0 wins], 906, -65
10) #14-Tony Stewart(X) [3 wins], 887, -84
11) #5-Kasey Kahne(X) [2 wins], 865, -106
12) #18-Kyle Busch [1 win], 831, -140
13) #24-Jeff Gordon(X) [1 win], 828, -143
14) #39-Ryan Newman [1 win], 807, -164
15) #99-Carl Edwards [0 wins], 797, -174
16) #27-Paul Menard [0 wins], 792, -179
(ties broken by 1sts, 2nds, 3rd, etc)
(X) = a Chase driver.

Chassis selections for the AAA 400: see the list of many teams and what chassis were selected by the team to run at Dover International Speedway:
MISSING? why are some teams missing? like the #11, #24 or others? those teams do not report what chassis in the race previews or prs.
#1-Jamie McMurray: Crew Chief Kevin "Bono" Manion and the No. 1 McDonald's team will use Chassis #1109 for Dover. Chassis #1109 has been used previously this season at Atlanta finishing 24th.
#2-Brad Keselowski: The No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger team will race chassis PRS-813 during Sunday's AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway (DIS). Keselowski last raced this chassis to a fourth-place finish at Pocono Raceway last month. It has been updated to the current Penske Racing specification.
#5-Kasey Kahne: Crew chief Kenny Francis has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 5-717 for Sunday's race at Dover. Kahne has raced this car to three top-10 finishes in three starts this season, including an eighth-place result in April at Kansas Speedway, a track in the Chase.
#9-Marcos Ambrose: The No. 9 RPM team has prepared chassis No. 743 for this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race at Dover International Speedway. This DEWALT Ford was run previously this season at Bristol and Darlington.
#14-Tony Stewart: Chassis No. 14-708: This car debuted in May in the Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C) Raceway where Stewart rallied Chassis No. 14-708 from its 17th-place starting spot to finish third. Its second start came in June at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. It endured a much different outing, qualifying 29th and finishing 25th, 69 laps down after getting caught up in a 12-car accident on lap 10 of the 400-lap race around the 1-mile, concrete oval. With new sheet metal all around, Chassis No. 14-708 returned to the concrete for its third career start in August for the night race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. There, the car rallied from being a lap down in 34th place early in the race to vying for the lead with Matt Kenseth on lap 333. Stewart and Kenseth banged fenders and crashed, whereupon Stewart threw his helmet with pinpoint accuracy at Kenseth's car. The resulting 27th-place finish was at least offset by the "10" Stewart received from the Bristol crowd. Chassis No. 14-708 will make its fourth career start and second at Dover in the AAA 400 on Sunday.
#15-Clint Bowyer: Primary chassis No. 733 finished sixth a Pocono in June and eighth at Pocono in August in its only racing action this season. Backup chassis No. 716 finished sixth at Las Vegas and also ran at Kansas, Kentucky and Indy.
#16-Greg Biffle: Primary: RK-809 Last ran Michigan - finished 4th; Backup: RK-803 Last ran Pocono - finished 15th
#17-Matt Kenseth: Primary: RK-802 (Last run at Bristol)
#22-Sam Hornish, Jr.: and his Todd Gordon-led Penske Racing No. 22 Team will be utilizing the "PRS-826" Shell-Pennzoil Dodge Charger this weekend at Dover. This is the same car that Penske Racing teammate Brad Keselowski drove in the May Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In that race, the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge started 24th and finished fifth. Keselowski's team also utilized this Dodge Charger in the August Michigan race, where they started 19th and finished second. The chassis has been sent back through the Penske Racing shop and updated with the latest components and adorned with the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil color scheme prior to its return to action this weekend at Dover. The "819" chassis will serve as the backup this weekend. It was the car that AJ Allmendinger drove to a second-place finish in the April Martinsville race and served as the backup at several races including Atlanta.
#27-Paul Menard: will pilot Chassis No. 379 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in this weekend's AAA 400. This Chevrolet was last raced at Pocono Raceway in August, where he started third and finished 11th. It was also utilized earlier this season at Charlotte Motor Speedway (July) in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race where Menard finished 16th, Kansas Speedway where he finished 18th and Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March where he finished seventh.
#29-Kevin Harvick: will pilot Chassis No.383 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable in this weekend's AAA 400. Harvick raced this chassis at Phoenix International Raceway in March and Dover International Speedway in June, collecting second-place finishes in both events. Most recently, the Bakersfield, Calif., native drove this Chevrolet to a 15th-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in August.
#31-Jeff Burton: will race Chassis No. 392 from the Richard Childress Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stable this weekend. This No. 31 Chevrolet was utilized in June at Dover International Speedway where engine issues thwarted Burton's top-five run and relegated him to a 22nd-place finish. This was car also raced at Kentucky Speedway in June where Burton piloted this machine to a 24th-place finish after starting 29th.
#36-J.J. Yeley: will drive chassis No. 304. The chassis was recently purchased from Richard Childress Racing. Blaney drove the chassis in its TBR debut at Chicagoland Speedway this season.
#39-Ryan Newman: Chassis No. 39-733: It's been four starts and four top-10 finishes for Chassis No. 39-733 since making its debut at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July. At Indianapolis, Newman and his team overcame an ill-handling racecar and used quick pit work to help engineer a run into the top-10. The crew turned the car around in just a couple of days and took Chassis No. 39-733 to Pocono (Pa.) Raceway the following weekend. There, Newman ran in the top-10 for most of the rain-shortened race and finished sixth. Two weeks later, Chassis No. 39-733 was back on track at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, where it finished eighth. Its most recent start came two weekends ago at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., where it earned its first top-five finish.
#42-Juan Pablo Montoya: Crew Chief Chris "Shine" Heroy and the No. 42 Target team will travel to Dover with Chassis #1111. This Chassis made its debut in last season's finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, leading two laps and finishing 31st after an accident put the No. 42 four laps down. This season, this chassis has seen track time at Bristol finishing eighth, Darlington Raceway, finishing 27th and Dover, finishing 28th.
#43-Aric Almirola:: The No. 43 team has prepared chassis No. 742 for Dover. This chassis ran previously this season at Chicago, Pocono and Darlington.
#48-Jimmie Johnson:: Chassis No. 728 serves as the primary for Johnson at Dover. Chassis No. 681 serves as the backup.
#55-Mark Martin: Primary - 729 - Car won pole at Dover in June, finished third at Texas, 10th at Atlanta with Martin behind wheel. Backup - 732 - raced at Charlotte.
#88-Dale Earnhardt, Jr.: Crew chief Steve Letarte and the No. 88 team will unload Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-745 this weekend at Dover. Earnhardt first raced this chassis to a 12th-place finish at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in August.
#99-Carl Edwards: RK-820 - This car last ran Indy where it finished 29th.
(from team PR's/sites if reported)(9-27-2012)

Tire: Goodyear Eagle Speedway Radials

Number of Tires:
Sprint Cup: Left-side -- 1,250, Right-side -- 1,300;
Nationwide: Left-side -- 450, Right-side -- 450

Set limits: Sprint Cup:
5 sets for practice/qualifying and 10 sets for the race;
Nationwide: 6 sets for the event

Tire Codes:
Left-side -- D-4556; Right-side -- D-4440

Tire Circumference:
Left-side -- 87.4 in. (2,220 mm);
Right-side -- 88.4 in. (2,246 mm)

Technical Inspection Inflation:
Left Front -- 30 psi; Left Rear -- 30 psi;
Right Front -- 50 psi; Right Rear -- 47 psi

Minimum Recommended Inflation:
Left Front -- 23 psi; Left Rear -- 21 psi;
Right Front -- 49 psi; Right Rear -- 45 psi

Notes: Teams in both the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will run the same Goodyear tire codes at Dover this weekend . . . this is the same combination of left- and right-side tires that Sprint Cup and Nationwide teams ran at Dover earlier this season . . . these teams have also run this right-side tire code (D-4440) at Kentucky in 2012 . . . this tire set-up came out of a Goodyear test prior to the spring race at Dover on April 17-18 . . . drivers participating in that test were A.J. Allmendinger, Marcos Ambrose, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and Martin Truex Jr. . . . Dover is unique among NASCAR ovals one mile or less in length, in that inner liners are required on all four tire positions . . . air pressure in those inner liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.