By Jeff Wackerlin, MotorRacingNetwork.com
1. Denny Hamlin: Scored first top 10 in five starts last year after finishing fifth; Fifth best average finish (8.0) in the two races with the COT; Won the pole and led 74 laps on the last 1.5-mile track (Atlanta) before the engine expired; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 285) in the Price Chopper 400.
2. Jimmie Johnson: Won the 2008 race after leading 124 laps; Three-time pole winner; Ninth-place finish in this event last year was sixth top 10 in eight starts; Third-best average finish (5.0) in the two races with the COT; Eighth best average finish (13.3) in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 592) that finished third at Atlanta earlier this month.
3. Kyle Busch: 24.3 average finish in six starts; Only top 10 came with Hendrick Motorsports in 2006; Scored best finish with Joe Gibbs Racing in 12th last year; Tied for the second-best average finish (11.3) in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 274) that most recently finished fifth at Atlanta.
4. Kurt Busch: 19.3 average finish in four starts with Penske Racing; Two top 10s came in previous five starts with Roush Racing; Fourth-best average finish (12.2) in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Tied for the most laps led on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010 with 393; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 735) in the Price Chopper 400.
5. Kevin Harvick: 15.9 average finish in nine starts; 24th-place finish last season ended streak of consecutive sixth-place finishes; 16.0 average finish in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 318) in the Price Chopper 400.
6. Carl Edwards: 13.3 average finish in six starts; Overcame a pit road speeding penalty last year to finish 10th; Led 31 laps and finished second in this event last year; 15th-best average finish (17.3) in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 695) that finished third at Michigan last month.
7. Jeff Burton: 18.6 average finish in nine starts; Scored second top 10 in six starts with Richard Childress Racing in 2008 in seventh; Seventh-best average finish (13.2) in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 323) in the Price Chopper 400.
8. Jeff Gordon: Leads all drivers with an 8.9 average finish; Two-time winner; Tied for the best average finish (3.0) in the two races with the COT; Finished in the top five in last three starts; Fifth-best average finish (12.3) in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Tied for the most laps led on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010 with 393.
9. Greg Biffle: 2007 winner; Tied for the best average finish (3.0) in the two races with the COT; 21.8 average finish in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will debut a new car (chassis No. 706) in the Price Chopper 400.
10. Tony Stewart: Scored second win in this event last year; Victory came in first track start with Stewart-Haas Racing; 13.2 average finish in nine starts; Latest winner on a 1.5-mile track after leading 176 laps at Atlanta; Sixth-best average finish (12.8) in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 515) that he won with at Atlanta.
11. Matt Kenseth: 22.1 average finish in nine starts; Finished 39th last year after engine failure; Fifth-place finish in 2008 was third top 10; Has led 99 laps in last three races; Leads all drivers with a 10.2 average finish in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 698) that he finished 14th with at Richmond.
12. Clint Bowyer: Two top 10s came in first two starts in 2006 and 2007; 16.5 average finish in the two races with the COT; 10th-best average finish (14.2) in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 306) that finished fourth at Chicagoland.
13. Ryan Newman: Posted a 1.7 average finish in first three starts; Won the 2003 event; Has yet to post a top 10 in six starts since his win; Finished 22nd last season in track debut with Stewart-Haas Racing; 14.2 average finish in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season.
13. Ryan Newman: Posted a 1.7 average finish in first three starts; Won the 2003 event; Has yet to post a top 10 in six starts since his win; Finished 22nd last season in track debut with Stewart-Haas Racing; 14.2 average finish in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season.
14. Jamie McMurray: 21.0 average finish in seven starts; Will make track debut in an Earnhardt-Ganassi Chevrolet; 19.2 average finish in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 1006) that posted top-five finishes at Darlington and Chicagoland.
15. Juan Pablo Montoya: Posted first top 10 last year with a fourth-place finish; 17.3 average finish in three starts; 22.8 average finish in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 910) that finished seventh at Pocono in June.
15. Juan Pablo Montoya: Posted first top 10 last year with a fourth-place finish; 17.3 average finish in three starts; 22.8 average finish in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 910) that finished seventh at Pocono in June.
16. Mark Martin: 2005 winner; Won the pole and finished seventh in this event last year; 12.4 average finish in nine starts; 13.8 average finish in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will race chassis No. 523 for the fourth time this season; This chassis saw its best finish at Auto Club in fourth.
17. David Reutimann: Finished eighth last season for first top 10 in three starts; One win and an 18.7 average finish in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season.
18. Dale Earnhardt Jr: Started second and finished 36th last season after engine failure; Finished 13th in 2008 in first track start with Hendrick Motorsports; Four top 10s came in previous starts with Dale Earnhardt, Inc.; Best finish (sixth) came in 2002 when he won the pole; 17.7 average finish and 56 laps led in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 599) that finished in the top 10 at Michigan and Texas this year.
19. Kasey Kahne: Finished sixth last season for second top 10 in six starts; Won the pole for the 2006 race; Tied for the second-best average finish (11.3) in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Fourth in laps led on 1.5-mile tracks in 2010 with 160.
20. Joey Logano: 33.5 average finish in two starts; 21.3 average finish in the six races on 1.5-mile tracks this season; Will return in the same car (chassis No. 278) that most recently finished fourth at Richmond.
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