Early success bodes well for Busch's title aspirations

Kyle Busch capped off the first half of the Sprint Cup Series season with what has become a very familiar routine -- the bow.

Busch's victory bows have been plentiful this season. He has won six times, and the victories have come at different styles of tracks -- proof of Busch's versatility and driving ability.

The news gets better for Busch. In Cup Series history, 20 drivers have won six or more races through the first 18 events -- 14 have gone on to win the series championship.

Inside the Numbers
Drivers who won six or more races through the first 18 events

Name Year Wins First 18 Wins Remainder Position
Herb Thomas 1954 6 6 1
Tim Flock 1955 6 12 1
Buck Baker 1956 7 7 1
Junior Johnson 1965 7 6 12
Richard Petty 1967 7 20 1
David Pearson 1968 7 9 1
Richard Petty 1971 8 13 1
David Pearson 1973 8 3 8
Cale Yarborough 1974 8 2 2
Richard Petty 1975 8 5 1
David Pearson 1976 7 3 9
Cale Yarborough 1977 7 2 1
Darrell Waltrip 1981 6 6 1
Darrell Waltrip 1982 6 6 1
Bill Elliott 1985 9 2 2
Dale Earnhardt 1987 8 3 1
Dale Earnhardt 1990 6 3 1
Dale Earnhardt 1993 6 0 1
Jeff Gordon 1996 6 4 2
Jeff Gordon 1997 7 3 1
Kyle Busch 2008 6 -- --

Even with Busch's prosperity, the first half has seen a rare combination of competitive balance and singular success, as the following statistics prove:

• 10 different race winners
• 11 different pole winners
• 46 drivers have led at least one lap
• 74 drivers have attempted to qualify for at least one Cup race
• All four manufacturers are in the top 12
• All four manufacturers have won at least three races

The races themselves have offered the usual heated competition. Some highlights:

Daytona 500
• The 16 leaders was the second-highest total in the history of the Daytona 500.
• The 42 lead changes at the start-finish line were the most since 2001 (49) and the fifth time since 1972 that there have been 40 or more lead changes.
• There were 77 Green Flag Passes for the Lead around the track, which is second-most at Daytona since 2005, when the gathering of Loop Data began.

California
• There was a record 33 lead changes. The previous record was 30.

Coca-Cola 600
• There were 2,850 green flag passes during the 2008 Coca-Cola 600, up almost 900 passes from last year's 600.

Michigan
• Tied a track-best 3,204 green flag passes.

Among other notable occurrences in the first half of the 2008 season:

• Dale Earnhardt Jr. grabbed his first win since 2006. The transition to Hendrick Motorsports has been a smooth one for Earnhardt, as he's already matched his 2007 numbers of seven top-five and 12 top-10 finishes.

• Kasey Kahne and Greg Biffle are having comeback years. After struggling in 2007, both Kahne and Biffle find themselves in the top 12. Kahne has been especially strong, with two wins (as well as a victory in the All-Star Race) after getting blanked last season.

• Hendrick Motorsports "struggling." You know you set the bar high when you have three drivers in the top six, and it's perceived to be a "down" year. That's how good Hendrick Motorsports was in 2007. Through 18 races in '07, Hendrick drivers had 10 wins; this season, they have two.

• There's been new blood at the top. Three different drivers -- Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman -- have led the series standings for the first time in their careers.