The All-Star Hot 20 is led by its hottest driver; Mr. Johnson, I presume

When it comes to driving for a championship, nobody has done it better this past decade than Jimmie Johnson. Collecting six of the past eight season titles gives a fellow a certain reputation. Add to that four All-Star race victories, and eight Top Fives in just a dozen events, and I think we have discovered our favorite for Saturday night.

Before they just hand over the million bucks, there will be challengers. The 42-year old Jeff Gordon has been in this thing for half of his life. He will be in his 21st event, a competition he has won three times to tie him with Dale Earnhardt for the second most decisions. Eight others taking the auto out for a spin know what it is like to win this Charlotte exhibition once. Carl Edwards has a win in eight attempts, while Matt Kenseth has a single win but has been in the Top Ten in ten of his 13 attempts. Dale Earnhardt Jr won it his first time out in 2000, with his dad by his side in Victory Lane. Since then, he has rang up an additional ten Top Tens himself, to go with the 2012 Showdown to get into the Saturday night feature.

As for the Friday night Showdown this year, Clint Bowyer could well get in to Saturday’s fun by finishing amongst the top two. The fan vote selection could go to Danica Patrick, though rookies Austin Dillon and Kyle Larson should get some well deserved consideration. I would expect one of them to make it by finishing alongside Bowyer at the finish line, if both do not actually find themselves ahead of the veteran at the end.

If you like what you see each and every week, you are in luck. Those very same faces will be under the helmets this weekend, but points matter not and winning means a million reasons to celebrate. History tells us the winner will be a name we might already know, and destined to be one we shall always remember. Let the fun begin.

1. Jimmie Johnson 12 races, 4 wins, 8 top fives, 8 top tens
2. Jeff Gordon 20 races, 3 wins, 6 top fives, 9 top tens
3. Tony Stewart 15 races, 1 win, 8 top fives, 9 top tens
4. Kurt Busch 12 races, 1 win, 5 top fives, 7 top tens
5. Matt Kenseth 13 races, 1 win, 5 top fives, 10 top tens
6. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 14 races, 1 win, 4 top fives, 11 top tens
7. Carl Edwards 8 races, 1 win, 3 top fives, 5 top tens
8. Ryan Newman 12 races, 1 win, 3 top fives, 7 top tens
9. Kasey Kahne 10 races, 1 win, 2 top fives, 4 top tens
10. Kevin Harvick 13 races, 1 win, 2 top fives, 7 top tens
11. Kyle Busch 8 races, 3 top fives, 4 top tens
12. Joey Logano 3 races, 2 top fives, 3 top tens
13. Denny Hamlin 7 races, 2 top fives, 4 top tens
14. Greg Biffle 10 races, 2 top fives, 3 top tens
15. Brian Vickers 3 races, 1 top five, 1 top ten
16. Martin Truex, Jr. 4 races, 1 top five, 2 top tens
17. Brad Keselowski 5 races, 1 top five, 2 top tens
18. David Ragan 3 races 1 top ten
19. Jamie McMurray 7 races, 2 top tens
20. Danica Patrick 1 race