For the first five races of the season, the top 35 teams from the final 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car owner points get guaranteed starting spots. After the first five weeks, the guaranteed berths are based on the 2009 owner point standings. Already, there are some concerned teams out there.

For example:

Robby Gordon (No. 7 Jim Beam Toyota) Is currently 33rd in car owner points. As a car owner and driver, he has all the weight on his shoulders to stay in the top 35.

Gordon posted a 31st at Daytona and a 12th at Auto Club Speedway. His best finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was 12th in 2006.

Ryan Newman (No. 39 Haas Automation Chevrolet) joined Stewart-Haas Racing and car owner/driver Tony Stewart (No. 14 Old Spice Chevrolet) this season. He is currently 34th in car owner points after posting a 36th at Daytona and 28th at Auto Club Speedway. Newman has amounted one top five, four top 10s, and a pole in eight starts at LVMS.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Amp Energy/National Guard Chevrolet) has had a rough two weeks to start the season and comes into Las Vegas 35th in car owner points. He finished 27th at Daytona and 39th at ACS.

Earnhardt has NEVER missed a race since becoming a full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup driver in 2000. Earnhardt has posted two top-five and three top-10 finishes at Las Vegas in nine starts.

Aric Almirola (No. 8 TomTom Chevrolet) is 36th in the car owner point — two points behind 35th. Driving for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing he has posted a 30th at Daytona and 35th at ACS.

Almirola has only one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at LVMS in 2007 — he finished 41st.

Joey Logano (No. 20 Home Depot Toyota) and Joe Gibbs currently are 37th in car owner points — 14 points back from 35th. In ’09 Logano has posted a 43rd at Daytona and a 26th at Auto Club Speedway. Practice on Friday, Feb. 27 will be the first laps Logano has run in any of NASCAR’s national series at LVMS.