NASCAR Sprint Cup: 8 Most Disappointing Drivers So Far in 2012 Season

A third of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season is in the books, and the Dover race will mark the halfway point to the Chase. The pattern of contenders for the title is becoming defined, but it isn't looking good for some who should be in that mix.

They say the cream rises to the top, and many of those who were expected to win races and finish well have for the most part.

There are some surprises, though, when one takes a look at the point standings. With points being so critical, if you don't win races or have consistently good finishes, the Chase may be unattainable.

Some drivers on this list were not expected to contend for the championship, while others were.

Many teams made huge changes over the past winter. It has paid off for some and been a source of consternation for others.

In no particular order, this slideshow will highlight drivers who have failed to meet expectations for the 2012 Cup season.  

Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Ford, was tied in points for the Sprint Cup series championship in 2011, but Tony Stewart captured the title by virtue of his wins.

Edwards claimed to have it all behind him at the start of the 2012 season, and he stopped running Nationwide races to concentrate on the Cup.

Things have not gone as well as anticipated for this Roush Fenway Racing driver, who is currently winless and 10th in points. He only has two top-five out of eight top-10 finishes.

Edwards is 81 markers out of the lead in the standings. He is going to have to win races and improve his consistency, because a couple more bad races could find him out of the Chase.

Juan Pablo Montoya

Juan Montoya, driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet for Earnhardt/Ganassi Racing, is 18th in the point standings, 157 markers behind the leader.

During the offseason, major changes were made with personnel at EGR. Some were tough choices that were made with the hope of improved performance for Montoya and Jamie McMurray.

Montoya has only had one top-10 finish this season, and his average finish for 2012 is 19.5. He was involved in two accidents that gave him poor finishes, but his performance has been inconsistent.

It is unlikely he will win any races, and his lack of consistency will likely continue with sporadic competitive performance.

Joey Logano

Expectations were high for Joey Logano, driver of the No. 20 Home Depot Toyota, heading into the 2012 season. Even the driver thought he would finally have a good season, but he is 16th in points.

This year started with a couple of top-10 finishes, but he has had just one of those in the last 10 races. He is 139 points out of the lead, and only wins could get him a wild-card chance at the Chase.

Logano is in a contract year, and unless there is a dramatic improvement in his performance, it seems probable he will be out of the Home Depot ride in 2013.

Wins are expected with that kind of sponsorship.

Jeff Burton

Jeff Burton, driver of the No. 31 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, is currently 17th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings. He is 153 markers behind the leader, Greg Biffle.

In 2011, RCR signed Burton to a multi-year contract extension and extended sponsorship with Caterpillar, who has sponsored the car since 2004.

The driver, sometimes referred to as the "Mayor," is highly respected in the sport of NASCAR, but despite the loyalty of RCR and his sponsors and the top-tier equipment, his performance is less than stellar.

This season, Burton has finished in the top 10 three times, one of which was a top-five finish. He has had a few strong runs, but mostly qualifiers and finishes around mid-pack.

The 2011 season saw Burton finish 20th in the standings. Prior to that, he made the Chase in four out of five seasons, but it looks like he won't be adding to his 21 career Cup wins in 2012.

Jeff Gordon

Four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon has suffered a plethora of unlucky happenings during the the 2012 season. He has had the worst performance of any Hendrick Motorsports driver in his No. 24 Chevrolet.

Engine failure, accidents, tire problems and pit miscues have combined to take this driver out of contention in most races. He is currently ranked 22nd in points with three top-10 finishes.

This driver with 85 career Cup wins has not found Victory Lane this year, and with a 174-point deficit, he will have to win a couple of races to get a chance at the wild-card slots for the Chase.

Gordon has had fast equipment, but not fast enough to outrun his bad luck. Perhaps his seventh-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 is a sign of things turning for the better.

Jamie McMurray

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing made massive changes within the organization prior to the 2012 season. It was a major effort to get the two drivers, Jamie McMurray and Juan Montoya, in winning form.

Currently, McMurray is 21st in the point standings, 167 markers behind the leader in the series.

The driver of the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet has had two top-10 finishes, and his average finish for the season is 20.2.

He started the season with an accident at Daytona, followed by engine problems at Phoenix. He has had sporadic bursts of performance, but nine races have ended in 14th position or worse.

A.J. Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger got the ride of his life when he took over the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge at Penske Racing. He knew there would be adjustments at his new job, but he expected to win and finish well.

Currently, Allmendinger is 24th in the standings, 189 points out of the lead. He has only had one top-five finish, and his average finish is 22.2.

Five of his finishes have been 32nd or worse with most around mid-pack. He has had his share of mechanical mishaps that have been uncharacteristic of a Penske ride.

It will be tough for Allmendinger to catch up with teammate Brad Keselowski, who has one win and is 11th in the point standings.

This is another driver who has had a fast car quite often, but a variety of issues have proved detrimental to his finishes.

Kasey Kahne

Kasey Kahne is not only a candidate for the list of disappointing drivers, but he would also make a list for most improved performance.

After a wait of more than 18 months, Kahne finally got his ride in the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. He was expected to come out of the gate strong under the guidance of Kenny Francis.

His first six races were plagued with weirdness, resulting in some poor finishes that had him mired deep in the points.

Kahne seems to have found the magic with his string of six top-10 finishes, the last one being a win at the Coca-Cola 600.

Currently, this driver is still 15th in the standings, 123 points out of the lead.

He may need to get more wins to guarantee his place in the Chase, but if his streak of strong runs is an indicator, it shouldn't be a problem.