Statistically speaking: don't give up on Biffle, hand the title to Stewart, and say goodbye to Mears and Jarrett.(NASCAR)

If you think OPS is confusing--that would be on-base percentage plus slugging percentage in baseball-wait until you get a load of NASCAR's new stats. The most intriguing is driver rating, which factors in wins, finishes, top 15 finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, most laps led and lead lap finishes.

Although the list of components in the driver rating may be a mouthful, the statistic is revealing as to the quality of a driver's performance beyond what shows up in the points standings.

Driver rating is one of many new stats NASCAR has been keeping track of to better measure what happens during a race. Although the most important stat is and always will be a simple one-average points per race-a look at NASCAR's new stats reveals several trends to watch as the season hits the summer stretch.

Casey Mears and Dale Jarrett will fall. Mears is 11th in points and Jarrett is 12th. But neither has an impressive driver rating, and neither has spent an impressive number of laps in the top 15. Jarrett has led three laps, Mears two. So what's propping them up? They both have been great closers, each improving consistently in the last 10 percent of a race. But even that's not always a measure of success; Ken Schrader is among the best in that category, and he's 30th in points. This early in the season, late-race improvement often can be traced to luck. Late-race incidents ...