NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings: Clint Bowyer drops to 5th after Talladega

After 30 of the season's 36 races, Clint Bowyer currently sits in fifth place overall in the latest NASCAR Sprint Cup standings following Sunday's race at the Talladega Superspeedway.

Bowyer, who has earned $4,483,140 in winnings this season, is one of eight NASCAR racers to have already taken two checkered flags thus far in 2012. With six races left to go, Bowyer trails Sprint Cup leader Brad Keselowski by a mere 40 points, 2,179 to 2,139. Along with Keselowski, Bowyer is one of few real contenders for the 2012 crown to have never actually grabbed the pole position once this year.

Also falling down the standings slightly was Carl Edwards, who moved from No. 14 to No. 15. Despite owning 19 career victories on the NASCAR circuit, Edwards has been unable to pull out a single win in 2012. And with only 844 points this year, a number that puts him well off the pace of his more successful peers, it looks like Edwards will be hard-pressed to turn his frustrating season around down the stretch.