NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver statistical advance: Kansas Speedway

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Kansas Speedway Data

Season Race #: 8 of 36

Track Size: 1.5-miles

Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 17-20 degrees

Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 17-20 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 10 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 2,685 feet

Backstretch Length: 2,207 feet

Race Length: 267 laps / 400 miles

NASCAR Pre-Race: Fox – 12:30pm/et
Television Race Coverage: Fox, 1:00pm/et
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 1:16pm/et

Race Festivities/Officials:
Grand Marshal: Richard Petty
Command to start engines: Richard Petty
Honorary Officials: Kansas City Chiefs Jeff Allen, Don Stephenson
National Anthem: Season Two X Factor winner Tate Stevens

Qualifying/Race Data

2012 pole winner: AJ Allmendinger, Dodge, 175.993 mph, 30.683 secs. 04-20-12

2012 race winner: Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 144.122 mph, (02:46:44), 04-22-12

Track qualifying record: Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 191.360 mph, 28.219 secs. 10-21-12

Track race record: Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 144.122 mph, (02:46:44), 04-22-12

Greg Biffle (No. 16 ACE Brand Ford)

· Two wins, seven top fives, nine top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 9.5

· Average Running Position of 7.6, second-best

· Driver Rating of 113.0, second-best

· 202 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

· 650 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 163.872 mph, second-fastest

· Series-high 2,354 Laps in the Top 15 (89.9%)

· 435 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-Hour Energy Toyota)

· One top five, four top 10s

· Average finish of 14.0

· Driver Rating of 88.9, 13th-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 163.196 mph, 12th-fastest

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Aflac Ford)

· Four top fives, eight top 10s

· Average finish of 10.8

· Average Running Position of 13.0, eighth-best

· Driver Rating of 95.1, sixth-best

· 115 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

· 723 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 163.343 mph, eighth-fastest

· 1,740 Laps in the Top 15 (66.5%), ninth-most

· 407 Quality Passes, fourth-most

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet)

· Two wins, eight top fives, 10 top 10s

· Average finish of 11.0

· Average Running Position of 8.9, third-best

· Driver Rating of 101.5, fourth-best

· 99 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 163.720 mph, third-fastest

· 2,331 Laps in the Top 15 (89.0%), third-most

· 416 Quality Passes, third-most

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet)

· One top five, six top 10s

· Average finish of 12.9

· Average Running Position of 13.2, ninth-best

· Driver Rating of 90.6, eighth-best

· 79 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

· Series-high 782 Green Flag Passes

· Average Green Flag Speed of 163.199 mph, 11th-fastest

· 1,754 Laps in the Top 15 (67.0%), seventh-most

· 358 Quality Passes, eighth-most

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s / KOBALT Tools Chevrolet)

· Two wins, five top fives, 11 top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 8.0

· Series-best Average Running Position of 7.2

· Series-best Driver Rating of 119.5

· Series-high 403 Fastest Laps Run

· 703 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most

· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 164.270 mph

· 2,335 Laps in the Top 15 (89.2%), second-most

· Series-high 453 Quality Passes

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance 85th Anniversary Chevrolet)

· Two top fives, five top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 15.0

· Average Running Position of 14.3, 12th-best

· Driver Rating of 89.8, 11th-best

· 108 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

· 725 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 163.230 mph, 10th-fastest

· 1,651 Laps in the Top 15 (63.1%), 10th-most

· 338 Quality Passes, 10th-most

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 The Home Depot / Husky Toyota)

· One win, five top fives, eight top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 15.8

· Average Running Position of 10.1, fourth-best

· Driver Rating of 106.4, third-best

· 169 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 163.528 mph, fifth-fastest

· 2,104 Laps in the Top 15 (80.4%), fourth-most

· 353 Quality Passes, ninth-most

Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Ford)

· One win, two top fives, three top 10s

· Average finish of 9.8

· Average Running Position of 12.8, seventh-best

· Driver Rating of 90.1, 10th-best

Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)

· One win, two top fives, five top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 15.3

· Average Running Position of 12.4, sixth-best

· Driver Rating of 91.3, seventh-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 163.190 mph, 13th-fastest

· 1,777 Laps in the Top 15 (67.9%), sixth-most

· 289 Quality Passes, 13th-most

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Bass Pro Shops / Mobil 1 Chevrolet)

· Two wins, six top fives, nine top 10s

· Average finish of 11.7

· Average Running Position of 10.4, fifth-best

· Driver Rating of 100.8, fifth-best

· 137 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

· 668 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 163.537 mph, fourth-fastest

· 1,951 Laps in the Top 15 (74.5%), fifth-most

· 390 Quality Passes, fifth-most

Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)

· Two top fives, two top 10s

· Average finish of 20.9

· Average Running Position of 13.8, 10th-best

· Driver Rating of 90.5, ninth-best

· 104 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 163.378 mph, sixth-fastest

· 1,464 Laps in the Top 15 (62.3%), 13th-most

Chase Contenders

The Top 12 Following Race 7 of 36

Driver	Points	Wins	Poles	Week	Rating
1. Jimmie Johnson	269	2	1	1	115.5
2. Brad Keselowski	260	0	0	2	100.2
3. Kyle Busch	251	2	2	4	113.0
4. Greg Biffle	239	0	0	6	89.9
5. Carl Edwards	234	1	0	7	88.6
6. Dale Earnhardt Jr.	234	0	0	3	97.7
7. Kasey Kahne	232	1	0	5	103.3
8. Clint Bowyer	208	0	0	8	90.9
9. Joey Logano	207	0	0	11	89.6
10. Paul Menard	206	0	0	9	79.0
11. Matt Kenseth	204	1	0	10	109.7
12. Kevin Harvick	192	0	0	14	92.5

Did You Know?

There has been one NSCS race resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Kansas Speedway: fall of 2011
Youngest Kansas winner: Ryan Newman (10/05/2003 – 25 years, 9 months, 27 days).
Oldest Kansas winner: Mark Martin (10/09/2005 – 46 years, 9 months, 0 days).
The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kansas Speedway was 25th, by Brad Keselowski in the spring of 2011
Eight of the 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.

Source: NASCAR Media

Military flyovers at NASCAR races suspended due to budget cuts

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Daytona International Speedway did not have a flyover for the Rolex 24 nor the 150-mile qualifying races. Ever wonder why there wasn’t one? There wasn’t one for the NASCAR Nationwide race either, which came to me as kind of unusual for one of the biggest races of the 2013 season at Daytona International Speedway, but did have the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds for the Daytona 500 (scheduled) and present the day before for the media.

Automatic budget cuts known as “sequestration” came upon the military across the board starting on March 1st suspending all Air Force flyovers immediately – with the exception of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird Aerial Demonstration Team (F-16 Fighting Falcons).

According to Wendy Varhegyi, the chief of the engagement division for Air Force public affairs, the suspension of flyovers are due to Military spending cuts of 30 percent which have forced the Air Force to trim flying hours by 18%. The cuts are coming mainly from air shows and flyovers. This would include all sports, not just NASCAR, through the end of the fiscal year – September 30, 2013.

Luke Air Force Base (AZ) was not allowed to provide a flyover for tomorrow’s (Sunday, March 3rd) Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. As the sequestration kicks in, base officials announced today that Luke’s 2013 Open House and Air Show, “Storm on the Horizon,” originally scheduled for March 16th-17th, has been canceled.

However, race fans will still see a flyover on Sunday, but thanks to a private company that provided Phoenix International Raceway with a B-17 Flying Fortress for the flyover, which is not a part of Air Force inventory. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and Las Vegas Motor Speedway have been locked into an agreement with Nellis Air Force Base for its March 10th Cup event. But as of April 1st, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will be grounded.

Source: Luke AFB, Google, ESPN.com

New format announced for 2013 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Karen Pistone

CMS President /COO Marcus Smith and driver Brad Keselowski unveil the Bruton’s Big Bonus race car for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. Photo courtesy of Sprint Media Relations.

The sport’s annual classic NASCAR All-Star Race is set for Saturday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. (live on SPEED) from Charlotte Motor Speedway.

This year’s NASCAR All-Star race places emphasis mainly on finishing well in each of the five segments.

Here’s what’s new: The running order at the completion of the fourth segment (Lap 80) will be repositioned based on the average finish for the first four segments directly behind the caution car prior to the opening of pit road for the mandatory four-tire pit stop. The order of the cars returning to the track will determine the starting order of the fifth segment. Running order ties will be broken by the finish of the fourth segment. This revision puts a premium on making all of the laps count leading up to the final 10-lap shootout with the race winner earning a $1 million pay day from Sprint.

The race will continue to be run in four, 20-lap segments and one 10-lap final segment. All laps will count in segments one through four. In the fifth and final segment, only Green Flag laps will be counted. There will be optional pit stops during the break following each of the first three segments, with the field set by the pit stop/stay out positioning during the five caution laps.

The eligibility criteria for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race remain the same:

· Drivers who have won NASCAR Sprint Cup races in the current and preceding year. If a driver leaves a team with which he has won a race, he or she remains eligible (through the last race before the all-star race), however, the team does not

· Drivers who are past NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winners in the past 10 years

· Drivers who are past NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions in the last 10 years

· The top two finishers in the Sprint Showdown, the 40-lap race that precedes the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

· The top Sprint Fan Vote driver who finishes on the lead lap of the Showdown and whose car is in “raceable” condition as determined by the series director.

The 2013 Sprint Fan Vote runs from March 20-May 18. Fans may vote by using the NASCAR Mobile ’13 application or online at NASCAR.COM. Votes cast from the NASCAR Mobile ’13 application count double.

Source: NASCAR Media

The Sprint Unlimited eligible driver stats

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Daytona International Speedway going into The Sprint Unlimited on Feb. 16.

A total of 19 drivers are eligible to participate in the annual preseason, non-points race.

Eligible Drivers Performance

Aric Almirola – No. 43 Smithfield Ford
None

Marcos Ambrose – No. 9 Stanley Ford
Year Fin St Car Laps Led Led Status
2012 3 21 9 82 1 1 Running

Greg Biffle – No. 16 3M Ford
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led        Status
2005    5          2          16         70         1          44         Running
2007     13         5          16         70                                 Running
2008     20         17         16         48                                Accident
2009     17         26         16         72                                 Accident
2010     15         5          16         74         2          5          Accident
2011     5          11         16         75                                 Running
2012     6          7          16         82         3          17         Running

Kurt Busch – No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led      Status
2002     14        1          97         70         1          3          Running
2003     11        3          97         70         1          11        Running
2005    6         6          97         70                                 Running
2007    3       19           2          70         2          6          Running
2008     18        1           2          70                                 Running
2009       9      12         2          78                                 Running
2010     23      22         2          32                                 Accident
2011   1      17         22        75         3          3          Running
2012     17        6         51        82                                 Accident

Kyle Busch – No. 18 M&M’s Toyota
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led      Status
2006     15         14         5          72         2          4          Running
2007       7         6         5          70         3          39        Running
2009     10         10       18      78         2          6          Running
2010   4         17       18        76                                 Running
2011     16         21       18        41         2          2          Accident
2012   1         2       18        82         2          3          Running

Dale Earnhardt Jr. – No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led      Status
2001     6          10         8          70                                 Running
2002     2          16         8          70         1          20        Running
2003     1          19         8          70         4          13        Running
2004     2          19         8          70                                 Running
2005     7          12         8          70                                 Running
2006     2          19         8          72         1          1          Running
2007     14         17         8          70                                Running
2008     1          7          88         70         7          47        Running
2009     18         9         88         64         4          23        Accident
2010     11         11       88         76                                 Running
2011     19         1         88         27         3          4        Accident
2012     20         8         88         54         2          12        Accident

Carl Edwards – No. 99 Fastenal Ford
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led       Status
2006     16         11         99         71                                 Running
2008     12         20         99         70         1          1          Running
2009     7          11         99         78         2          11         Running
2010     17         1          99         74         2          42         Accident
2011     21         3          99         33                                Accident
2012     9          11         99         82                                  Running

Jeff Gordon – No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led    Status
1994     1          6          24         20         1          2          Running
1995     4          5          24         20                                 Running
1996     9          7          24         20                                 Running
1997     1          3          24         20                                 Running
1998     14         5          24         25                                Engine
1999     15         8          24         25                                Running
2000     2          6          24         25                                 Running
2001     11         6          24         70                                Running
2002     3          22         24         70                                Running
2003     2          18         24         70         2          31       Running
2004     5          2         24         70         2          16       Running
2005     3          11         24         70                                Running
2006     19         10         24         23                               Accident
2007     21         11         24         31                               Electrical
2008     4          22         24         70         1          1         Running
2009     4          28         24         78         2          2         Running
2010     6          23         24         76                                Running
2011     6          12         24         75         1          1         Running
2012     15         14         24         73         3          16      Accident

Denny Hamlin – No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led      Status
2006     1          15         11         72         3          16        Running
2007     17         21         11         70                                Running
2008     9          12         11         70                                 Running
2009     13         5          11         78         2          4          Running
2010     5          24         11         76                                 Running
2011     12         4          11         75                                 Running
2012     5          16         11         82                                 Running

Kevin Harvick – No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led      Status
2003     9          16         29         70                                 Running
2004     3          5          29         70         2          10         Running
2006     20         18         29         15                                Engine
2007     5          20         29         70         2          11        Running
2009     1          27         29         78         1          1          Running
2010     1          2          29         76         5          21         Running
2011     7          18         29         75                                 Running
2012     22         22         29         54         3          4         Accident

Jimmie Johnson – No. 48 Lowe’s Yellow Chevrolet
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led     Status
2003     7          2          48         70         1          4          Running
2004     9          17        48         70                                 Running
2005     1          17        48         70         1          16        Running
2006     5          2          48         72         3          12        Running
2007     4          8          48         70                                 Running
2008     3        18          48         70                                 Running
2009     14       21         48         77         1          2          Accident
2010     13       16         48         76                                 Running
2011     4         23         48         75         2          7          Running
2012     14     18         48         74         1          1          Accident

Kasey Kahne – No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led      Status
2005     9          13         9          70                                 Running
2006     18         5          9          35                                 Accident
2007     15         15         9          70                                Running
2008     10         8          9          70                                 Running
2009     6          14         9          78         1          2          Running
2010     2          19         9          76                                 Running
2011     24         5          4          7                                 Engine
2012     13         19         5          79                                Running

Matt Kenseth – No. 20 Dollar General Toyota
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led      Status
2003     3          5          17         70         3          6         Running
2006     6          16         17         72                                 Running
2009     8          25         17         78         1          1          Running
2010     16         8          17         74                                 Accident
2011     13         19         17         74                                Running
2012     21         23         17         54                                Accident

Joey Logano – No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led      Status
2009     28         19         20         3                                  Accident
2010     7          21         20         76                                 Running
2011     18         22         20         27                                 Accident
2012     18         10         20         54         1          1          Accident

Mark Martin – No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led      Status
1982     8          9          02         20                               Running
1989     7          11         06         20                              Running
1990     6          10         06         20                              Running
1991     2          12         6         20                              Running
1992     3          3          6        20                              Running
1993     4          8          6            20                              Running
1994     5          5          6            20         1          2       Running
1995     16      14        6            0                                Accident
1996     7        10        6        20                              Running
1997     6          6          6            20                              Running
1998     8          1          6            25                              Running
1999     1        13          6          25         1       16        Running
2000     15         1         6            10                              Radiator
2001     8         4         6          70         2          4       Running
2002     12       18         6            70                              Running
2003     17         9         6            70         1          4       Running
2004   4          7        6          70                              Running
2005       8        14        6            70                              Running
2006       7        13        6            72                              Running
2007       6        10    01       70                            Running
2008   8          2         8         70         1          1       Running
2010     20          6         5         74                              Accident
2011     17        20         5           36                              Accident

Juan Pablo Montoya – No. 42 Target Chevrolet
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led      Status
2010     10         20         42         76                                 Running
2011     20         13         42         27                                 Accident
2012     10         25         42         82         1          1          Running

Ken Schrader – No. 32 FAS Lane Racing Ford
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led      Status
1988      7          3          25         20                                 Running
1989      1          1          25         20         2          15        Running
1990      1          3          25         20         1          16        Running
1991    12         11     25         12                               Accident
1993    2         12         25         20                                 Running
1994      8       1         25         20         1          2          Running
1996    5       7         25         20                                 Running
1998      5           2         33         25         1          9          Running
1999    2       4         33         25         1          1          Running
2000    6         10         36         25                                 Running
2001    16         1         36         67                                 Out of Gas
2002    4           4         36         70         1          1          Running
2003    6         11         49         70         1          1          Running
2004     13        14         49         70                                 Running
2005     16          5         49         70                                 Running
2006     14          1         21         72         2          18        Running
2007     11          7         21         70                                 Running
2008     15        13         49         70                                 Running
2010     14        14         82         76                                 Running

Tony Stewart – No. 14 Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led      Status
2000       4        3          20         25                                 Running
2001       1        7          20         70                                 Running
2002       1        3          20         70         2          31        Running
2003     15      12          20         70                                 Running
2004       7      18        20         70                                 Running
2005       4        8          20         70                                 Running
2006       3        3          20         72         3          7          Running
2007       1      14        20         70         2          11        Running
2008       2      10      20         70         2          9          Running
2009       3        6          14         78         1          4          Running
2010   9      13          14         76         2          6          Running
2011     11        2          14         75         3          4          Running
2012       2      15        14         82         1          7          Running

Martin Truex Jr. – No. 56 NAPA Toyota
Year     Fin       St         Car       Laps     Led      Led   Status
2008     21         9          1          47                                  Accident
2012     19         1         56         54         2          7         Accident

The Sprint Unlimited Tidbits
· The number of participants has ranged from a low of seven in 1981 to a high of 28 in 2009 (19 are scheduled to compete in this year’s event).

·    The drivers with the most Sprint Unlimited appearances:
o    Bill Elliott (23)
o    Mark Martin (23)
o    Rusty Wallace (19)
o    Ken Schrader (19)
o    Jeff Gordon (19)

· Mark Martin had appeared in the most consecutive Sprint Unlimited races, competing in 20 consecutive events from 1989-2008. With his start in this year’s race, Jeff Gordon, who currently has 19 consecutive starts in the event, will tie that mark.

·   There have been eight multiple winners in The Sprint Unlimited:
o   Tony Stewart has won three (2001, 2002 and 2007).
o    Dale Earnhardt won six events, most all-time (1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995).
o    Dale Jarrett won in 1996, 2000 and 2004.
o    Other multiple winners: Neil Bonnett (1983-1984), Ken Schrader, (1989-1990), Jeff Gordon (1994 and 1997), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003 and 2008) and Kevin Harvick (2009-2010).
o    Bonnett, Schrader, Stewart and Harvick are the only drivers to win back-to-back races. No driver has ever won three consecutive Sprint Unlimited races.
· Buddy Baker (1979), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Jeff Gordon (1994), Dale Jarrett (1996) and Denny Hamlin (2006) all won the first Sprint Unlimited in which they competed.
·   Only five times in the 32-year history of the race has the winner gone on to win the Daytona 500:

Bobby Allison (1982)
Bill Elliott (1987)
Dale Jarrett (1996 and 2000)
Jeff Gordon (1997)

· There have been three winners from the pole: Darrell Waltrip (1981), Bill Elliott (1987) and Ken Schrader (1989).
· Two drivers have swept The Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 pole and Daytona 500 from 1979-2012: Dale Jarrett (2000) and Bill Elliott (1987)
· One driver has swept The Sprint Unlimited, Daytona 500 and the Coke Zero 400 from 1979-2012: Bobby Allison (1982).
· Seven drivers have won The Sprint Unlimited (1979-2012) and the same season’s championship. Dale Earnhardt is the only one to have accomplished it multiple times – four times.

Tony Stewart (2002)
Jeff Gordon (1997)
Dale Earnhardt (1993)
Dale Earnhardt (1991)
Dale Earnhardt (1986)
Darrell Waltrip (1981)
Dale Earnhardt (1980)

· Four drivers have won consecutive Sprint Unlimited races (1979-2012). None went on to win that year’s Daytona 500.

Kevin Harvick (2009-10)
Tony Stewart (2000-01)
Ken Schrader (1990-91)
Neil Bonnett (1983-84)

The Sprint Unlimited Manufacturer Recap
Manufacturer          Victories               Last Victory – Driver
Chevrolet                        19                      2010 – Kevin Harvick
Ford                         7                   2004 – Dale Jarrett
Buick                       2                     1982 – Bobby Allison
Oldsmobile          2                     1980 – Dale Earnhardt
Pontiac                    2                     2002 – Tony Stewart
Dodge                     1                    2011 – Kurt Busch
Toyota                   1                      2012 – Kyle Busch

By the Numbers: The Sprint Unlimited
.013 – Margin of victory in seconds by Kyle Busch over Tony Stewart in 2012, the closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history
.058 – Margin of victory in seconds by Kurt Busch over Jamie McMurray in 2011, the second closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history
.08 – Margin of victory in seconds by Dale Earnhardt over Sterling Marlin in 1995, the third closest margin in Sprint Unlimited history
1 – Laps led by Rusty Wallace (1998), Neil Bonnett (1983-84), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Dale Jarrett (2000 and 2004) and Kevin Harvick (2009) in The Sprint Unlimited races they won
2 – The starting position that has produced the most Sprint Unlimited wins (five).
2.75 – Average finish by Dale Earnhardt, best by any driver with multiple starts
5 – Drivers who have won the event in their first appearance (Buddy Baker, 1979; Dale Earnhardt, 1980; Jeff Gordon, 1994; Dale Jarrett, 1996; Denny Hamlin, 2006)
6 – Number of Sprint Unlimited wins by Dale Earnhardt, the series leader
7 – Number of fewest starters in the field for The Sprint Unlimited (1981)
11 – Number of starts before winning, most since race began in 1979 (Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin)
14 – Number of different leaders in the 2009 event, most since race began in 1979
19 – Number of wins by Chevrolet in The Sprint Unlimited, leads all manufacturers
20 – Most consecutive starts in The Sprint Unlimited by Mark Martin (1989-2008)
27 – Kevin Harvick’s starting position in 2009, the lowest by a race winner in the event’s history
28 – Number of lead changes in the 2011 event, highest number since race began in 1979
44 – Laps led by Greg Biffle in 2005, the most by a driver who did not win the event
47 – Laps led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008, the most in a single Sprint Unlimited
124.095 mph – The slowest average speed of the race for The Sprint Unlimited was last season’s event won by Kyle Busch.
197.802 mph – The fastest average speed of the race for The Sprint Unlimited was in 1987 won by Bill Elliott.

SOURCE: NASCAR Media

Racing snowbirds flock to Florida for the Snowball Derby

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Karen Pistone

The Snowball Derby is the track’s big 300-lap feature and each year run the Bombers, Sportsmen, Super Stocks and Modifieds at the Pine Forest Road half-mile short track.

Some drivers entered will include: Kyle Busch, David Ragan, Landon Cassill, Steve Wallace, Johanna Long [2009 Super Late Model Champion], Cale Gale, Nelson Piquet, Jr., Ross Kenseth, Chase Elliott [last years winner- Super Late Model], John Hunter Nemechek, Erik Darnell, Mike Garvey, Grant Enfinger, Bubba Pollard and Jeff Fultz.

DIRECTIONS to Five Flags Speedway

TRACK SPECS
Asphalt Surface
TRACK LENGTH: 1/2 mile in racing groove (103 feet short at inner edge)
TRACK WIDTH: 55 feet (Turns), 48 feet (Straights)
BANKING: 15 degrees (Turns), 9 degrees (Straights)
PIT FACILITIES: Paved portion on inner 1/4 oval and front straight, water, scales, concessions, electric scoreboard, vendors for racing equipment, fuel, and tires.

TICKETS
44th Annual Snowball Derby 

4 Day Reserved Ticket – $75.00
Sunday Only Reserved Ticket – $45.00
VIP Ticket 4-day Reserved Plus Week-End Pit Pass $120

General Admission Tickets

Thursday – $15.00
Friday – $20
Saturday – $30
Sunday – $40

Pit Passes

Weekend Pass – $90
Thursday – $25
 Friday – $30
 Saturday – $40
Sunday – $50

RV Parking @ Fairgrounds (Power & Water ) Weekend – $150.00
Call Speedway Office for Details

RV Parking @ Speedway
Call Speedway Office for Details

SCHEDULE
Wednesday, November 28th
Teams Unload/Start of Tech Process
GREEN FLAG PARTY
Meet the drivers – 5pm to 9pm CT

Thursday, November 29th
Practice: Super and Pro Late Models
Qualifying: Five Flags Speedway Bomber and Sportsmen divisions

Friday, November 30th
WXBM Pole Night – Modifieds, Super Stocks
Qualifying: Top 30 in Snowball Derby

Saturday, December 1st
Allen Turner Snowflake 100 Time Trials (last-chance qualifying race)

Sunday, December 2nd
45th Annual Snowball Derby

OTHER EVENTS:

SPEED51.com
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s
4469 Mobile Highway
(US 90 at Fairfield Drive)
Pensacola, FL
Air live from 7-9pm CT (8-10 ET)
Snowball Derby drivers including Johanna Long, Kyle Benjamin, Augie Grill, Mike Garvey, Grant Enfinger, Kenzie Ruston and Erik Jones are just some of the drivers that will be appearing on the show.
Speed51.com and JEGS will also have new t-shirts and other goodies for fans who spend $25 on dinner at Beef’s during the show.

NASCAR’s wild, crazy (and sometime’s new) affair with Martinsville Speedway will leave some heated

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Karen Pistone

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

If you’re a NASCAR driver in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, you can either LOVE Martinsville or you can HATE it.

Heading into Sunday’s TUMS Fast Relief 500 very well could scramble the Chase standings. Brad Keselowski maintains just a 7-point lead over Jimmie Johnson. Last April’s race at the 0.526-mile track had Johnson, Bowyer and Jeff Gordon piled up on the next-to-final restart of a green-white-checker finish and handed the victory to Ryan Newman. Jeff Gordon, who led 329 laps, finished 14th.

If you remember, however, from the fall of 2006 through the fall of 2010, it was either Johnson or Denny Hamlin that had won every Martinsville race. Johnson holds six – four while in the Chase; Hamlin holds four – two in the Chase. But then came along Tony Stewart, who just happened to win last year’s Martinsville Chase race.

2011 Martinsville NSCS Practice – Dale Earnhardt Jr Cockpit Photo credit: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images for NASCAR

NASCAR has just stated that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been medically cleared to return to NASCAR competition and WILL be back in the seat of the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports this weekend at Martinsville Speedway.

Earnhardt missed the past two events after suffering a second concussion Oct. 7 at Talladega Superspeedway. His first concussion came during testing at Kansas Speedway. Earnhardt was not seen by the Kansas Infield Care Center, but apparently learned he did suffer a mild concussion from that hard hit during testing.

Earnhardt finished third at Martinsville in the spring. He has a pair of second-place finishes (most recent, spring 2011) among 10 top-five finishes and has finished seventh or better in his past four Martinsville starts.

NSCS POINT STANDINGS

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

Ryan Truex will make his truck series debut behind the wheel of the No. 27 Hillman Racing Chevrolet in Saturdays’ Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway. This start will mark a “Truex family” trifecta with all three Truex Family members (Martin Truex, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Truex) having a start in each of NASCAR’s three national touring series at Martinsville Speedway.

Ryan Blaney will also be making his track debut at the 0.526-mile oval, Martinsville Speedway after winning at Iowa Speedway, another short track, earlier this season. Other local drivers will be Tyler Young made his truck series debut at Rockingham Speedway earlier this year and has made two additional starts (Kentucky – June, Bristol) this season. Josh Richards will make his first series start this season in the No. 5 Wauters Motorsports Ford. Richards drove the Kyle Busch Motorsports Chevrolet last season in seven races including the fall Martinsville race. Jeff Agnew from Cooper Hill, Va., has two truck series starts (Spring 2012 and Fall 2011) at Martinsville Speedway with a best finish of 14th last fall. In addition, Agnew has a late model victory captured at the speedway. Grant Enfinger has three truck series starts this season with a best finish of 12th at Daytona and Las Vegas. Matt Merrell will attempt to make his truck series debut in the No.35 Win-Tron Racing Chevrolet.

NCWTS POINT STANDINGS

NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES

NNS headed into an off weekend once again with Elliott Sadler holding a six-point lead in the championship standings over Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The NASCAR Nationwide Series returns on Saturday, Nov. 3 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway.

NNS POINT STANDINGS

Sources: NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports PR

Fall winner of Talladega race has never become NSCS Champion

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Karen Pistone

FACT: No fall Talladega winner has gone on to become the NASCAR Sprint Cup champion during the Chase era.

With non-Chase drivers winning four of the eight fall races at Talladega under the current post-season format, watch for an outlier to open the gates to Victory Lane on Sunday.

Seven of this year’s 12 Chase qualifiers (Bowyer, Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon) have a ‘Dega victory. Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr., Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth are still looking for one. A member of this year’s Chase field has won 10 of the past 13 races at Talladega Superspeedway.

NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader Brad Keselowski, winner of the track’s spring race earlier this year and in 2009, when he scored his first of nine series victories. Denny Hamlin is 16 points behind Keselowski in third place. A victory would make Keselowski the first to sweep both Talladega races since Jeff Gordon in 2007.

Talladega stands statistically as Jimmie Johnson’s worst-performing track. Kenseth, the Daytona 500 winner, finished third in the track’s spring race with Biffle close behind in fifth place. Both drivers need a victory in the worst way and so does Ford, a winner just twice in the track’s most recent 27 races.

However, do not rule out Jamie McMurray. McMurray was the last Ford driver to win at Talladega (fall 2009) and is both a Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 champion in Daytona.

Source: NASCAR Media

Kevin James announced as Grand Marshal at ‘Dega… you know what that means, right?

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Talladega Superspeedway is proud to announce that comedic actor Kevin James will be the Grand Marshal for the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500.

James will be at Talladega in support of his latest comedy film Here Comes the Boom, in theaters on Friday, October 12.

As Grand Marshal, James will give the most famous words in motorsports – “Gentlemen, start your engines” – for the fourth race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup on Sunday, Oct. 7 (ESPN, 2 p.m. ET).

I can guarantee another great “Gentleman, start your engines” from Kevin James at ‘Dega.

WATCH OTHER COMMANDS:

Plus, he’s known for doing whacky promos for his movies:

NASCAR Nationwide Series heads back to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Karen Pistone

NNS Race: #22 of 33
Track: Road course – Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Distance: 2.709
NNS Practice: 8:30 a.m. ET and 10:30 a.m. ET Friday, August 17 (not being aired)
NNS Qualifying: 5:05 p.m. ET Friday, August 17 (not being aired)
Race: Saturday, August 18, 2012 in Montreal, Canada
NAPA Auto Parts 200 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
TV Coverage:ESPN, 2:00 pm/et
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 2:48pm/et

Ron Fellows is back for his third and final NASCAR Nationwide race this season piloting the No. 5 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. Fellows will try to defend his victory at Montreal in 2008. He is the only former winner entered in the Napa 200. However, he will have a full field of fellow Canadian drivers looking to take over bragging rights. Among the Canadian entrants joining Fellows are Patrick Carpentier (No. 99 Toyota), Louis-Phillipe Dumoulin (No. 08 Ford), Kenny Habul (No. 75 Toyota), Daryl Harr (No. 4 Chevrolet), Dexter Stacey (No. 23 Chevrolet), Alex Tagliani (No. 30 Chevrolet), Jacques Villeneuve (No. 22 Dodge) and Derek White (No. 24 Toyota).

Standings leader Elliott Sadler leads the charge for series regulars followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (-13), Sam Hornish Jr. (-24), Austin Dillon (-29) and Justin Allgaier (-74). Stenhouse earned his first top-five finish at a road course last weekend at Watkins Glen. Hornish – who won his first NNS pole last weekend- is the only driver inside the top five in the series standings to score top-five finishes at both Road America and Watkins Glen.

Danica Patrick returns to the site of her stock car debut (on a road course) at Montreal. She had a solid run at Road America in June before a late race spin by Jacques Villeneuve resulted in a 12^th-place finish.

Michael Annett‘s strong second half could propel him into title contention as well as his best career points finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Annett’s best final points standing was last year when he finished ninth on the strength of seven top 10s.

After 21 races in 2012, Annett sits sixth in points standings, 109 points behind first-place Elliott Sadler. He already has eight top-10 finishes.

Kyle Busch and Sam Hornish Jr. will both pull double-duty this weekend by appearing in the NAPA Auto Part Parts 200 Presented By Dodge at Montreal on Saturday and the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan on Sunday.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Wet Weather Tires: Goodyear has brought 625 wet weather radials (D-4215) to Montreal for use by Nationwide Series teams, should NASCAR decide that conditions warrant.

NOTES/STATS: NASCAR Sprint Cup, Camping World Truck Series’ head to Michigan

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Race #: 23 of 36
Track Size: 2-miles
NSCS Practice(s): 12:30 p.m. ET Friday on SPEED; 8:30 a.m. / 11 a.m. ET Saturday on SPEED
NSCS Qualifying: 4 p.m. ET Friday on SPEED
Race Coverage: Noon ET Sunday on ESPN
Banking/Corners: 18 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles

Qualifying/Race Data
2011 pole winner: Greg Biffle, Ford (190.345 mph, 37.826 sec., 08-19-11)
2011 race winner: Kyle Busch, Toyota (150.898 mph, 2:41:26, 08-21-11)
Track qualifying record: Marcos Ambrose, Ford (203.241 mph, 35.426 sec., 06-17-12
Track race record: Dale Jarrett, Ford (173.997 mph, 2:17:56, 08-13-99)

The Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan is going to be an exciting race behind the scenes as well as on track. A third-place finish at Watkins Glen International has placed Jimmie Johnson in the championship lead for the ninth consecutive season. The Pure Michigan 400 is giving four top competitors the opportunity to clinch a top-10 spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup – Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Greg Biffle, who trails Johnson by a single point, was the only one of the current four failing to make the Chase a year ago.

Remember Michigan is the track where Dale Earnhardt Jr. snapped a winless streak of 143 races (June). Earnhardt is one of four drivers ranked in the top 10 entering Sunday’s race with multiple victories at the 2.0-mile superspeedway. Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin also have two victories apiece. Michigan is one of five NASCAR tracks at which Johnson has yet to win.

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan going into the Pure Michigan 400 on August 19.

Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)
·         Two wins, eight top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 12.4

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet)
·         Two wins, five top fives, nine top 10s; two poles
·         Average finish of 15.2

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota)
· Two wins, five top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 13.8

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
· Four top fives, nine top 10s
· Average finish of 14.7

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)
· One win, six top fives, seven top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 16.5

Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)
· Five wins, 18 top fives, 31 top 10s
· Average finish of 13.6

Kasey Kahne (11th in points) and Ryan Newman (13th) are provisional holders of the two “wild card” spots. Kahne won Michigan’s spring race in 2006. Newman is a two-time Michigan winner. Two-time Michigan winner Ryan Newman displaced Jeff Gordon in the No. 2 “wild card” spot with four races remaining in the regular season.

Mark Martin’s five wins are the most at Michigan by an entered driver. Martin, driver of the No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota, last won in June 2009. He’s due for another win.

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

NCWTS Practice(s): 2 p.m. ET Friday on SPEED
NCWTS Qualifying: 9:30 a.m. ET Saturday on SPEED
NCWTS Race Coverage: Noon ET Saturday on SPEED
2011 Winner: Kevin Harvick
2011 Pole: Matt Crafton
Track Layout: 2 Miles
Length: 100 Laps, 200 Miles

Joining the NSCS this weekend at Michigan is the NCWTS. As the NCWTS heads into town this weekend, all eyes are on James Buescher and his Turner Motorsports team. Buescher is the only driver that has collected more than one NCWTS win this year, with all of his three victories (Kansas, Kentucky, Chicago) coming at a 1.5-mile track. The driver has collected each of those three wins with the same chassis in which he will race this weekend at MIS. On top of three wins, Buescher has earned six top-five and seven top-10 finishes, currently sitting third in the championship point standings only 15 points out of the lead.

Only 35 points separate the top-six drivers with Red Horse Racing’s Timothy Peters leading the field over Ty Dillon, James Buescher, Justin Lofton, Matt Crafton and Parker Kligerman. Peters heads Dillon by eight points. The battle for fifth position between Crafton and Kligerman is the closest for the contenders, with only two points separating them.

After starting his season with Brad Keselowski Racing, Parker Kligerman will begin the second half of the season this weekend at Michigan with a new team, Red Horse Racing. Kligerman joins the stacked driver lineup of Timothy Peters and Todd Bodine.

Other entry notes:

No. 2-Tim George, driver of the Applebee’s Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing
No. 7-Parker Kligerman, first start in the Red Horse Racing Toyota
No. 14-Brennan Newberry, returns driving the NTS/Iron Clad Performance Chevrolet
No. 18-Kurt Busch, first start driving the Shore Lodge Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports
No. 29-Brad Keselowski, driver of the Cooper Standard Ram for BKR

Camping World Truck drivers Justin Lofton and Jason White participated in July 30th test (along with 27 Sprint Cup teams).

As on all NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner liners in all four tires at Michigan.

Source: NASCARMedia

Racingal.com

A NASCAR Fan Blog by Karen Pistone

Category Archives: Race

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver statistical advance: Kansas Speedway

Military flyovers at NASCAR races suspended due to budget cuts

New format announced for 2013 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

The Sprint Unlimited eligible driver stats

Racing snowbirds flock to Florida for the Snowball Derby

NASCAR’s wild, crazy (and sometime’s new) affair with Martinsville Speedway will leave some heated

Fall winner of Talladega race has never become NSCS Champion

Kevin James announced as Grand Marshal at ‘Dega… you know what that means, right?

NASCAR Nationwide Series heads back to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

NOTES/STATS: NASCAR Sprint Cup, Camping World Truck Series’ head to Michigan