Texas Motor Speedway: NASCAR Sprint Cup driver statistical advance

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Texas Motor Speedway Data

Season Race #: 7 of 36

Track Size: 1.5-miles

Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 24 degrees

Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 24 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 2,250 feet

Backstretch Length: 1,330 feet

Race Length: 334 laps / 500 miles

Qualifying/Race Data

2012 pole winner: Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 190.369 mph, 28.366 secs. 4-12-12

2012 race winner: Greg Biffle, Ford, 160.577 mph, (03:07:12), 4-14-12

Track qualifying record: Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 196.235 mph, 27.518 secs. 11-3-06

Track race record: Greg Biffle, Ford, 160.577 mph, (03:07:12), 4-14-12

TEXAS-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)

· Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 15.9

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 Gander Mountain Toyota)

· Three top fives, eight top 10s

· Average finish of 12.8

Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing/ Serta Chevrolet)

· One win, three top fives, 12 top 10s

· Average finish of 14.1

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota)

· Five top fives, six top 10s

· Average finish of 14.9

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet)

· One win, three top fives, 12 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 13.6

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford)

· Three wins, five top fives, seven top 10s

· Average finish of 15.1

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Cromax Pro Chevrolet)

· One win, eight top fives, 11 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 16.1

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Dover White Chevrolet)

· Two wins, nine top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 9.3

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)

· Two wins, 12 top fives, 15 top 10s

· Average finish of 8.3

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

· One win, eight top fives, 13 top 10s

· Average finish of 13.9

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

· Two wins, six top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 12.7

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

· One top five, seven top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 15.9

Did you Know?

Nine of the 14 active NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who have won at Texas Motor Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Jeff Burton and Dale Earnhardt Jr. won at Texas in their first appearance; Carl Edwards, Mark Martin and Ryan Newman all won in their second appearance at TMS.
2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski (11/02/2008) and Trevor Bayne (11/07/2010) made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Texas Motor Speedway.
There have been three NSCS green-white-checkered finishes at Texas Motor Speedway: fall 2006, spring 2008 and fall 2012.
Youngest Texas winner: Ryan Newman (3/30/2003 – 25 years, 3 months, 22 days).
Oldest Texas winner: Dale Jarrett (4/1/2001 – 44 years, 4 months, 6 days).

Chase Contenders

The Top 12 Following Race 6 of 36

Driver	Points	Wins	Poles	Week	Rating
1. Jimmie Johnson	231	2	1	3	116.5
2. Brad Keselowski	225	0	0	2	103.7
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.	219	0	0	1	98.9
4. Kyle Busch	203	1	1	6	107.9
5. Kasey Kahne	199	1	0	7	105.1
6. Greg Biffle	199	0	0	5	89.6
7. Carl Edwards	193	1	0	4	87.4
8. Clint Bowyer	179	0	0	14	91.9
9. Paul Menard	179	0	0	8	80.2
10. Matt Kenseth	172	1	0	11	110.4
11. Joey Logano	167	0	0	9	90.3
12. Jeff Gordon	164	0	0	18	92.1

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver stats: MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Karen Pistone

NASCAR Pre-Race: Fox – 12:30pm
TV Race Coverage: FoxSports, 1:00pm
Scheduled Green Flag (approx): 1:13pm
Practices: Friday, April 5, 12:00 – 1:30 pm on SPEED
Happy Hour ‘Final’ practice: Saturday, April 6, 11:45am – 12:45pm on SPEED at 11:30pm
Qualifying: Friday, April 5 at 3:40 pm on SPEED at 8:00pm

Martinsville Speedway Data

Season Race #: 6 of 36

Track Size: 0.526-mile

Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 12 degrees

Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 12 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 0 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 0 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 800 feet

Backstretch Length: 800 feet

Race Length: 500 laps / 263 miles

Qualifying/Race Data
2012 pole winner: Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 97.128 mph, 19.496 secs. 3-30-12
2012 race winner: Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 78.823 mph, (3:26:12), 4-01-12
Track qualifying record: Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 98.083 mph, 19.306 secs. 10-21-05
Track race record: Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 82.223 mph, (3:11:55), 9-22-96

MARTINSVILLE-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 RK Motors Toyota)

· Two top fives, eight top 10s

· Average finish of 14.0

Jeff Burton (No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)

· One win, 10 top fives, 16 top 10s

· Average finish of 15.0

Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)

· Seven top fives, eight top 10s

· Average finish of 16.8

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet)

· 10 top fives, 14 top 10s

· Average finish of 13.0

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

· Seven wins, 25 top fives, 32 top 10s; seven poles

· Average finish of 7.1

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)

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

· Average finish of 16.7

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)

· Seven wins, 15 top fives, 19 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 5.5

Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Ford)

· Three top 10s

· Average finish of 12.2

Mark Martin (No. 11 FedEx Freight Toyota)

· Two wins, 12 top fives, 25 top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 13.3

Jamie McMurray (No. 1 Novo Nordisk Chevrolet)

· One top five, 10 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 17.0

Ryan Newman (No. 39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet)

· One win, seven top fives, 11 top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 13.6

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)

· Three wins, nine top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 13.7

Chase Contenders

The Top 12 Following Race 5 of 36

Driver	Points	Wins	Poles	Week	Rating
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr.	199	0	0	2	102.2
2. Brad Keselowski	187	0	0	1	103.5
3. Jimmie Johnson	183	1	0	3	110.2
4. Carl Edwards	164	1	0	8	89.8
5. Greg Biffle	164	0	0	5	90.8
6. Kyle Busch	163	1	1	10	105.7
7. Kasey Kahne	159	1	0	7	103.6
8. Paul Menard	154	0	0	9	82.5
9. Joey Logano	146	0	0	12	93.0
10. Denny Hamlin	145	0	1	6	99.5
11. Matt Kenseth	141	1	0	13	109.6
12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	139	0	0	11	74.7

History

· Opened in September 1947 by H. Clay Earles, Martinsville, originally a dirt track, is one of the oldest continuously-operating race tracks in the United States.

· The first NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville was on July 4, 1948.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was Sept. 25, 1949.

· The track was paved in 1955.

· The first 500-lap event at Martinsville was in 1956.

· Concrete corners were added atop asphalt in 1976.

Car By the Number – Drivers – (Years)

o No. 43 – Richard Petty (1960, ’62, ’63, ’67 sweep, ’68, ’69 sweep, ’70, ’71, ’72 sweep, ’73, ’75 and ’79); John Andretti (1999)

o No. 11 – Cale Yarborough (1974, ’76, ’77 sweep, ‘78); Darrell Waltrip (1981, ’82, ’83, ’84); Geoff Bodine (1990 sweep); Denny Hamlin (2008, ’09, ’10 sweep)

o No. 2 – Dale Earnhardt (1980); Rusty Wallace (1993, ‘94 sweep, ’95, ’96 and ‘04)

o No. 24 – Jeff Gordon (1996, ’97, ’99, ’03 sweep and ’05 sweep)

o No. 48 – Jimmie Johnson (2004, ’06, ’07 sweep, ’08, ’09, ’12)

o No. 3 – Ricky Rudd (1983); Dale Earnhardt (1985, ’87, ’88, ’91, ’95)

Did You know?

This weekend will be Danica Patrick’s first attempt at Martinsville Speedway. If she makes the event, she will become the first female driver to compete at Martinsville in the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Tony Stewart (4/18/1999) and Scott Riggs (4/10/2005) won their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light poles at Martinsville Speedway.
Ryan Newman competed at Martinsville Speedway 20 times before winning in the spring of 2012; the longest span of any the 10 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners.
Jeff Gordon has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Martinsville Speedway without a DNF (40).
Mike Bliss (09/27/1998), Travis Kvapil (10/24/2004), Michael McDowell (3/30/2008) and Scott Speed (10/19/2008) made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts at Martinsville Speedway.
Youngest Martinsville pole winner: Ricky Rudd (4/26/1981 – 24 years, 7 months, 14 days).
Oldest Martinsville pole winner: Morgan Shepherd (4/26/1987 – 45 years, 6 months, 14 days).

NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver Stats: LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Karen Pistone

LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY DATA

Season Race #: 3 of 36

Track Size: 1.5-miles

Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 20 degrees

Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 20 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 9 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 2,275 feet

Backstretch Length: 1,572 feet

Race Length: 267 laps

QUALIFYING/RACE DATA

2012 pole winner: Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 190.456 mph, 28.353 secs. 03-09-12

2012 race winner: Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 137.524 mph, (2:54:44), 03-11-12

Track qualifying record: Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 190.456 mph, 28.353 secs., 03-09-12

Track race record: Mark Martin, Ford, 146.554 mph, (2:43:58), 03-01-98

PRACTICES - SPEED TV

Friday, March 8, 3:00 – 4:30 pm/et
Saturday, March 9, 12:00 – 12:50 pm/et

Happy Hour ‘Final’ practice: Saturday, March 9, 2:35 – 3:30pm/et

QUALIFYING – SPEED TV

Friday, March 8 at 6:40 pm/et, Re-air scheduled at 10:30pm/et & 12:30am/et.

RACE (TV)

FOX at 3:00 pm/et; Pre-Race show at 2:30 pm/et; green flag approx 3:16pm/et

LAS VEGAS-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

Greg Biffle (No. 16 American Red Cross Ford)

· Two top fives, six top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 13.4

Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)

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

· Average finish of 10.9

Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row/Beautyrest Chevrolet)

· One top five, three top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 21.9

Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)

· One win, three top fives, four top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 15.9

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy Orange Chevrolet)

· Two top fives, six top 10s

· Average finish of 16.3

Carl Edwards (No. 99 AFLAC Ford)

· Two wins, three top fives, four top 10s

· Average finish of 10.3

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

· One win, six top fives, seven top 10s

· Average finish of 14.7

· Series-best Average Running Position of 9.1

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 RHEEM Chevrolet)

· Three top fives, four top 10s

· Average finish of 13.0

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

· Four wins, five top fives, six top 10s

· Average finish of 9.8

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)

· Two wins, five top fives, six top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 12.5

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

· One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s

· Average finish of 13.5

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

· One win, six top fives, nine top 10s

· Average finish of 12.9

Chase Contenders

The Top 12 Following Race 2 of 36

Driver	Points	Wins	Poles	Week	Rating
1. Jimmie Johnson	90	1	0	1	126.3
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.	82	0	0	2	106.8
3. Brad Keselowski	82	0	0	4	106.6
4. Denny Hamlin	72	0	0	13	100.1
5. Clint Bowyer	72	0	0	10	102.5
6. Greg Biffle	66	0	0	6	96.3
7. Mark Martin	65	0	1	3	93.7
8. Jeff Gordon	60	0	0	19	94.7
9. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	60	0	0	11	76.2
10. Aric Almirola	60	0	0	12	82.0
11. Carl Edwards	59	1	0	30	93.8
12. Marcos Ambrose	52	0	0	17	72.5

Notebook

· Dale Jarrett won the inaugural pole with a speed of 168.224 mph (32.773 secs.)

· 10 drivers have poles at LVMS, led by Kasey Kahne, who posted his third last season.

· Kyle Busch is the only driver to win consecutive poles at LVMS from (2008-09).

· Youngest LVMS pole winner: Kyle Busch (3/2/2008 – 22 years, 10 months, 0 days).

· Oldest LVMS pole winner: Dale Jarrett (3/4/2001 – 44 years, 3 months, 6 days).

· Nine different drivers have won at LVMS, led by Jimmie Johnson (four). Three other drivers have multiple wins at Las Vegas: Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards and two-time Daytona 500 champion Matt Kenseth each have two.

· Roush Fenway Racing leads the series in wins at Las Vegas with seven, followed by Hendrick Motorsports with five.

· Only seven of the 15 races have been won from a top-10 starting position.

· Las Vegas-native Kyle Busch became the first and thus far only driver to win from the pole, in 2009.

· Only two LVMS races have been won from the front row: Kyle Busch, 2009 (pole); and Carl Edwards, 2008 (second-place).

· Four of the 15 races have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.

· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 25th, by Matt Kenseth in 2004.

· Youngest LVMS winner: Kyle Busch (03/01/2009 – 23 years, 9 months, 27 days).

· Oldest LVMS winner: Sterling Marlin (03/03/2002 – 44 years, 7 months, 32 days).

· Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart lead the series in runner-up finishes at Las Vegas with two each.

· Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart lead the series in top-five finishes at Las Vegas with six each.

· Mark Martin has 10 top-10 finishes, more than any other driver. His average finish is 13.4.

· Jimmie Johnson leads the series in average finish at LVMS with a 9.818; he is the only active driver with an average finish in the top 10.

· There has been one green-white-checkered finish at Las Vegas: 2006 (270/267).

· Kyle Busch made his first start and Kasey Kahne won his first pole at Las Vegas, in the same event (2004).

· Aric Almirola made his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2007.

· Three drivers have won consecutive races at Las Vegas: Jeff Burton (1999, 2000); Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004) and Jimmie Johnson the only one of the three to win three consecutive races (2005, 2006 and 2007).

· Eight of the nine NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who have won at Las Vegas participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Mark Martin (1998) is the only driver to win at Las Vegas in his first appearance.

· Tony Stewart competed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway 13 times before winning (2012); the longest span of any the nine winners. Stewart is the only driver to have made 10 or more attempts before his first win at LVMS.

· Bobby Labonte leads the series (active drivers) with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Las Vegas without visiting Victory Lane with 15.

· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Las Vegas was the (3/12/2006) race won by Jimmie Johnson with a MOV of 0.045 seconds.

· Three reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions have gone on to win at Las Vegas in their championship-defending season: Matt Kenseth (2004), Jimmie Johnson is the only one to do it multiple times(2007, 2010) and Tony Stewart (2012).

· Three drivers have won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship and at Las Vegas in the same season: Jeff Gordon (2001), Matt Kenseth (2003) and Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2007 and 2010).

Source: NASCAR Media

PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY – NSCS driver stats

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Phoenix International Raceway Data
Race #: 2 of 36 / SUNDAY
Track Size: 1-mile
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 10 – 11 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 8 – 9 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 3 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 1,179 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,551 feet
Race Length: 312 laps / 500 Kilometers

Qualifying/Race Data
2012 pole winner: Mark Martin, Toyota, 136.815 mph, 26.313 sec., 03-01-12
2012 race winner: Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 110.085 mph, (2:50:35), 03-04-12
Track qualifying record: Kyle Busch, Toyota, 138.766 mph, 25.943 sec., 11-09-12
Track race record: Tony Stewart, Pontiac, 118.132 mph, (2:38:28), 11-7-99

Chase Contenders

The Top 12 Following Race 1 of 36

Driver Points Wins Poles Week Rating

1. Jimmie Johnson 47 1 0 0 125.7

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 42 0 0 0 105.7

3. Mark Martin 41 0 0 0 95.5

4. Brad Keselowski 41 0 0 0 97.3

5. Ryan Newman 40 0 0 0 76.5

6. Greg Biffle 38 0 0 0 106.6

7. Danica Patrick 37 0 1 0 113.4

8. Michael McDowell 35 0 0 0 70.3

9. JJ Yeley 34 0 0 0 59.0

10. Clint Bowyer 34 0 0 0 104.0

11. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 32 0 0 0 80.4

12. Aric Almirola 31 0 0 0 78.0

PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY – SPECIFIC STATISTICS

Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M / NOVEC Ford)
· Five top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 13.7

Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet)
· One win, four top fives, 11 top 10s
· Average finish of 13.3

Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
·         One win, three top fives, 10 top 10s; two poles
·         Average finish of 13.3

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Subway Ford)
·         One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s; three poles
·         Average finish of 12.5

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 PEPSI MAX Chevrolet)
· Two wins, 10 top fives, 19 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 11.5

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota)
· One win, seven top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 10.3

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet)
·         Three wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s
·         Average finish of 12.9

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
·         Four wins, 12 top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 6.7

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Husky Toyota)
· One win, five top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.7

Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota)
· Two wins, 12 top fives, 21 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 9.1

Ryan Newman (No. 39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet)
· One win, eight top fives, eight top 10s; four poles
· Average finish of 18.0

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Racing Chevrolet)
· One win, eight top fives, 11 top 10s
· Average finish of 12.1

Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Filters Toyota)
· One top five, five top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.1

Top 12 Driver Rating at Phoenix
Jimmie Johnson…………………… 115.8
Denny Hamlin………………………. 100.4
Kyle Busch…………………………… 99.9
Kurt Busch……………………………. 99.3
Tony Stewart…………………………. 99.0
Jeff Gordon………………………….. 98.8
Kevin Harvick………………………… 98.4
Carl Edwards………………………… 98.3
Mark Martin…………………………… 97.8
Greg Biffle……………………………. 92.4
Ryan Newman……………………….. 88.9
Matt Kenseth………………………… 85.5

Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2012 races (16 total) among active drivers at Phoenix International Raceway

Notebook
·         There have been 33 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Phoenix International Raceway, one per season from 1988-2004 and two each season since.
·         184 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix; 134 in more than one.
·         Geoffrey Bodine won the first pole in 1988 at a speed of 123.203 mph (29.220 sec.)
·         There have been 19 different pole winners, led by Ryan Newman with four.
·         Youngest Phoenix pole winner: Kyle Busch (4/22/06 – 20 years, 11 months, 20 days).
·         Oldest Phoenix pole winner: Mark Martin (03/04/12 – 53 years, 1 months, 24 days).
·         Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards are the only drivers to win consecutive poles. Newman won three straight (2002-04), while Gordon won the fall of 2006 and spring of 2007, and Edwards won the fall of 2010 and spring of 2011.
·         There have been 23 different race winners at Phoenix, seven of which have won more than once, led by Jimmie Johnson, with four – (’07 fall, ’08 sweep, ’09 fall).
·         The seven drivers who have won more than once at Phoenix: Jimmie Johnson (four), Kevin Harvick (three), Davey Allison (two), Jeff Burton (two), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two), Jeff Gordon (two) and Mark Martin (two).
·         Of the seven drivers with multiple wins at Phoenix International Raceway, Mark Martin is the only driver to win in two different manufacturers: Ford (1993) and Chevrolet (2009).
·         The race has been won from the pole four times: Jeff Gordon (spring 2007), Jimmie Johnson (fall 2008), Mark Martin (spring 2009) and Carl Edwards (fall 2010).
·         The race has been won from a top-10 starting position in 17 of 33 events.
·         Denny Hamlin (November, 2005) and AJ Allmendinger (April, 2010) won their first career pole at Phoenix International Raceway.
·         Ricky Rudd won the 1995 race from the 29th-place starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.
·         Matt Kenseth won the 2002 race from the 28th-place starting position, the furthest back an active race winner has started.
·         Mark Martin has 21 top-10 finishes, more than any other driver. Martin (9.0 average finish) is one of two active drivers who average a top-10 finish. Jimmie Johnson (6.6) is the other.
·         Two perfect Driver Ratings of 150.0 have been recorded at Phoenix, Kurt Busch in April of 2005 and Kevin Harvick in November of 2006.
·         Five drivers have won consecutive races at Phoenix: Davey Allison (1991,1992); Jeff Burton (2000, 2001); Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003, 2004); Kevin Harvick (swept 2006); Jimmie Johnson is the only one of the five to win three consecutive races (fall 2007, swept 2008).
·         Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Phoenix with nine, followed by Roush Fenway Racing with six.
·         Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Texas Motor Speedway winner: Phoenix International Raceway winner: Kyle Busch (11/13/2005 – 20 years, 6 months, 11 days).
·         Oldest NSCS Phoenix International Raceway winner: Mark Martin (04/18/2009 – 50 years, 3 months, 9 days).
·         Mark Martin leads the series in runner-up finishes at Phoenix with five; followed by Tony Stewart with three.
·         Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson lead the series in top-five finishes at Phoenix with 12 each.
·         Alan Kulwicki (11/6/1988) and Bobby Hamilton (10/27/1996) are the only two drivers to post their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career win at Phoenix International Raceway.
·         21 of the 23 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who have won at Phoenix participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Alan Kulwicki (11/6/1988) and Tony Stewart (11/7/1999) are the only two drivers to win at Phoenix in their first appearance.
·         Jeff Gordon competed at Phoenix International Raceway 16 times before winning (4/21/2007); the longest span of any the 23 winners.
·         Six drivers have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Phoenix: Jeff Gordon (16), Ryan Newman (15), Kasey Kahne (14), Denny Hamlin (13), Carl Edwards (12) and Rusty Wallace (11).
·         Bobby Labonte leads the series (active drivers) with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Phoenix without visiting Victory Lane with 28.
·         Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Phoenix was the (4/10/2010) race won by Ryan Newman with a MOV of 0.13 seconds.
·         Seven of the 33 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Phoenix have been won from the front row.
·         Five drivers have won the first two races of the season in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series; the first two times did not include the Daytona 500: Lee Petty (Daytona Beach Course, Tri-City Speedway; 1954), Marvin Panch (Willow Springs Speedway, Concord Speedway; 1956), David Pearson (Riverside, Daytona; 1976), Jeff Gordon (Daytona, Rockingham; 1997) and Matt Kenseth (Daytona, Auto Club).
·         Three reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champions have gone on to win at Phoenix the following season; Jimmie Johnson is the only one to do it multiple times: Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008 sweep and 2009); Kurt Busch (2005) and Bill Elliott (1989).
·         Two drivers have won at Phoenix and the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship in the same season: Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008 sweep and 2009); Dale Earnhardt (1990).
·         Danica Patrick is the only female driver to have made a NASCAR Sprint Cup start at Phoenix International Raceway. She did so last season (11/11/12) starting 37th and finishing 17th.

NASCAR driver statistical advance for the Daytona 500

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Karen Pistone

Race #: 1 of 36
Track Size: 2.5 miles
Race Length: 500 miles (200 laps)
Banking/Corners: 31 degrees
Banking/Straights: 3 degrees
Banking/Tri-Oval: 18 degrees

Qualifying/Race Data
2012 pole winner: Carl Edwards (194.738 mph, 46.216 seconds)
2012 race winner: Matt Kenseth (140.256 mph, 2-27-12)
Qualifying record: Bill Elliott (210.364 mph, 42.783 secs. 2-9-87)
Race record: Buddy Baker (177.602 mph, 2-17-80)

Below is a statistical look at some of the top performers at Daytona International Speedway, including both the Daytona 500 and the annual July race.

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota)
· Two top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 15.8

Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)
· One win, nine top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.1

Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet)
· 10 top fives, 12 top 10s
· Average finish of 18.0

Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)
· One win, five top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 18.0

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet)
· Two wins, nine top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 14.5

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford)
·         Four top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 16.6

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)
·         Six wins, 12 top fives, 19 top 10s; three poles
·         Average finish of 16.1

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota)
· Two top fives, two top 10s
· Average finish of 21.0

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)
· Two wins, five top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 15.4

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)
· Two top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 17.3

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)
· Two wins, six top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.2

Ryan Newman (No. 39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet)
· One win, three top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 21.2

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)
·         Four wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
·         Average finish of 16.1
History
Groundbreaking for Daytona International Speedway was Nov. 25, 1957. The soil underneath the banked corners was dug from the infield of the track and the hole filled with water. It is now known as Lake Lloyd.
The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona was a 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 1959.
Richard Petty won his 200th career race on July 4, 1984 at Daytona.
·         Lights were installed in the spring of 1998. However, the July race was delayed until October that year due to thick smoke from wildfires. The second Daytona race has been held under the lights ever since.
·         The track underwent a repave in 2010.

Notebook
There have been 131 NASCAR Sprint Cup races since the track hosted its first race in 1959: 54 have been 500 miles, 50 were 400 miles and four 250 miles. There were also 23 qualifier races that were point races.
Fireball Roberts won the inaugural pole at Daytona.
Bob Welborn won the first race at Daytona, the 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500.
Lee Petty won the inaugural Daytona 500 on Feb. 22, 1959; he led 38 laps and won by 2 feet.
Fireball Roberts won the first 400-mile race at Daytona, the 1963 Firecracker 400.
55 drivers have posted poles at Daytona.
Cale Yarborough leads all drivers with 12 poles at Daytona.
Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin lead all active drivers with three poles at Daytona.
56 drivers have won at Daytona.
Richard Petty leads all drivers in victories at Daytona with 10.
Jeff Gordon has six victories at Daytona, more than any other active driver.
The Wood Brothers have won 15 races at Daytona, more than any other car owner.
17 full-length races at Daytona have been won from the pole; the last to do it was Kevin Harvick in the 2011 Coke Zero 400.
A driver has swept both races at Daytona only four times, most recently by Bobby Allison in 1982.

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

2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champions, Brad Keselowski & team – Stats

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Brad Keselowski, the new 2012 NSCS Champion! Photo by Sandi Goodall/Racingal.com

Brad Keselowski’s 15th-place finish in Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway was all it took to apply the finishing touches to a stellar championship season. Keselowski’s championship came in his 125th start, the fewest since Jeff Gordon captured his first of four titles in 1995 in 93 starts.

A victory at the Chase-opening Chicagoland Speedway race, followed by another at Dover International Speedway, boosted Keselowski from contender to co-favorite with Johnson.

At age 28, Keselowski is the eighth-youngest competitor to win a first NASCAR Sprint Cup championship.

Below are more stats on the champion:

Brad Keselowski won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship. His previous best series points finish was fifth, last season.
Keselowski is the second driver to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series championships (Bobby Labonte). Keselowski won the NASCAR Nationwide title in 2010.
Keselowski needed 125 starts to win his first championship, the fewest starts since Jeff Gordon in 1995 (93).
Keselowski posted two wins, three top fives and eight top 10s in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup this season.
Keselowski finished the 2012 season with five wins, 13 top fives and 23 top 10s

Owner Champion

This is Penske Racing’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
Owner Roger Penske’s previous best points standings finish was second with NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Rusty Wallace in 1993.
Penske has been fielding cars in NASCAR in 1972.
This is Dodges fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, and first since 1975. The other Dodge champions: David Pearson (1966), Bobby Isaac (1970) and Richard Petty (1974-75).
Penske Racing won its first NASCAR title in 2010, when Keselowski won the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship.

Crew Chief Champion

This is Paul Wolfe’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship and second NASCAR national series championship (NNS; 2010)
Wolfe is the first crew chief to win both the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series championship
Wolfe and Keselowski have combined for eight NASCAR Sprint Cup wins three in 2011 and five in 2012.
They also won six NASCAR Nationwide races together, all in their championship winning season of 2010.

Source: NASCAR Stats

Football vs NASCAR: Behind the Numbers of Tailgating

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Karen Pistone

T A I L G A T I N G

adjective

pertaining to or set up on a tailgate: a tailgate picnic before the football game.

Origin:
1850–55, Americanism ; tail¹ + gate

Graphic courtesy of Quicken Loans.

Ready…Set…Tailgate!

We all know that Tailgating is an American pastime at events. People from all walks of life come together to cheer on their favorite drivers and teams.Below are some fun stats:

An estimated 80% of the U.S. population tailgates at least once per year. (240 million people).
64% are between the ages of 25-44
61% tailgate 5+ times per season
41% tailgate 8+ times per season $35 billion spent on food and beverage sales for tailgating 13 billion tailgate meals eaten by fans per year
47% of tailgating food is bought by both husband and wife
41% spend more than $500 per season on food and supplies
93% of tailgaters prepare their food at the stadium or venue
78% use a grill to cook

Top 5 Best Tailgating Stadiums
•Reliant Stadium; Houston, Texas
•Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, MO
• Ralph Wilson Stadium; Buffalo, NY
• Lambeau Field; Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Lincoln Financial Field; Philadelphia, PA

Top 5 Best Tailgating Speedways
• Indianapolis Motor Speedway; Indianapolis, IN
• Daytona International Speedway; Daytona Beach, FL
• Pocono Raceway; Long Pond, PA
• Talladega Motor Speedway; Lincoln, AL
• Bristol Motor Speedway; Bristol, TN

King of the Grill Top 4 Grills Used:
1. Charcoal
2. Gas
3. Smokers
4. Electric

NFL Tailgater Demographics
Gender
Men 58%
Women 42%

Age
18-24 12%
25-34 18%
35-44 20%
45-54 19%
55-64 15%
65+ 16%

Household Income
$>50K 38%
$50-75K 19%
$75K-100k 18%
$100k+ 25%

NASCAR Tailgater Demographics
Gender
Men 64%
Women 36%

Age
18-24 13%
25-34 18%
35-44 23%
45-54 20%
55-64 14%
65+ 12%

Household Income
$>50K 45%
$50-$75K 19%
$75K-100k 16%
$100k+ 20%

Popular Games
1) Cornhole
2) Ladder Ball
3) Beer Pong
4) Washer Toss
5) Flip cup

Source: Quicken Loans Racing

NASCAR Chase driver stats – HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Homestead-Miami Speedway Data

Chase Race #: 10 of 10

Season Race #: 36 of 36

Track Size: 1.5-mile

Banking/Turns: 18 – 20 degrees

Banking/Straights: 4 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 1,760 feet

Backstretch Length: 1,760 feet

Race Length: 267 laps / 400.5 miles

Qualifying/Race Data

2011 pole winner: Carl Edwards, Ford, 175.467 mph, 30.775 secs., 11-18-11

2011 race winner: Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 114.976 mph, (3:29:00), 11-20-11

Track qualifying record: Jamie McMurray,Dodge, 181.111 mph, 29.816 sec., 11-16-03

Track race record: Tony Stewart, Pontiac, 140.335 mph, (2:51:14), 11-14-99

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida going into the Ford EcoBoost 400 on Nov. 18.

HOMESTEAD-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

1 – Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.0

2012 Rundown

· Five wins, 13 top fives, 23 top 10s

· Average finish of 9.9

· Led 21 races for 735 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

· Average finish of 20.3 in four races

· Average Running Position of 21.3, 21st-best

· Driver Rating of 68.9, 23rd-best

2 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 110.0

2012 Rundown

· Five wins, 18 top fives, 24 top 10s; four poles

· Average finish of 10.5

· Led 25 races for 1,719 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

· Four top fives, seven top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 13.5 in 11 races

· Average Running Position of 14.2, 11th-best

· Driver Rating of 95.2, fifth-best

· 50 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.408 mph, sixth-fastest

· 1,321 Laps in the Top 15 (70.6%), fifth-most

· 291 Quality Passes, seventh-most

3 – Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.5

2012 Rundown

· Two wins, 12 top fives, 19 top 10s; four poles

· Average finish of 12.9

· Led 11 races for 275 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

· One top five, four top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 14.8 in eight races

· Average Running Position of 12.9, fifth-best

· Driver Rating of 90.1, 10th-best

· 86 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

· 544 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.135 mph, 12th-fastest

· 1,079 Laps in the Top 15 (57.7%), 12th-most

· 259 Quality Passes, 12th-most

4 – Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5 Hour Energy Toyota)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.9

2012 Rundown

· Three wins, nine top fives, 22 top 10s

· Average finish of 11.2

· Led 13 races for 388 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

· One top five, three top 10s

· Average finish of 13.8 in six races

· Average Running Position of 13.1, sixth-best

· Driver Rating of 87.8, 11th-best

· 526 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.075 mph, 13th-fastest

· 1,092 Laps in the Top 15 (68.1%), 11th-most

· 308 Quality Passes, fourth-most

5 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.0

2012 Rundown

· Five wins, 14 top fives, 17 top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 12.5

· Led 24 races for 1,226 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

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

· Average finish of 10.9 in seven races

· Average Running Position of 14.3, 12th-best

· Driver Rating of 92.5, eighth-best

· 626 Green Flag Passes, second-most

· 1,156 Laps in the Top 15 (61.8%), eighth-most

· 314 Quality Passes, third-most

6 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Best Buy Ford)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.9

2012 Rundown

· Three wins, 13 top fives, 19 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 10.9

· Led 22 races for 478 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

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

· Average finish of 17.6 in 12 races

· Average Running Position of 9.6, third-best

· Driver Rating of 107.0, third-best

· 81 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.650 mph, third-fastest

· 1,488 Laps in the Top 15 (79.6%), third-most

· 282 Quality Passes, ninth-most

7 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M/SP Richards Ford)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.0

2012 Rundown

· Two wins, 11 top fives, 20 top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 10.3

· Led 16 races for 721 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

· Three wins, three top fives, four top 10s

· Average finish of 15.3 in 10 races

· Average Running Position of 14.5, 13th-best

· Driver Rating of 92.2, ninth-best

· 100 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

· 572 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.436 mph, fifth-fastest

· 1,150 Laps in the Top 15 (61.5%), ninth-most

· 253 Quality Passes, 13th-most

8 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.2

2012 Rundown

· One win, five top fives, 13 top 10s

· Average finish of 12.2

· Led 9 races for 256 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

· Five top fives, nine top 10s

· Average finish of 7.9 in 11 races

· Average Running Position of 9.7, fourth-best

· Driver Rating of 102.5, fourth-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.598 mph, fourth-fastest

· 1,499 Laps in the Top 15 (80.2%), second-most

· 307 Quality Passes, fifth-most

9 – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.7

2012 Rundown

· Three wins, 12 top fives, 16 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 13.5

· Led 14 races for 420 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

· Three wins, four top fives, seven top 10s

· Average finish of 11.5 in 13 races

· Average Running Position of 13.7, seventh-best

· Driver Rating of 93.1, sixth-best

· 99 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

· 533 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.313 mph, seventh-fastest

· 1,263 Laps in the Top 15 (67.5%), sixth-most

· 290 Quality Passes, eighth-most

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

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.9

2012 Rundown

· Seven top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 12.3

· Led 11 races for 423 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

· Two top fives, five top 10s

· Average finish of 10.4 in seven races

· Average Running Position of 8.7, second-best

· Driver Rating of 109.7, second-best

· 143 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.860 mph, second-fastest

· 1,334 Laps in the Top 15 (83.2%), fourth-most

· Series-high 382 Quality Passes

11 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont 20 Years ‘Celebratory’ Chevrolet)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.4

2012 Rundown

· One win, 10 top fives, 17 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 14.5

· Led 22 races for 554 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

· Six top fives, 10 top 10s

· Average finish of 11.3 in 13 races

· Average Running Position of 14.0, ninth-best

· Driver Rating of 92.9, seventh-best

· 68 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

· 1,234 Laps in the Top 15 (66.0%), seventh-most

· 333 Quality Passes, second-most

12 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.4

2012 Rundown

· One win, 10 top fives, 19 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 10.9

· Led 13 races for 358 laps

Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:

· Average finish of 23.1 in 12 races

· Average Running Position of 21.5, 23rd-best

· Driver Rating of 69.6, 22nd-best

· 93 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

· Series-high 635 Green Flag Passes

Chase Contenders

The Top 12 Following race 35 of 36

Driver	Points	Wins	Poles	Week	Rating
1. Brad Keselowski	2,371	5	0	2	99.0
2. Jimmie Johnson	2,351	5	4	1	110.0
3. Kasey Kahne	2,321	2	4	4	96.5
4. Clint Bowyer	2,319	3	0	3	95.9
5. Denny Hamlin	2,309	5	3	7	102.0
6. Matt Kenseth	2,297	3	1	5	99.9
7. Greg Biffle	2,293	2	3	10	100.0
8. Kevin Harvick	2,285	1	0	11	91.2
9. Tony Stewart	2,284	3	1	8	86.7
10. Jeff Gordon	2,281	1	2	6	97.4
11. Martin Truex Jr.	2,260	0	1	9	94.9
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr.	2,211	1	1	12	96.4

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2012 Top 12 at Homestead-Miami Speedway

	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish	Driver Rating
1	Brad Keselowski	4	0	0	0	0	0	20.3	68.9
2	Jimmie Johnson	11	2	0	4	7	1	13.5	95.2
3	Kasey Kahne	8	2	0	1	4	1	14.8	90.1
4	Clint Bowyer	6	0	0	1	3	0	13.8	87.8
5	Denny Hamlin	7	0	1	3	4	0	10.9	92.5
6	Matt Kenseth	12	0	1	3	5	2	17.6	107.0
7	Greg Biffle	10	0	3	3	4	2	15.3	92.2
8	Kevin Harvick	11	0	0	5	9	0	7.9	102.5
9	Tony Stewart	13	0	3	4	7	0	11.5	93.1
10	Jeff Gordon	13	0	0	6	10	1	11.3	92.9
11	Martin Truex Jr.	7	0	0	2	5	1	10.4	109.7
12	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	12	0	0	0	0	1	23.1	69.6

At Homestead-Miami Speedway:

History

· Groundbreaking for Homestead-Miami Dade Motorsports Complex – as the track was originally named – began Aug. 24, 1993. The first race was a NASCAR Nationwide Series event on Nov. 5, 1995.

· The original configuration was a four-turn, rectangular oval based on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s layout.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Homestead was held on Nov. 14, 1999.

· 2002 was the first season of the Championship Weekend at Homestead, with all three of NASCAR’s national series holding their season finale at the same track.

Notebook

· Since the inception of the position-based points system in 1975, only four drivers have made up a points deficit in the season finale: Richard Petty in 1979 (made up two points on Darrell Waltrip), Alan Kulwicki in 1992 (made up 30 points on Davey Allison), Jimmie Johnson in 2010 (made up 15 points on Denny Hamlin) and last season Tony Stewart (made up three* points on Carl Edwards).

· Stewart’s comeback was under the one-point-per-position format implemented in 2011.

· There have been 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Homestead, one per season since 1999.

· Four drivers have competed in all 13 races: Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, and Tony Stewart.

· David Green won the first pole, in 1999 with a speed of 155.759 mph.

· Tony Stewart won the inaugural race, in 1999 driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.

· There have been nine different pole winners. Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson lead all drivers, with two.

· There have been eight different race winners, led by Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart, with three each.

· Jack Roush has won seven races, most among owners. Joe Gibbs has the second most wins with four.

· The race has been won from the pole twice: Bill Elliott (2001) and Kurt Busch (2002).

· The race has been won from a top-10 starting position in nine of 13 races.

· Denny Hamlin won in 2009 from the 38th starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.

· Two active drivers have averaged a top-10 finish: Carl Edwards (5.3) and Kevin Harvick (7.9).

· Kasey Kahne (7.2) is the only driver to average a starting position in the top-10.

· Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Homestead-Miami Speedway winner: Kurt Busch (11/17/2002 – 24 years, 3 months, 13 days). Oldest NSCS Homestead-Miami Speedway winner: Bill Elliott (11/11/2001 – 46 years, 1 months, 3 days).

· Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Homestead-Miami Speedway pole winner: Kurt Busch (11/17/2002 – 24 years, 3 months, 13 days). Oldest NSCS Homestead-Miami Speedway pole winner: Bill Elliott (11/11/2001 – 46 years, 1 months, 3 days).

NASCAR Chase Contender stats – TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Karen Pistone

Texas Motor Speedway Data

Chase Race #: 8 of 10

Season Race #: 34 of 36 (11-04-12)

Track Size: 1.5-mile

Banking/Turns: 24 degrees

Banking/Straights: 5 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 2,250 feet

Backstretch Length: 1,330 feet

Race Length: 334 laps / 501 miles

Qualifying/Race Data

2011 pole winner: Greg Biffle, Ford, 193.736 mph, 27.873 sec., 11-04-11

2011 race winner: Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 152.705 mph, (3:10:51), 11-06-11

Track qualifying record: Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 196.235 mph, 27.518 sec., 11-05-06

Track race record: Greg Biffle, Ford, 160.577 mph, (3:07:12), 04-14-12

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas going into the AAA Texas 500 on Nov. 4.

TEXAS-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

1 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 109.9

2012 Rundown

· Four wins, 17 top fives, 23 top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 10.1

· Led 24 races for 1,551 laps

Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:

· One win, eight top fives, 13 top 10s

· Average finish of 9.7 in 18 races

· Average Running Position of 11.7, fifth-best

· Driver Rating of 100.6, fourth-best

· 296 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.668 mph, sixth-fastest

· 3,662 Laps in the Top 15 (72.9%), fifth-most

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

2 – Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.8

2012 Rundown

· Five wins, 12 top fives, 21 top 10s

· Average finish of 10.3

· Led 19 races for 650 laps

Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:

· Average finish of 25.3 in eight races

· Average Running Position of 23.2, 27th-best

· Driver Rating of 63.2, 28th-best

3 – Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-hour Energy Toyota)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.6

2012 Rundown

· Three wins, nine top fives, 21 top 10s

· Average finish of 10.8

· Led 13 races for 388 laps

Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:

· Three top fives, seven top 10s

· Average finish of 13.3 in 13 races

· Average Running Position of 13.4, ninth-best

· Driver Rating of 90.9, 10th-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.572 mph, ninth-fastest

4 – Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrickcars.com/Great Clips Chevrolet)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.0

2012 Rundown

· Two wins, 11 top fives, 18 top 10s; four poles

· Average finish of 12.8

· Led 11 races for 275 laps

Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:

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

· Average finish of 18.8 in 16 races

· Average Running Position of 16.0, 16th-best

· Driver Rating of 82.8, 16th-best

· 200 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

· 1,055 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most

· 2,759 Laps in the Top 15 (55.0%), 13th-most

· 485 Quality Passes, 12th-most

5 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 102.1

2012 Rundown

· Five wins, 13 top fives, 16 top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 12.6

· Led 23 races for 1,180 laps

Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:

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

· Average finish of 10.3 in 14 races

· Average Running Position of 12.6, eighth-best

· Driver Rating of 94.6, seventh-best

· 165 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most

· 1,111 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.608 mph, eighth-fastest

· 3,085 Laps in the Top 15 (65.8%), ninth-most

· 594 Quality Passes, fourth-most

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

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.6

2012 Rundown

· One win, 10 top fives, 17 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 14.1

· Led 22 races for 554 laps

Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:

· One win, eight top fives, 11 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 16.2 in 23 races

· Average Running Position of 14.0, 10th-best

· Driver Rating of 91.3, ninth-best

· 251 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.443 mph, 10th-fastest

· 3,089 Laps in the Top 15 (61.5%), eighth-most

· 524 Quality Passes, ninth-most

7 – Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 Carlyle Tools by NAPA Toyota)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.7

2012 Rundown

· Seven top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 11.3

· Led 11 races for 423 laps

Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:

· One top five, seven top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 16.1 in 14 races

· Average Running Position of 15.2, 14th-best

· Driver Rating of 85.0, 13th-best

· 967 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.422 mph, 12th-fastest

8 – Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Ford EcoBoost Ford)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.5

2012 Rundown

· Three wins, 12 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 11.1

· Led 21 races for 477 laps

Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:

· Two wins, 11 top fives, 14 top 10s

· Average finish of 8.6 in 20 races

· Series-best Average Running Position of 9.2

· Series-best Driver Rating of 107.2

· 299 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

· 1,073 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 173.004 mph, second-fastest

· Series-high 3,988 Laps in the Top 15 (79.4%)

· 591 Quality Passes, fifth-most

9 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.5

2012 Rundown

· Two wins, 11 top fives, 18 top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 10.5

· Led 16 races for 721 laps

Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:

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

· Average finish of 16.2 in 17 races

· Average Running Position of 12.6, seventh-best

· Driver Rating of 103.3, second-best

· Series-high 447 Fastest Laps Run

· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 173.009 mph

· 3,648 Laps in the Top 15 (72.7%), sixth-most

· 604 Quality Passes, third-most

10 – Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.0

2012 Rundown

· Three wins, 11 top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 13.6

· Led 14 races for 420 laps

Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:

· Two wins, five top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 13.1 in 21 races

· Average Running Position of 9.6, second-best

· Driver Rating of 102.5, third-best

· 339 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.934 mph, fourth-fastest

· 3,910 Laps in the Top 15 (77.9%), third-most

· 557 Quality Passes, seventh-most

11 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Rheem/Budweiser Chevrolet)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.8

2012 Rundown

· Four top fives, 11 top 10s

· Average finish of 12.6

· Led 8 races for 241 laps

Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:

· Three top fives, nine top 10s

· Average finish of 12.7 in 19 races

· Average Running Position of 15.3, 15th-best

· Driver Rating of 84.8, 14th-best

· 1,136 Green Flag Passes, second-most

· 2,895 Laps in the Top 15 (57.7%), 12th-most

· 531 Quality Passes, eighth-most

12 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet)

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.6

2012 Rundown

· One win, 10 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 10.7

· Led 13 races for 358 laps

Texas Motor Speedway Outlook:

· One win, three top fives, 11 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 13.9 in 20 races

· Average Running Position of 11.3, third-best

· Driver Rating of 92.8, eighth-best

· 172 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

· 1,103 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.649 mph, seventh-fastest

· 3,930 Laps in the Top 15 (78.3%), second-most

· Series-high 650 Quality Passes

Chase Contenders

The Top 12 Following Race 33 of 36

Driver	Points	Wins	Poles	Week	Rating
1. Jimmie Johnson	2,291	4	3	2	109.9
2. Brad Keselowski	2,289	5	0	1	97.8
3. Clint Bowyer	2,265	3	0	4	95.6
4. Kasey Kahne	2,262	2	4	5	96.0
5. Denny Hamlin	2,242	5	3	3	102.1
6. Jeff Gordon	2,237	1	2	8	97.6
7. Martin Truex Jr.	2,228	0	1	6	96.7
8. Matt Kenseth	2,226	3	1	9	100.5
9. Greg Biffle	2,222	2	3	11	100.5
10. Tony Stewart	2,220	3	1	7	87.0
11. Kevin Harvick	2,203	0	0	10	90.8
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr.	2,151	1	1	12	97.6

Racingal.com

A NASCAR Fan Blog by Karen Pistone

Category Archives: Stats

Texas Motor Speedway: NASCAR Sprint Cup driver statistical advance

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver stats: MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY

NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver Stats: LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

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NASCAR driver statistical advance for the Daytona 500

The Sprint Unlimited eligible driver stats

2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champions, Brad Keselowski & team – Stats

Football vs NASCAR: Behind the Numbers of Tailgating

T A I L G A T I N G

NASCAR Chase driver stats – HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY

NASCAR Chase Contender stats – TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY