Credit: Autostock

By the Numbers: Ford 400

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Homestead-Miami Speedway has a short, five-year history of NASCAR Cup Series racing, and only one race in its current configuration.

Many of the participants thus say that the South Florida oval is the perfect "neutral location" for NASCAR's season finale for its inaugural Chase for the Nextel Cup: Sunday's Ford 400.

With this being only the second NASCAR race weekend on the current high-banked layout, defending Ford 400 winner Bobby Labonte and 2003 Bud Pole winner and track record holder Jamie McMurray are the ones most likely to add to Homestead's statistical legacy.

The 1.5-mile oval with long straights and wide corners is the final event in NASCAR's first 10-race "playoff" series for its premier division, and the 36th event of the season.

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Since qualifying at Darlington was rained out, Ryan Newman once again has an opportunity to tie a Cup mark if he wins his fifth consecutive Bud Pole Award.

Newman has won four consecutive poles, since Lowe's Motor Speedway in October, and can tie the mark established by Bobby Allison and last achieved by Cale Yarborough in 1980.

The following numbers refer to Homestead unless otherwise noted.

1 -- The fewest cautions, in 1999.

1 -- The fewest laps led by a race winner, by Bobby Labonte in 2003.

1.42 -- Bill Elliott's closest margin of victory, in seconds, over Michael Waltrip in 2001.

2 -- Pontiac's leading number of victories.

2 -- The number of races won from the pole position, most recently by Kurt Busch in 2002.

3 -- Joe Gibbs' leading number of car owner victories.

3 -- Jeff Burton, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin's leading number of top-five finishes.

3 -- Kasey Kahne's number of consecutive fifth-place finishes, since Atlanta.

3 -- John Andretti's leading number of DNFs.

4 -- Bobby Labonte and Jeff Gordon's leading number of top-10 finishes.

4 -- The number of races won from starting positions inside the top 10.

5 -- The number of different Bud Pole winners.

5 -- The fewest caution laps, in 1999.

5 -- Jimmie Johnson's consecutive top-10 finishes, since Lowe's.

5.289 -- Tony Stewart's greatest margin of victory, in seconds, over Bobby Labonte in 1999.

6 -- The fewest leaders, in 2002.

6 -- The fewest finishers on the lead lap, in 2000.

7 -- Jeff Burton's leading average finish in five starts.

7 -- Jeff Burton's number of consecutive top-15 finishes, since Talladega.

10 -- The most caution periods, in 2003.

11.4 -- Joe Nemechek's leading average starting position.

12 -- The number of the 19 drivers who have been running at the finish in all five events.

12 -- The fewest lead changes, in 2002.

12 -- The most leaders, in 2003.

13 -- Tony Stewart's starting position in 2000, the furthest back a winner has started.

14 -- Mark Martin's number of consecutive top-20 finishes, since Watkins Glen.

19 -- The number of drivers who have competed in all races.

20 -- The maximum degree of banking in the four turns.

21 -- The most lead changes, in 2003.

25 -- The most finishers on the lead lap, in 2001.

29 -- The total number of DNFs in all aces.

32 -- The fewest cars running at the finish, in 2003.

42 -- The most cars running at the finish, in 2001.

45 -- The pit road speed limit, in miles per hour. Under caution, the pace vehicle will travel 55 mph.

60 -- The most caution laps, in 2003.

70 -- The number of drivers who have made at least one start.

116.868 -- Bobby Labonte's record average speed, in miles per hour, set in 2003.

150 -- Kurt Busch's number of career starts if he starts the Ford 400.

166 -- The most laps led, by Tony Stewart in 2000.

181.111 -- Jamie McMurray's Bud Pole Qualifying record, in miles per hour, set in 2003.

267 -- The number of laps it takes to complete 400.5 miles.

400 -- Bobby Labonte's consecutive career starts if he starts the Ford 400.

65,000 -- The announced grandstand seating capacity.

$5,130,338 -- Posted awards for the Ford 400.