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Mark Martin has done one thing that no other Chase driver has done at Talladega. Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

By the Numbers: 'Dega

By B. Duane Cross, NASCAR.COM
October 6, 2005
09:28 AM EDT (13:28 GMT)

Talladega, Ala., is the third stop in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, the 10-race playoff to crown the premier series champion.

The point standings entering Talladega:

Rank Driver Points Behind
1. Jimmie Johnson 5362 --
2. Rusty Wallace 5355 -7
3. Ryan Newman 5350 -12
4. Mark Martin 5341 -21
5. Tony Stewart 5339 -23
6. Greg Biffle 5339 -23
7. Jeremy Mayfield 5281 -81
8. Carl Edwards 5259 -103
9. Matt Kenseth 5238 -124
10. Kurt Busch 5192 -170

Last year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. rallied from 11th place during the final five laps to beat Kevin Harvick -- and take the points lead. However, as exciting as the late-race action was, the day will be remembered for Junior's slip of the tongue.

The UAW-Ford 500 begins at 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday on NBC.

The following numbers refer to races only at Talladega:

1 -- Chase driver has a victory at Talladega: Mark Martin, who won on April 30, 1995, and on May 10, 1997.
6.0 -- Best average starting position by a Chase driver: Jimmie Johnson, in seven starts. He has two poles, both coming in 2002.
10 -- Most top-five finishes by a Chase driver: Mark Martin, tied for third all-time behind Terry Labonte (14) and Jeff Gordon (11).
12.4 -- Best average finishing position by a Chase driver: Kurt Busch, in nine starts. His best finish is third (twice), with four top-fives and six top-10s.
13 -- Consecutive races won by a Chevrolet at Talladega. Two Chasers drive a bowtie: Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart.
14.4 -- Average finish in 15 career restrictor-plate races for Jimmie Johnson, tops among the 10 Chase drivers.
15.2 -- Average finish for the "Ford Five." Roush Racing's drivers -- Mark Martin (2), Greg Biffle (1), Carl Edwards (1), Matt Kenseth (1) and Kurt Busch (0) -- have five top-10 finishes in two races.
21 -- Top-10 finishes in 39 starts for Mark Martin. Ten were top-fives, including two victories.
28.4 -- Worst average starting position by a Chase driver: Matt Kenseth, in 11 starts. He has started in the top 10 only three times.
29.7 -- Average finish in two career restrictor-plate races for Carl Edwards, worst among the 10 Chase drivers.
37.0 -- Worst average finishing position by a Chase driver: Carl Edwards, in two races he has finished 42nd and 32nd.
44 -- Most starts by a Chase driver: Rusty Wallace. He has never won at Talladega, and only has one top-five finish and 12 top-10s.
46.7 -- Percentage of laps led by Tony Stewart in the three previous restrictor-plate races this year: Daytona (107 of 203 laps), 'Dega (2 of 194) and Daytona (151 of 160).
313 -- Most laps-led by a Chase driver: Mark Martin. On the flips side, Carl Edwards (288 laps) has not led a lap.
6,827 -- Most laps by a Chase driver: Mark Martin. He has raced 6,827 of 7,279 laps (93.8 percent) in his 39 starts.
$1,967,200 -- Most money won by a Chase driver: Mark Martin, fourth all-time behind Jeff Gordon ($2,698,803).
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