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Dave Blaney started from the pole in February, but this time Brian Vickers will drive the No. 10.By the Numbers: California
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This time of year can be considered Silly Season for the Busch Series.
It's not like drivers are swapping rides and making deals to secure themselves for 2008. But it's the teams that are experimenting and gearing up for how next season may look. And California is a prime example.
Two drivers will make their Busch Series debut this weekend, while another driver will make his first start at California Speedway in Saturday's Camping World 300 (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
And no less than 28 drivers will be trying to curb a streak that Ford has going at the track, as well as take away Roush Fenway's stronghold on Victory Lane.
Interesting Facts
0Career Busch Series starts for A.J. Allmendinger, who will begin a five-race stint with Chip Ganassi Racing's No. 42 Dodge. Allmendinger has 11 starts in the Truck Series and nine in the Cup Series.
0Busch Series starts for Blake Bjorklund, who will drive the No. 28 Chevrolet for Haas CNC Racing. Bjorklund has made 15 of 16 Truck Series races this season.
0Busch Series starts at California Speedway for Kevin Conway, who has served as a driving instructor at the track for the Richard Petty Driving Experience. He will drive Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 18.
Fun Fact
7Ranking of California's economic size if it measured itself to other countries in the world. Saturday's race purse of $1,607,454 ranks as the fourth-highest this season behind Daytona ($2,258,067), Mexico City ($2,179,923) and Montreal ($1,753,293).
All the Facts
1Position that Dave Blaney started in the February race at California. Blaney, however, is not entered in Saturday night's race. He has not raced since the season's 21st event, after which he was sixth in the standings.
2Laps that Scott Wimmer has not completed in his five California starts. Wimmer, who has driven part-time for RCR this year, will make his first start in Kevin Harvick Inc.'s No. 77.
3Times the California race has been won from the second starting position: 1998, 1999 and 2007.
5Victories in the last six California races by the driver who led the most laps. The lap leader has finished in the top 10 in 13 of the track's 14 races.
5Consecutive California winners have started in the second, third or fourth positions.
6Drivers entered in Saturday's race who are from California: Stanton Barrett (Bishop), David Gilliland (Riverside), Robby Gordon (Orange), Kevin Harvick (Bakersfield), Jimmie Johnson (El Cajon) and Jason Leffler (Long Beach).
7Drivers with an average running position inside the top 10 at California: Ryan Newman (3.453), Kasey Kahne (5.983), Jeff Burton (5.984), Matt Kenseth (6.788), Carl Edwards (8.080), Robby Gordon (8.587) and Clint Bowyer (8.758).
8Victories in the last nine California races by Ford. Kasey Kahne's victory last fall in a Dodge is the only disruption in Ford's streak.
11Best finish this season for Mike Wallace (Milwaukee), the only driver ranked in the top 10 in points without a top-10 finish.
11Drivers who have started in all 26 races this season.
13.3Average number of lead changes per California race among an average of 7.64 leaders. California averages 5.36 cautions per race.
31Age that Marcos Ambrose will turn on Saturday.
57Percent of laps at California since 2000 that Roush Fenway drivers have led, or 858 of 1,500 laps.
115Laps led by Kevin Harvick at California, the most among drivers who have not won at the track. Jeff Burton is winless and led 113 laps.
353Laps led by Greg Biffle in his nine starts at California, more than any other driver.
674Laps that Carl Edwards has run inside the top 15 during the last five California races (750 total laps).
792Points scored by Carl Edwards in the last five California races. Greg Biffle has scored the second-highest at 667 points.
846Points scored by David Reutmann in the last six races, best in the series. Points leader Carl Edwards ranks seventh with 669 points.
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California Speedway
Former Winners
| Year | Winner | Start | Make |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Todd Bodine | 28 | Pontiac |
| 1998 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 2 | Chevrolet |
| 1999 | Matt Kenseth | 2 | Chevrolet |
| 2000 | Matt Kenseth | 8 | Chevrolet |
| 2001 | Hank Parker Jr. | 26 | Chevrolet |
| 2002 | Scott Riggs | 6 | Ford |
| 2003 | Matt Kenseth | 19 | Ford |
| 2004 | Greg Biffle | 15 | Ford |
| Greg Biffle | 14 | Ford | |
| 2005 | Mark Martin | 3 | Ford |
| Carl Edwards | 4 | Ford | |
| 2006 | Greg Biffle | 3 | Ford |
| Kasey Kahne | 4 | Dodge | |
| 2007 | Matt Kenseth | 2 | Ford |
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