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Kevin Harvick hasn't exactly found his way too well around Kansas. Perhaps teammate Clint Bowyer can point him in the right direction.By the Numbers: Kansas
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Much like the Chase itself, Kansas Speedway is a relative newcomer to NASCAR. Along with Chicagoland Speedway, the Kansas City track shares the distinction as the youngest on the Cup circuit.
There have only been six races in the history of Kansas Speedway, which debuted in 2001. It, along with Homestead-Miami Speedway, are the only two tracks which hosts its lone race of the year in the Chase.
Only one driver has won at Kansas and the Cup championship in the same year, when Jeff Gordon won the pre-Chase era the inaugural race. Gordon won the first two Kansas races, and is the only multiple winner there. (See, Fun Fact).
An interesting parallel exists between two drivers who have had long and distinguished careers in NASCAR. Rusty Wallace and Ricky Rudd have each made five starts at Kansas, and each has two top-fives and four top-10s. Wallace has completed 1,335 laps; Rudd 1,331. Wallace has a 19.2 average start; 8.2 average finish. Rudd has a 19.6 average start; 8.8 average finish.
Tony Stewart leads all drivers with five top-10s at Kansas, with a 6.5 average finish in six starts. Speaking of those six starts ...
Interesting Fact
6Total laps led and lead-lap finishes for Tony Stewart at Kansas. Stewart is the only driver to finish on the lead lap in every race at Kansas.
Fun Fact
2Races held at Kansas in the month of September, both won by Jeff Gordon.
Chase Facts
1Drivers to win at Kansas while in the Chase that same year: Mark Martin (2005).
2Drivers in the 2007 Chase who have won at Kansas: Jeff Gordon (2001, 2002); Tony Stewart (2006).
3Lead-lap finishes for Matt Kenseth, Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick at Kansas, each of whom have made all six starts there.
4Place of finish at Kansas in 2005 for Tony Stewart, the best of any eventual Chase champion.
5Place of finish last year for Jeff Burton, his first top-10 in six starts at Kansas.
6Place of finish at Kansas in 2004 for Kurt Busch, who went on to win the first Chase.
7Place of finish last year for Kyle Busch, his first top-10 in three starts at Kansas.
8Laps led at Kansas by Carl Edwards, who has a 10.3 average finish in three starts there.
9Place of finish last year for Kansas native Clint Bowyer in his only Cup race in his home state.
10Combined starts at Kansas for Chase drivers Carl Edwards (three), Kyle Busch (three), Denny Hamlin (two), Clint Bowyer (one) and Martin Truex Jr. (one).
11Place of finish last year for Martin Truex Jr. in his only Cup race at Kansas.
12Position in the Chase for Denny Hamlin, who has the worst average finish of all the Chasers at Kansas: 25.0.
Rest of the Facts
1Times the pole-sitter has won at Kansas: Joe Nemechek (2004).
3Most top-fives at Kansas, shared by three drivers: Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart.
4Drivers who have made all six starts at Kansas without a top-10 finish: Bobby Labonte, Terry Labonte, Ken Schrader, Michael Waltrip.
5Laps led by Tony Stewart in 2006, fewest of any Kansas winner.
14Cars to finish on the lead lap last year at Kansas. The last car on the lead lap was the 48 of eventual Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who led a race-high 105 laps.
23Best place of finish for Ryan Newman in the past three Kansas races, following two runners-up and a win in his first three races there.
72Fewest laps led by the lap-leader at Kansas: Jeremy Mayfield (2004). It's the only time in track history that the lap-leader has not led at least 100 laps.
139Laps led by 2005 Kansas winner Mark Martin, most in track history. Martin is tied with Rusty Wallace for third-most total laps led at Kansas, with 141.
Also
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Kansas Speedway
Winners
| Year | Winner | Start | Led | Pole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | J. Gordon | 2 | 53 | J. Leffler |
| 2002 | J. Gordon | 10 | 116 | Dale Jr. |
| 2003 | R. Newman | 11 | 28 | J. Johnson |
| 2004 | J. Nemechek | 1 | 42 | J. Nemechek |
| 2005 | M. Martin | 19 | 139 | M. Kenseth |
| 2006 | T. Stewart | 21 | 5 | K. Kahne |
• Kansas: Track Page | Loop Data
2007 Chase Drivers
| Pos. | Driver | No. | W | T-5 | T-10 | Avg. Fin. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | J. Gordon | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 11.5 |
| 2. | T. Stewart | 6 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6.5 |
| 3. | C. Edwards | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10.3 |
| 4. | J. Johnson | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13.8 |
| 5. | Ky. Busch | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 21.7 |
| 6. | C. Bowyer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9.0 |
| 7. | M. Truex Jr. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.0 |
| 8. | J. Burton | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16.8 |
| 9. | K. Harvick | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17.8 |
| 10. | M. Kenseth | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 20.0 |
| 11. | Ku. Busch | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20.8 |
| 12. | D. Hamlin | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25.0 |
• Nextel Cup Series: Official Standings
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