By the Numbers: Chicago

The Nationwide Series has raced at Chicagoland Speedway seven times, once a year since 2001. During that time four drivers have claimed their first series victory there. The defending race winner would like to become the fifth first-timer, in a manner of speaking.

Matter of factly, Kevin Harvick is the only repeat winner at Chicagoland, also having won in 2005. But both of those victories came in Richard Childress' No. 21 car; Harvick races his own car now, but his seat time in the No. 33 has yet to produce a series win anywhere.

In 13 starts this year, exclusively in the 33, Harvick has six top-fives and seven top-10s. Not too shabby, as is his track record at Chicagoland.

Of the four first-time winners, Chicagoland represents the only series victory for three of them: Jimmie Johnson (2001), Justin Labonte (2004) and Casey Mears (2006). And none of the four, Johnny Sauter included, are entered in this week's race.

But Bobby Hamilton Jr. is. The 2003 winner drives for hometown Team Rensi. Hamilton dominated that day like no other series driver has at the track, leading 186 of the 200 laps in his No. 25 Ford. In all, Hamilton has made five starts at Chicagoland, four for Team Rensi co-owners Ed Rensi and Gary Weisbaum.

The Dollar General 300 (7:30 p.m. ET Friday, ESPN) begins with a Nationwide-only driver second in the point standings. That is significant unto itself, but consider Chicagoland represents the first start Brad Keselowski made for JR Motorsports in the No. 88 car. In honor, a Keselowski short:

When it comes to the favorites, however, the Cup regulars lead the way. To that fact, we offer the facts on five more favorites: