Data proves Stewart is a road ace at Watkins Glen
By Official Release
August 7, 2009
11:43 AM EDT
August 7, 2009
11:43 AM EDT
type size: + -
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Very rarely is there a run-away favorite going into a Sprint Cup Series race.
With competition this tight -- there have been 12 different winners this season -- victory is never a foregone conclusion for any driver.
But somehow, Tony Stewart has become a near statistical lock at Watkins Glen International. His strength in the past four Watkins Glen races is nearly unprecedented. Only one other driver -- at two different tracks -- comes close to owning similar success at a given track. That is three-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson, at Martinsville and Phoenix.
Below is Stewart's race log at Watkins Glen (past four races):
| Date | Finish | Avg. Run Pos. | Fast Laps Run | Pct. Laps / Top 15 | Rating | Led |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/05 | 1 | 1.5 | 39 | 100 | 150 | 83 |
| 8/06 | 2 | 3.4 | 14 | 100 | 130.1 | 7 |
| 8/07 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 91.1 | 133.6 | 20 |
| 8/08 | 2 | 4.4 | 8 | 95.6 | 122.2 | 1 |
| Total | 1.5 | 3.6 | 84 | 96.7 | 134.0 | 111 |
Below is a list of the top average finishes in the past four races at a specific track.
| Driver | Track | Avg. Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Stewart | Watkins Glen | 1.5 |
| Jimmie Johnson | Phoenix | 1.75 |
| Jimmie Johnson | Martinsville | 1.75 |
| Greg Biffle | Dover | 2.25 |
| Tony Stewart | Richmond | 2.5 |
Stewart can clinch a spot in the Chase this weekend, yet another accolade in his dream first season as an owner/driver. If Stewart leaves Watkins Glen with a 781-point lead on the 13th-place driver, he clinches. He currently has a 726-point lead on 13th-place Kyle Busch.
That goal seems increasingly likely -- especially considering this weekend's track. Stewart owns race-best statistics in practically every key Watkins Glen category since the inception of Loop Data in 2005:
| Pos. | Driver | Date | DR | Pos. | Driver | Date | AVP | Pos. | Driver | Date | FLR | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | T. Stewart | 8/05 | 150.0 | 1. | T. Stewart | 8/05 | 1.5 | 1. | T. Stewart | 8/05 | 39 | ||
| 2. | Ky. Busch | 8/08 | 145.1 | 2. | J. Gordon | 8/07 | 2.0 | 2. | Ku. Busch | 8/06 | 25 | ||
| 3. | T. Stewart | 8/07 | 133.6 | 3. | Ky. Busch | 8/08 | 2.8 | 3. | T. Stewart | 8/07 | 23 | ||
| 4. | J. Gordon | 8/07 | 131.6 | 4. | T. Stewart | 8/06 | 3.4 | 4. | Ky. Busch | 8/08 | 20 | ||
| 5. | T. Stewart | 8/06 | 130.1 | 5. | J. Johnson | 8/05 | 3.5 | 5. | T. Stewart | 8/06 | 14 |
• DR -- Driver Rating | AVP -- Avg. Running Pos. | FLR -- Fastest Laps Run
• Loop Data: Season-to-Date Box Score | More Statistics
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