A stats-based look ahead to the fourth race of the 2015 Sprint Cup season
Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla – Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona going into the CampingWorld.com 500 on March 15.
Greg Biffle (No. 16 Ortho Ford)
· Five top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 13.8
· Driver Rating of 90.1, 10th-best
· 288 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 873 Green Flag Passes, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 125.818 mph, 12th-fastest
· 3,508 Laps in the Top 15 (55.5%), 11th-most
· 432 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), 10th-most
Carl Edwards (No. 19 Stanley Toyota)
· Two wins, seven top fives, 12 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 12.2
· Average Running Position of 12.7, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 99.2, fourth-best
· 368 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 126.048 mph, sixth-fastest
· 4,325 Laps in the Top 15 (68.5%), seventh-most
· 462 Quality Passes, seventh-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet)
· Two wins, 12 top fives, 22 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 11.0
· Average Running Position of 10.1, third-best
· Driver Rating of 100.5, third-best
· 250 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
· 786 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 126.021 mph, seventh-fastest
· 5,173 Laps in the Top 15 (81.9%), second-most
· 476 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Freight Toyota)
· One win, nine top fives, 10 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 11.0
· Average Running Position of 12.0, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 96.6, sixth-best
· 241 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 125.959 mph, ninth-fastest
· 4,261 Laps in the Top 15 (70.9%), eighth-most
· 419 Quality Passes, 11th-most
Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Jimmy John’s/Budweiser Chevrolet)
· Six wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s
· Average finish of 11.4
· Average Running Position of 9.8, second-best
· Driver Rating of 106.2, second-best
· 523 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 126.232 mph, third-fastest
· 4,958 Laps in the Top 15 (78.5%), fourth-most
· 452 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)
· Four wins, 14 top fives, 18 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 7.7
· Series-best Average Running Position of 7.4
· Series-best Driver Rating of 114.0
· Series-high 609 Fastest Laps Run
· 796 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 126.428 mph
· Series-high 5,403 Laps in the Top 15 (85.5%)
· 541 Quality Passes, third-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)
· One win, six top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.6
· Driver Rating of 87.9, 12th-best
· 178 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most
· 857 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 125.837 mph, 11th-fastest
· 3,924 Laps in the Top 15 (62.1%), 10th-most
· 471 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford)
· Four top fives, five top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 14.6
· Average Running Position of 14.0, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 91.5, ninth-best
· 169 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 126.089 mph, fourth-fastest
Ryan Newman (No. 31 Quicken Loans Chevrolet)
· One win, eight top fives, 10 top 10s; four poles
· Average finish of 17.9
· Average Running Position of 15.0, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 87.9, 11th-best
· 870 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
· 4,258 Laps in the Top 15 (67.4%), ninth-most
· 569 Quality Passes, second-most
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)
· One win, eight top fives, 12 top 10s
· Average finish of 12.4
· Average Running Position of 11.1, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 96.4, eighth-best
· 220 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· 818 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 126.052 mph, fifth-fastest
· 4,359 Laps in the Top 15 (72.6%), sixth-most
· 465 Quality Passes, sixth-most
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2015 Top 16 at Phoenix International Raceway
|
Rank |
Driver |
Races |
Poles |
Wins |
Top Fives |
Top 10s |
DNFs |
Average Finish |
Driver Rating |
|
|
1 |
24 |
0 |
6 |
9 |
13 |
0 |
11.4 |
106.2 |
||
|
2 |
25 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
12 |
3 |
16.1 |
86.5 |
||
|
3 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
15.1 |
85.5 |
||
|
4 |
18 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
2 |
17.7 |
83.7 |
||
|
5 |
11 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
16.6 |
80.4 |
||
|
6 |
21 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
1 |
18.0 |
79.6 |
||
|
7 |
23 |
2 |
4 |
14 |
18 |
1 |
7.7 |
114.0 |
||
|
8 |
19 |
2 |
1 |
9 |
10 |
0 |
11.0 |
96.6 |
||
|
9 |
21 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
26.0 |
61.7 |
||
|
10 |
25 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
10 |
3 |
16.6 |
87.9 |
||
|
11 |
22 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
8 |
1 |
13.8 |
90.1 |
||
|
12 |
25 |
4 |
1 |
8 |
10 |
4 |
17.9 |
87.9 |
||
|
13 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
22.0 |
66.2 |
||
|
14 |
19 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
18.1 |
80.2 |
||
|
15 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18.5 |
73.7 |
||
|
16 |
11 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
14.6 |
91.5 |
* – Based on last 20 races at Phoenix International Raceway (2005 – 2014).
Phoenix International Raceway Data
|
Season Race #: 4 of 36 (03-15-15) Track Size: 1-mile Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 10-11 degrees Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 8-9 degrees Banking/Frontstretch: 3 degrees Banking/Backstretch: 8-9 degrees Frontstretch Length: 1,179 feet Backstretch Length: 1,551 feet Race Length: 312 laps / 500 Kilometers Top 10 Driver Ratings at Phoenix Jimmie Johnson…………………… 114.0 Kevin Harvick………………………. 106.2 Jeff Gordon………………………… 100.5 Carl Edwards………………………… 99.2 Denny Hamlin……………………….. 96.6 Tony Stewart…………………………. 96.4 Brad Keselowski……………………. 91.5 Greg Biffle……………………………. 90.1 Ryan Newman……………………….. 87.9 Matt Kenseth………………………… 87.9 Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (20 total) among active drivers at Phoenix International Raceway. Qualifying/Race Data 2014 pole winner: Brad Keselowski, Ford 139.384 mph, 25.828 secs. 02-28-14 2014 race winner: Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet 109.229 mph, (02:51:23), 03-02-14 Track qualifying record: Denny Hamlin, Toyota 142.113 mph, 25.332 secs. 11-07-14 Track race record: Tony Stewart, Pontiac 118.132 mph, (2:38:28), 11-07-99 |
Phoenix International Raceway:
History
· Construction was completed in January 1964. The facility consisted of a one-mile oval and a 2.5-mile road course.
· Alan Kulwicki won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix on Nov. 6, 1988.
· The first spring race was held on April 23, 2005 and also the first night race, which was won by Kurt Busch.
· The track underwent its first repave in 2011. The construction began in March and concluded in September of that year.
· The following changes were made during the construction period (March – Sept., 2011):
o Widened the frontstretch from 52 to 62 feet
o Reconfigured pit road with the installation of concrete pit stalls
o Pushed the dog-leg curve between Turn 2 and Turn 3 out 95 feet
o Tightened the turn radius of the dog-leg from 800 to 500 feet
o Implemented variable banking to ensure the immediate use of two racing grooves, including 10-11 degree banking between Turn 1 and Turn 2; 10-11 degree banking in the apex of the dog-leg; and 8-9 degree banking in Turn 4
Notebook
· There have been 37 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Phoenix International Raceway, one per season from 1988-2004 and two each season since.
· 196 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix; 143 in more than one.
· Mark Martin leads series in starts at Phoenix with 34; Jeff Gordon (second all-time) leads all active drivers with 32.
· Geoffrey Bodine won the first pole in 1988 at a speed of 123.203 mph (29.220 sec.).
· There have been 20 different Coors Light pole winners, led by Ryan Newman with four.
· Youngest Phoenix pole winner: Kyle Busch (4/22/06 – 20 years, 11 months, 20 days).
· Oldest Phoenix pole winner: Mark Martin (03/03/13 – 54 years, 1 month, 22 days).
· Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards are the only drivers to win consecutive poles. Newman won three straight (2002-04), Gordon won the fall of 2006 and the spring of 2007. Edwards won the fall of 2010 and spring of 2011.
· Denny Hamlin (November, 2005) and AJ Allmendinger (April, 2010) won their first career Coors Light poles at Phoenix International Raceway.
· There have been 23 different NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race winners at Phoenix, eight have won more than once, led by Kevin Harvick, with six – (’06 spring race and Chase race, ’12 Chase race, ‘13 Chase race, ’14 spring race and Chase race).
· The eight drivers have won more than once at Phoenix: Kevin Harvick leads the series in wins with six followed by Jimmie Johnson (four), Davey Allison (two), Jeff Burton (two), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two), Jeff Gordon (two) Carl Edwards (two) and Mark Martin (two).
· Of the eight drivers with multiple wins at Phoenix International Raceway, Mark Martin is the only driver to win in two different manufacturers: Ford (1993) and Chevrolet (2009).
· Five drivers have won consecutive races at Phoenix: Davey Allison (1991,1992); Jeff Burton (2000, 2001); Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2003, 2004); Kevin Harvick (swept 2006) and (2013 Chase race and swept 2014); Jimmie Johnson is the only one of the five to win three consecutive races (fall 2007, swept 2008).
· Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Phoenix with nine, followed by Roush Fenway Racing with seven.
· Four of the 37 (10.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Phoenix have been won from the Coors Light pole: Jeff Gordon (spring 2007), Jimmie Johnson (fall 2008), Mark Martin (spring 2009) and Carl Edwards (fall 2010).
· Seven of the 37 (18.9%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Phoenix have been won from the front row: four from the pole and three from second-place.
· 18 of the 37 (48.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Phoenix have been won from a starting position inside the top 10.
· 19 of the 37 (51.3%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Phoenix have been won from a starting position outside the top 10.
· 3 of the 37 (8.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Phoenix have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· Jimmie Johnson leads the series in average finish at Phoenix with a 7.696; he is the only active driver with an average finish inside the top 10.
· Ricky Rudd won the 1995 race from the 29th-place starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.
· Matt Kenseth won the 2002 race from the 28th-place starting position, the furthest back an active race winner has started.
· Three perfect Driver Ratings of 150.0 have been recorded at Phoenix, Kurt Busch in April of 2005 and Kevin Harvick in November of 2006 and November 2014.
· Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Phoenix International Raceway winner: Kyle Busch (11/13/2005 – 20 years, 6 months, 11 days).
· Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Phoenix International Raceway winner: Mark Martin (04/18/2009 – 50 years, 3 months, 9 days).
· Mark Martin leads the series in runner-up finishes at Phoenix with five; followed by Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart with three each.
· Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-five finishes at Phoenix with 14; followed by Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon with 12 each.
· Alan Kulwicki (11/6/1988) and Bobby Hamilton (10/27/1996) are the only two drivers to post their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career win at Phoenix International Raceway.
· 21 of the 23 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers who have won at Phoenix participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Alan Kulwicki (11/6/1988) and Tony Stewart (11/7/1999) are the only two drivers to win at Phoenix in their first appearance.
· Jeff Gordon competed at Phoenix International Raceway 16 times before winning (4/21/2007); the longest span of any the 23 winners.
· Six drivers have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Phoenix: Jeff Gordon (16), Ryan Newman (15), Kasey Kahne (14), Denny Hamlin (13), Carl Edwards (12) and Rusty Wallace (11).
· Jamie McMurray leads the series (active drivers) with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Phoenix without visiting Victory Lane with 23.
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Phoenix was the (4/10/2010) race won by Ryan Newman with a MOV of 0.13 seconds.
· Two drivers have won at Phoenix and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same season: Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008 sweep and 2009); Dale Earnhardt (1990).
· Danica Patrick is the only female driver that has made a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Phoenix International Raceway.
|
Driver |
Starting Position |
Finishing Position |
Date |
|
32 |
22 |
11/9/2014 |
|
|
33 |
36 |
3/2/2014 |
|
|
32 |
33 |
11/10/2013 |
|
|
40 |
39 |
3/3/2013 |
|
|
37 |
17 |
11/11/2012 |
· Car numbers that have produced three or more Phoenix wins:
Car Number – Drivers – (Years)
o No. 48 – Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2008 sweep and 2009)
o No. 99 – Carl Edwards (2010 and 2013) and Jeff Burton (2000, 2001)
o No. 29 – Kevin Harvick (2006 sweep, 2012 and 2013)
o No. 5 – Mark Martin (2009), Kyle Busch (2005) and Terry Labonte (1994)
o No. 4 – Kevin Harvick (2014 sweep) and Kasey Kahne (2011)
NASCAR in Arizona
· There have been 42 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races among three tracks in Arizona.
|
Track Name |
City |
NSCS |
|
Avondale |
37 |
|
|
Arizona State Fairgrounds |
Phoenix |
4 |
|
Tucson Rodeo Grounds |
Tucson |
1 |
· 32 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Arizona.
· None of the drivers from Arizona have won a race in NASCAR’s three national series.
MORE:
|
|
PLAY: Sign up
|
WATCH: Latest
|
FOLLOW LIVE: Get
|
|---|
NASCAR news
