A look ahead to the Memorial Day weekend race at Charlotte
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 18, 2014) – Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina going into the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24 (6 p.m. ET on FOX).
CHARLOTTE-SPECIFIC STATISTICS
Greg Biffle (No. 16 Ortho Ford)
· Five top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.3
· Average Running Position of 15.3, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 88.7, eighth-best
· 303 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 176.378 mph, ninth-fastest
· 3,918 Laps in the Top 15 (54.6%), ninth-most
· 700 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), ninth-most
Kurt Busch (No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet)
· One win, six top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 19.4
· Driver Rating of 84.4, 12th-best
· 216 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· 3,833 Laps in the Top 15 (53.4%), 10th-most
Kyle Busch (No. 18 Skittles Toyota)
· 10 top fives, 14 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 15.1
· Average Running Position of 9.8, second-best
· Driver Rating of 106.7, second-best
· 478 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 177.219 mph, second-fastest
· 5,624 Laps in the Top 15 (78.4%), second-most
· 1,007 Quality Passes, second-most
Carl Edwards (No. 19 Subway Toyota)
· Six top fives, 13 top 10s
· Average finish of 11.3
· Average Running Position of 14.6, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 89.6, seventh-best
· 1,671 Green Flag Passes, second-most
· 4,450 Laps in the Top 15 (62.0%), seventh-most
· 848 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet)
· Five wins, 17 top fives, 24 top 10s; nine poles
· Average finish of 15.5
· Average Running Position of 14.2, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 91.6, sixth-best
· 280 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 176.644 mph, third-fastest
· 4,562 Laps in the Top 15 (63.6%), sixth-most
· 826 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota)
· Four top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 13.5
· Average Running Position of 12.6, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 92.8, fifth-best
· 239 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 176.433 mph, sixth-fastest
· 4,837 Laps in the Top 15 (71.4%), third-most
· 791 Quality Passes, seventh-most
Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Budweiser / Jimmy John’s Chevrolet)
· Three wins, five top fives, 11 top 10s
· Average finish of 15.8
· Average Running Position of 16.4, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 84.7, 11th-best
· 214 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· 1,609 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
· 4,254 Laps in the Top 15 (59.3%), eighth-most
· 743 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Patriotic Chevrolet)
· Seven wins, 13 top fives, 17 top 10s; four poles
· Average finish of 11.4
· Series-best Average Running Position of 7.6
· Series-best Driver Rating of 111.6
· Series-high 688 Fastest Laps Run
· 1,444 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 177.298 mph
· Series-high 6,277 Laps in the Top 15 (87.5%)
· Series-high 1,031 Quality Passes
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 LIFTMASTER Chevrolet)
· Four wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s
· Average finish of 11.5
· Average Running Position of 11.8, third-best
· Driver Rating of 100.8, third-best
· 667 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· 1,642 Green Flag Passes, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 176.601 mph, fourth-fastest
· 4,725 Laps in the Top 15 (65.9%), fourth-most
· 874 Quality Passes, third-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 DEWALT Toyota)
· Two wins, nine top fives, 16 top 10s
· Average finish of 13.6
· Average Running Position of 13.8, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 95.5, fourth-best
· 379 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· 1,531 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 176.531 mph, fifth-fastest
· 4,680 Laps in the Top 15 (65.2%), fifth-most
· 854 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Ford)
· One win, two top fives, three top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 15.7
· Average Running Position of 14.6, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 86.5, 10th-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 176.408 mph, eighth-fastest
Joey Logano (No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford)
· Four top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 10.0
· Average Running Position of 14.0, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 88.4, ninth-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 176.344 mph, 11th-fastest
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2015 Top 16 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Rank |
Driver |
Races |
Poles |
Wins |
Top Fives |
Top 10s |
DNFs |
Average Finish |
Driver Rating |
|
1 |
28 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
11 |
1 |
15.8 |
84.7 |
||
2 |
19 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
18.5 |
77.0 |
||
3 |
27 |
4 |
7 |
13 |
17 |
4 |
11.4 |
111.6 |
||
4 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
10.0 |
88.4 |
||
5 |
30 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
11 |
4 |
19.4 |
81.1 |
||
6 |
11 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
15.7 |
86.5 |
||
7 |
31 |
0 |
2 |
9 |
16 |
5 |
13.6 |
95.5 |
||
8 |
25 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
10 |
3 |
16.6 |
80.0 |
||
9 |
44 |
9 |
5 |
17 |
24 |
10 |
15.5 |
91.6 |
||
10 |
22 |
0 |
4 |
9 |
13 |
1 |
11.5 |
100.8 |
||
11 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
19.5 |
74.3 |
||
12 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
22.9 |
66.1 |
||
13 |
28 |
9 |
0 |
4 |
11 |
5 |
18.5 |
79.0 |
||
14 |
29 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
4 |
19.4 |
84.4 |
||
15 |
19 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
11 |
1 |
13.5 |
92.8 |
||
16 |
18 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
17.1 |
82.0 |
* – Based on last 19 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Season Race #: 12 of 36 (05-24-15) Track Size: 1.5-miles Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 24 degrees Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 24 degrees Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees Frontstretch Length: 1,980 feet Backstretch Length: 1,500 feet Race Length: 400 laps / 600 miles
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Charlotte Jimmie Johnson........................ 111.6 Kyle Busch............................... 106.7 Kasey Kahne............................. 100.8 Matt Kenseth.............................. 95.5 Denny Hamlin............................. 92.8 Jeff Gordon................................ 91.6 Carl Edwards.............................. 89.6 Greg Biffle.................................. 88.7 Joey Logano.............................. 88.4 Brad Keselowski......................... 86.5 Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (19 total) among active drivers at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Qualifying/Race Data 2014 pole winner: Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet 194.911 mph, 27.705 secs. 05-22-14 2014 race winner: Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet 145.484 mph, (04:07:27), 05-25-14 Track qualifying record: Kurt Busch, Chevrolet 198.771 mph, 27.167 secs. 10-09-14 Track race (600 miles) record: Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet 155.687 mph, (03:51:14), 05-27-12
|
History
· Construction began on Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) in 1959.
· The track’s first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was held on June 19, 1960 – won by Joe Lee Johnson.
· The track was repaved midseason in 1994.
· The track name changed from Charlotte Motor Speedway to Lowe’s Motor Speedway in 1999. It changed back to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 2010 season.
· The track was re-paved again before the 2006 season.
Notebook
· There have been 112 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, two races per year since the track opened in 1960. In 1961, there were two 100-mile qualifying points races held the week before the May race. The first six fall races at Charlotte were 400-mile events (1960-65).
· 527 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points paying race at Charlotte Motor Speedway; 378 in more than one. 441 drivers have competed in the Coca-Cola 600; 287 in more than one.
· NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Charlotte with 64. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 44 starts; followed by Matt Kenseth and Tony Stewart with 31. Richard Petty and Bill Elliott have made the most Coca-Cola 600 starts with 31 each; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in 600 starts with 22.
· Fireball Roberts won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway (World 600) in 1960 with a speed of 133.904 mph.
· 42 drivers have Coors Light poles at Charlotte, led by David Pearson with 14. Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon lead all active drivers in poles at CMS with nine.
· David Pearson and Ryan Newman are tied for the series most Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Sprint Cup Coors Light poles with six each; followed by Jeff Gordon with five.
· 12 drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Charlotte. David Pearson holds the record for most consecutive poles at Charlotte with 11; from the fall of 1973 through 1978.
· Jeff Gordon won five straight Coca-Cola 600 poles at Charlotte between 1994 and 1998.
· Youngest Charlotte pole winner: Jeff Gordon (10/10/1993 – 22 years, 2 months, 6 days).
· Oldest Charlotte pole winner: Bobby Allison (10/11/1987 – 49 years, 10 months, 8 days).
· 45 different drivers have won at Charlotte Motor Speedway, led by Jimmie Johnson with seven wins including four Coca-Cola 600 wins - 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2014.
· 30 different drivers have won the Coca-Cola 600, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip with five; Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers with four; followed by teammates Jeff Gordon and Kasey Kahne with three each.
· Nine drivers have posted consecutive wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including three consecutive by NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen (fall 1964 and both 1965) and four straight by Jimmie Johnson (2004 and 2005 sweeps).
· A season sweep at Charlotte has occurred eight times, including each season from 2004-2007.
· Seven times from seven different drivers has the winner of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star race gone on to win the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Darrell Waltrip (1985), Davey Allison (1991), Dale Earnhardt (1993), Jeff Gordon (1997), Jimmie Johnson (2003), Kasey Kahne (2008) and Kurt Busch (2010).
· Youngest Charlotte winner: Jeff Gordon (05/29/1994 – 22 years, 9 months, 25 days).
· Oldest Charlotte winner: Cale Yarborough (10/06/1985 – 46 years, 6 months, 9 days).
· Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins at Charlotte in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 18: Jimmie Johnson (seven), Jeff Gordon (five), Darrell Waltrip (two), Ken Schrader (one), Terry Labonte (one), Casey Mears (one) and Kasey Kahne (one).
· Eight different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Charlotte; led by Chevrolet with 43 victories; followed by Ford with 29. Chevrolet also has the most Coca-Cola 600 wins at 23.
· 15 of the 112 (13.3%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Jimmie Johnson in 2014 (Coca-Cola 600).
· The second-place starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (17) than any other starting position at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
· 32 of the 112 (28.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from the front row: 15 from the pole and 17 from second-place.
· 85 of the 112 (75.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Charlotte have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Nine of the 112 (8.0%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Charlotte have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Charlotte is 37th, by Jimmie Johnson in the Coca-Cola 600 of 2003.
· Richard Petty leads the series in runner-up finishes at Charlotte with nine. Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth lead all active drivers with three.
· Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth lead all active drivers in runner-up finishes in the Coca-Cola 600 with two.
· NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Bobby Allison are tied for the series most top-five finishes at Charlotte with 23. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 17. Richard Petty leads the series in top fives in the Coca-Cola 600 with 12; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with seven.
· Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Charlotte with 31. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 24. Darrell Waltrip, Ricky Rudd and David Pearson lead the series in top 10s in the Coca-Cola 600 with 15 each; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 12.
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Charlotte with a 7.630.
· Joey Logano leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Charlotte with a 10.000. Carl Edwards leads all active drivers in average finish in the Coca-Cola 600 with a 9.000.
· Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Charlotte without visiting Victory Lane at 30; followed by Ryan Newman with 28.
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway was the May 29, 2005 race won by Jimmie Johnson over Bobby Labonte with a MOV of 0.027 second.
· There have been three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but only once for the Coca-Cola 600 (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): fall of 2005 (334/336), fall of 2007 (334/337) and the 2011 Coca-Cola 600 (400/402).
· Five of the 112 races at Charlotte Motor Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions; the most recent was the 2009 Coca-Cola 600 won by David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip Racing. Four of the five races shortened were the 600-mile events (1968, 1997, 2003 and 2009).
· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway twice; the fall race of 2002 and the fall race of 2008.
· Seven NASCAR Sprint Cup Series active drivers have made their first career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5/30/99), Jimmie Johnson (10/7/01), Brian Vickers (10/11/03), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (5/29/11) and Kyle Larson (10/12/13).
· Four active drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Jeff Gordon (10/10/93), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (5/28/00), Ryan Newman (5/27/01) and Aric Almirola (5/27/12).
· Four active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted their first career win at Charlotte Motor Speedway: Jeff Gordon (5/29/94), Matt Kenseth (5/28/00), Jamie McMurray (10/13/02) and Casey Mears (5/27/07).
· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Charlotte with 1,733 laps led in 27 starts.
· Two female drivers have competed at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.
Driver |
Starting Position |
Finishing Position |
Race Name |
Date |
14 |
26 |
10/11/2014 |
||
4 |
39 |
5/25/2014 |
||
35 |
20 |
10/12/2013 |
||
24 |
29 |
5/26/2013 |
||
40 |
30 |
5/27/2012 |
||
Janet Guthrie |
31 |
35 |
NAPA National 500 |
10/8/1978 |
Janet Guthrie |
27 |
9 |
NAPA National 500 |
10/9/1977 |
Janet Guthrie |
26 |
22 |
National 500 |
10/10/1976 |
Janet Guthrie |
27 |
15 |
World 600 |
5/30/1976 |
NASCAR in North Carolina
· There have been 520 NASCAR Sprint Cup races among 28 tracks in North Carolina.
Track Name |
City |
NSCS |
Concord |
112 |
|
North Wilkesboro Speedway |
North |
93 |
Rockingham |
78 |
|
Hickory Speedway |
Hickory |
35 |
Asheville-Weaverville Speedway |
Weaverville |
34 |
Occoneechee Speedway |
Hillsboro |
32 |
Bowman-Gray Stadium |
Winston-Salem |
29 |
Southern States Fairgrounds |
Charlotte |
17 |
Charlotte Speedway |
Charlotte |
12 |
Concord Speedway |
Concord |
12 |
Wilson Speedway |
Wilson |
12 |
New Asheville Speedway |
Asheville |
8 |
Dog Track Speedway |
Moyock |
7 |
Raleigh Speedway |
Raleigh |
7 |
Cleveland County Fairgrounds |
Shelby |
6 |
Champion Speedway |
Fayetteville |
4 |
Greensboro Agriculture Fairgrounds |
Greensboro |
3 |
North Carolina State Fairgrounds |
Raleigh |
3 |
Tar Heel Speedway |
Randleman |
3 |
Forsyth County Fairgrounds |
Winston-Salem |
2 |
Harris Speedway |
Harris |
2 |
Jacksonville Speedway |
Jacksonville |
2 |
Tri-City Speedway |
High Point |
2 |
Gastonia Fairgrounds |
Gastonia |
1 |
Harnett Speedway |
Spring Lake |
1 |
McCormick Field |
Asheville |
1 |
Salisbury Super Speedway |
Salisbury |
1 |
Star Lite Speedway |
Monroe |
1 |
NASCAR in North Carolina
· 434 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as North Carolina.
· 47 drivers from North Carolina have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series; 29 have won in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Driver |
NSCS |
NXS |
NCWTS |
Richard Petty |
200 |
0 |
0 |
Dale Earnhardt |
76 |
21 |
0 |
Lee Petty |
54 |
0 |
0 |
Ned Jarrett |
50 |
0 |
0 |
Junior Johnson |
50 |
0 |
0 |
Herb Thomas |
48 |
0 |
0 |
Buck Baker |
46 |
0 |
0 |
Bobby Isaac |
37 |
0 |
0 |
Dale Jarrett |
32 |
11 |
0 |
Rex White |
28 |
0 |
0 |
Jim Paschal |
25 |
0 |
0 |
24 |
23 |
0 |
|
Benny Parsons |
21 |
0 |
0 |
Speedy Thompson |
20 |
0 |
0 |
Buddy Baker |
19 |
0 |
0 |
Harry Gant |
18 |
21 |
0 |
Bob Welborn |
9 |
0 |
0 |
Kyle Petty |
8 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
15 |
0 |
|
Bill Blair |
3 |
0 |
0 |
Gwyn Staley |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
Billy Myers |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Jimmy Pardue |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Richard Brickhouse |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Phil Parsons |
1 |
2 |
0 |
Leon Sales |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Buddy Shuman |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Donald Thomas |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Jack Ingram |
0 |
31 |
0 |
Tommy Houston |
0 |
24 |
0 |
Sam Ard |
0 |
22 |
0 |
Robert Pressley |
0 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
|
0 |
3 |
6 |
|
0 |
2 |
3 |
|
Hank Parker Jr |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Johnny Rumley |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
18 |
|
Ed Berrier |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
Justin Labonte |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
Andy Houston |
0 |
0 |
3 |
Ricky Hendrick |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Shane Hmiel |
0 |
0 |
1 |
MILESTONES – Charlotte Motor Speedway
DRIVER |
HAS |
NEEDS |
MILESTONE |
549 |
1 |
550th Consecutive NSCS Start - Kenseth is 10th on the all-time NSCS starts list and second among active drivers with 549 consecutive NSCS starts. (9th-place - Ken Schrader has 579) |
|
449 |
1 |
450th NSCS Start - McMurray is tied with Greg Biffle and Cecil Gordon for 45th on the all-time NSCS starts list with 449 starts. |
|
449 |
1 |
450th NSCS Start - Biffle is tied with Jamie McMurray and Cecil Gordon for 45th on the all-time NSCS starts list with 449 starts. |
|
299 |
1 |
300th Consecutive NSCS Start - Ragan is outside the top 25 on the all-time NSCS starts list but is ranked 12th among active drivers with 299 consecutive NSCS starts. |
|
32 |
1 |
33rd NSCS Win - Kenseth is tied with Dale Jarrett for 22nd on the all-time NSCS wins list, one win behind Fireball Roberts in 21st (33 wins). |
|
24 |
1 |
25th NSCS Win - Earnhardt Jr. is 30th on the all-time NSCS wins list, one win behind Joe Weatherly and Denny Hamlin in 29th (25 wins). |
|
49 |
1 |
50th NSCS Top-Five Finish - Logano is 70th on the all-time NSCS top fives list, two top-fives behind Neil Castles and Cotton Owens in 68th (51). |
|
49 |
1 |
50th NSCS Top-10 Finish - Menard is tied with Bill Seifert and J.T. Putney for 115th on the all-time NSCS top 10s list, one top-10 behind Tommy Irwin and Charlie Glotzbach in 113th (50). |
|
24,825 |
175 |
25,000 NSCS Laps Led - Gordon can become the sixth driver in NSCS history to lead 25,000 laps. |
|
9,568 |
432 |
10,000 Laps Led - Kenseth can become the 16th driver in series history to lead 10,000 or more laps. |
|
990 |
10 |
1,000 Laps Led in the Coca-Cola 600 - Johnson can become the fourth driver in series history to lead 1,000 or more laps in the Coca-Cola 600 joining David Pearson (1,251); Bobby Allison (1,177) and Richard Petty (1,005). Johnson needs 10 laps led. |
|
4 |
1 |
Most Coca-Cola 600 Wins (5) - Johnson can tie Darrell Waltrip for the lead on the all-time NSCS Coca-Cola 600 wins list with his fifth victory this weekend (Waltrip's wins - 1978, '79, '85, '88 and '89) and (Johnson's wins - 2003, '04, '05, and '14). |
|
#43 car |
199 |
1 |
200 NSCS Wins - The No. 43 car is second on the all-time NSCS wins list, five wins behind the No. 11 car in first (204). |