A stats-based look ahead to the 14th race of the Sprint Cup Series season
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 1, 2015) – Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Pocono Raceway in Pocono, Pennsylvania going into the Axalta 'We Paint Winners' 400 on June 7.
POCONO-SPECIFIC STATISTICS
Kurt Busch (No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet)
· Two wins, 11 top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 14.7
· Average Running Position of 10.2, second-best
· Driver Rating of 105.9, third-best
· 332 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.733 mph, second-fastest
· 2,659 Laps in the Top 15 (77.0%), fourth-most
· 774 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), seventh-most
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet)
· Two wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 15.3
· Average Running Position of 14.0, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 92.6, ninth-best
· 102 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.237 mph, eighth-fastest
· 2,286 Laps in the Top 15 (63.3%), eighth-most
· 727 Quality Passes, 10th-most
Carl Edwards (No. 19 ARRIS Toyota)
· Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 15.5
· Driver Rating of 94.2, eighth-best
· 176 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.224 mph, ninth-fastest
· 2,262 Laps in the Top 15 (62.6%), 10th-most
· 712 Quality Passes, 11th-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 AXALTA – PENN STATE Chevrolet)
· Six wins, 19 top fives, 31 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 9.9
· Series-best Average Running Position of 9.9
· Driver Rating of 103.5, fourth-best
· 169 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
· 1,573 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.625 mph, fifth-fastest
· Series-high 2,777 Laps in the Top 15 (76.9%)
· Series-high 885 Quality Passes
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota)
· Four wins, nine top fives, 12 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 11.9
· Average Running Position of 10.8, fourth-best
· Series-best Driver Rating of 108.3
· Series-high 437 Fastest Laps Run
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 162.806 mph
· 2,543 Laps in the Top 15 (79.3%), sixth-most
· 685 Quality Passes, 12th-most
Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Budweiser / Jimmy John’s Chevrolet)
· Six top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 13.6
· Average Running Position of 13.7, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 91.9, 11th-best
· 1,777 Green Flag Passes, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.159 mph, 10th-fastest
· 2,277 Laps in the Top 15 (63.0%), ninth-most
· 789 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's / Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet)
· Three wins, 10 top fives, 17 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 9.9
· Average Running Position of 10.5, third-best
· Driver Rating of 106.9, second-best
· 273 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· 1,507 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.708 mph, third-fastest
· 2,774 Laps in the Top 15 (76.8%), second-most
· 861 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)
· Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 17.8
· Driver Rating of 92.1, 10th-best
· 306 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· 1,643 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.436 mph, sixth-fastest
· 2,199 Laps in the Top 15 (60.9%), 11th-most
· 804 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Ford)
· One win, three top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 13.4
· Driver Rating of 90.8, 12th-best
· 96 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
Kyle Larson (No. 42 Target Chevrolet)
· One top five, one top 10; one pole
· Average finish of 8.0
· Average Running Position of 12.7, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 95.7, sixth-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.690 mph, fourth-fastest
Ryan Newman (No. 31 Grainger Chevrolet)
· One win, nine top fives, 14 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 11.4
· Average Running Position of 11.4, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 95.4, seventh-best
· 1,634 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.135 mph, 11th-fastest
· 2,689 Laps in the Top 15 (74.4%), third-most
· 883 Quality Passes, second-most
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1 / Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)
· Two wins, 12 top fives, 22 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 11.8
· Average Running Position of 12.2, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 97.6, fifth-best
· 99 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· 1,728 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.319 mph, seventh-fastest
· 2,619 Laps in the Top 15 (72.5%), fifth-most
· 880 Quality Passes, third-most
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2015 Top 16 at Pocono Raceway
|
Driver |
Races |
Poles |
Wins |
Top Fives |
Top 10s |
DNFs |
Average Finish |
Driver Rating |
|
1 |
28 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
10 |
2 |
13.6 |
91.9 |
||
2 |
18 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
0 |
15.9 |
80.4 |
||
3 |
26 |
3 |
3 |
10 |
17 |
1 |
9.9 |
106.9 |
||
4 |
12 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
16.6 |
88.9 |
||
5 |
30 |
1 |
2 |
9 |
13 |
1 |
15.3 |
92.6 |
||
6 |
10 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
13.4 |
90.8 |
||
7 |
24 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
3 |
19.8 |
73.1 |
||
8 |
22 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
3 |
17.8 |
92.1 |
||
9 |
44 |
2 |
6 |
19 |
31 |
5 |
9.9 |
103.5 |
||
10 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
24.0 |
67.6 |
||
11 |
30 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
10 |
1 |
16.0 |
86.7 |
||
12 |
16 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
23.1 |
64.6 |
||
13 |
26 |
2 |
1 |
9 |
14 |
2 |
11.4 |
95.4 |
||
14 |
18 |
3 |
4 |
9 |
12 |
2 |
11.9 |
108.3 |
||
15 |
27 |
1 |
2 |
11 |
15 |
5 |
14.7 |
105.9 |
||
16 |
20 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
1 |
15.5 |
94.2 |
* – Based on last 20 races at Pocono Raceway.
Pocono Raceway Data Season Race #: 14 of 36 (06-07-15) Track Size: 2.5-miles Banking/Turn 1: 14 degrees Banking/Turn 2: 8 degrees Banking/Turn 3: 6 degrees Frontstretch Length: 3,740 feet Backstretch Length: 3,055 feet Shortstretch Length: 1,780 feet Race Length: 160 laps / 400 miles Top 10 Driver Ratings at Pocono Denny Hamlin............................ 108.3 Jimmie Johnson........................ 106.9 Kurt Busch................................ 105.9 Jeff Gordon.............................. 103.5 Tony Stewart............................... 97.6 Kyle Larson................................ 95.7 Ryan Newman............................. 95.4 Carl Edwards.............................. 94.2 Dale Earnhardt Jr........................ 92.6 Kasey Kahne.............................. 92.1 Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (20 total) among active drivers at Pocono Raceway. Qualifying/Race Data 2014 pole winner: Denny Hamlin, Toyota 181.415 mph, 49.610 secs., 06-06-14 2014 race winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet 139.440 mph, (02:52:07), 06-08-14 Track qualifying record: Kyle Larson, Chevrolet 183.438 mph, 49.610 secs., 08-03-14 Track race record: Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet 145.384 mph, (03:26:21), 06-12-11 |
At Pocono Raceway:
History
· Opened in 1968 as a three-quarter-mile track, Pocono Raceway held the first race on the 2.5-mile track in 1971.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was in 1974 – won by Richard Petty, Dodge, 115.593 mph, 08/04/1974.
· The 2.5-mile track was repaved during the fall of 2011.
Notebook
· There have been 74 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Pocono Raceway, one race from 1974 through 1981, and two per year since.
· 2012 marked the first season the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono were scheduled for 400 miles. Prior to 2012 all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races were 500 miles at Pocono Raceway.
· 322 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway; 229 in more than one.
· Ricky Rudd leads the series in starts at Pocono with 55. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 44 starts.
· Buddy Baker won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Pocono in 1974 with a speed of 144.122 mph.
· 40 drivers have posted Coors Light poles at Pocono, led by Bill Elliott and Ken Schrader with five each; Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin lead all active drivers with three each.
· Five drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Pocono. Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive poles at Pocono with three; fall 1984 and both races in 1985.
· Two active drivers have posted consecutive Coors Light poles at Pocono: Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep) and Joey Logano (fall 2011 and spring 2012).
· Youngest Pocono pole winner: Joey Logano (08/07/2011 – 21 years, 2 months, 14 days).
· Oldest Pocono pole winner: David Pearson (06/10/1984 – 49 years, 5 months, 19 days).
· 32 different drivers have won at Pocono Raceway, led by Jeff Gordon with six wins.
· Seven drivers have posted consecutive wins at Pocono Raceway, including three consecutive by Bobby Allison (1982 sweep and spring 1983) and Tim Richmond (1986 sweep and spring 1987).
· Three of the seven drivers to win consecutive races at Pocono are active: Jimmie Johnson (2004 sweep); Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep and 2009 fall and 2010 spring races); Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2014 sweep).
· Youngest Pocono winner: Joey Logano (06/10/2012 – 22 years, 0 months, 17 days).
· Oldest Pocono winner: Harry Gant (06/17/1990 – 50 years, 5 months, 7 days).
· Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins at Pocono in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 17: Jeff Gordon (six), Tim Richmond (three), Jimmie Johnson (three), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two), Kasey Kahne (one), Geoff Bodine (one) and Terry Labonte (one) – including the last four consecutively.
· Eight different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Pocono; led by Chevrolet with 30 victories; followed by Ford with 21 and Toyota has three.
· 15 of the 74 (20.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Jimmie Johnson (June, 2013).
· The Coors Light pole position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (15) than any other starting position at Pocono Raceway.
· 24 of the 74 (32.4%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the front row: 15 from the pole and nine from second-place.
· 52 of the 74 (70.2%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Pocono have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Five of the 73 (6.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Pocono is 29th, by Carl Edwards in the spring of 2005.
· Mark Martin leads the series in runner-up finishes at Pocono with seven; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with six.
· Mark Martin leads the series in top-five finishes at Pocono with 20; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 19.
· Mark Martin leads the series in top-10 finishes at Pocono with 34; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 31.
· Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Pocono with a 6.556.
· Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Pocono with a 9.864.
· Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards are the only two active drivers to win at Pocono in their first appearances.
· Matt Kenseth leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Pocono without visiting Victory Lane at 30; followed by Kevin Harvick with 28.
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Pocono Raceway was the July 23, 2000 race won by Rusty Wallace over Jeff Burton with a MOV of 0.126 second.
· There have been three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Pocono Raceway (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): spring of 2005 (200/201); fall of 2005 (200/203); spring of 2010 (200/204).
· Six of the 74 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions; the most recent was the event on 8/5/2012.
· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Pocono Raceway five times; most recently the spring of 2013.
· Kyle Larson (8/03/2014) and Casey Mears (8/1/2004) posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Pocono Raceway.
· One active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver has posted his first career win at Pocono Raceway: Denny Hamlin (06/11/06).
· Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Pocono with 1,037 laps led in 44 starts.
· Two female drivers have competed at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick. Patrick’s average finish in four starts at Pocono is 32.750.
Driver |
Starting Position |
Finishing Position |
Date |
10 |
30 |
8/3/2014 |
|
16 |
37 |
6/8/2014 |
|
34 |
35 |
8/4/2013 |
|
30 |
29 |
6/9/2013 |
|
Janet Guthrie |
21 |
28 |
7/27/1980 |
Janet Guthrie |
22 |
31 |
7/30/1978 |
Janet Guthrie |
10 |
11 |
7/31/1977 |
NASCAR in Pennsylvania
· There have been 108 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races among nine tracks in Pennsylvania.
Track Name |
City |
NSCS |
Long Pond |
74 |
|
Langhorne Speedway |
Langhorne |
17 |
Lincoln Speedway |
New Oxford |
7 |
Heidelberg Raceway |
Pittsburgh |
4 |
Reading Fairgrounds |
Reading |
2 |
Bloomsburg Fairgrounds |
Bloomsburg |
1 |
New Bradford Speedway |
Bradford |
1 |
Pine Grove Speedway |
Shippenville |
1 |
Williams Grove Speedway |
Mechanicsburg |
1 |
· 141 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Pennsylvania.
· Three of the 141 have won in NASCAR’s premiere series.
Driver |
NSCS |
NNS |
NCWTS |
Dick Linder |
3 |
0 |
0 |
Jimmy Spencer |
2 |
12 |
1 |
Mark Donohue |
1 |
0 |
0 |
MILESTONES – Pocono Raceway
DRIVER |
HAS |
NEEDS |
MILESTONE |
774 |
1 |
775th Consecutive NSCS Start - Gordon is first on the active consecutive NSCS starts list and second on the all-time NSCS list behind Ricky Rudd (788). |
|
449 |
1 |
450th Consecutive NSCS Start - McMurray is sixth on the active consecutive NSCS starts list and 17th on the all-time NSCS list. |
|
49 |
1 |
50th Consecutive NSCS Start - Whitt, Annett and Dillon are tied for the 22nd position on the consecutive NSCS starts list. |
|
49 |
1 |
50th Consecutive NSCS Start - Whitt, Annett and Dillon are tied for the 22nd position on the consecutive NSCS starts list. |
|
49 |
1 |
50th Consecutive NSCS Start - Whitt, Annett and Dillon are tied for the 22nd position on the consecutive NSCS starts list. |
|
74 |
2 |
76th NSCS Win - Jimmie Johnson is eighth on the all-time NSCS wins list, two wins behind NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt in seventh (76 wins). |
|
48 |
2 |
50th NSCS Win - Stewart is 13th on the all-time NSCS wins list, two wins behind NASCAR Hall of Famers Junior Johnson and Ned Jarrett in 12th (50 wins). |
|
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 tied with Carl Edwards for 30th on the all-time NSCS wins list, one win behind Joe Weatherly and Denny Hamlin in 29th (25 wins). |
|
24 |
1 |
25th NSCS Win - Edwards is tied with Dale Earnhardt Jr. for 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). |
|
24,825 |
175 |
25,000 NSCS Laps Led - Gordon can become the sixth driver in NSCS history to lead 25,000 laps. |
|
9,594 |
406 |
10,000 Laps Led - Kenseth can become the 16th driver in series history to lead 10,000 or more laps. |
|
#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). |