A statistical look ahead to the 18th race of the Sprint Cup season
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (July 6, 2015) – Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky going into the Quaker State 400 on July 11 on NBCSN at 7:30 p.m. ET.
KENTUCKY-SPECIFIC STATISTICS
Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Crispy Toyota)
· One win, three top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 4.500, series-best
· Average Running Position of 5.270, series-best
· Driver Rating of 124.3, series-best
· 139 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.614, series-best
· 1003 Laps in the Top 15 (93.9), series-most
· 99 Quality Passes, 11th-most
Kurt Busch (No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet)
· Two top 10s
· Average finish of 11.500, eighth-best
· Average Running Position of 13.430, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 89.4, 11th-best
· 21 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.179, 13th-fastest
· 603 Laps in the Top 15 (56.5), 12th-most
· 112 Quality Passes, seventh-most
Dale Earnhardt Jr (No. 88 NATIONWIDE Chevrolet)
· Two top fives, two top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 12.750, 10th-best
· Average Running Position of 12.607, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 90.7, ninth-best
· 32 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.518, 10th-fastest
· 633 Laps in the Top 15 (59.3), 11th-most
· 106 Quality Passes, ninth-most
Carl Edwards (No. 19 COMCAST MINIONS Toyota)
· One top five, one top 10
· Average finish of 15.750, 12th-best
· Average Running Position of 12.755, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 87.2, 12th-best
· 20 Fastest Laps Run, second-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.201, 12th-fastest
· 662 Laps in the Top 15 (62.0), 10th-most
· 107 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 AARP Member Advantages Chevrolet)
· One top five, four top 10s
· Average finish of 7.250, fourth-best
· Average Running Position of 12.069, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 95.4, sixth-best
· 41 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.777, seventh-fastest
· 736 Laps in the Top 15 (68.9), seventh-most
· 140 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota)
· One top five, one top 10
· Average finish of 22.750, 13th-best
· Average Running Position of 18.688, 13th-best
· Driver Rating of 85.2, 13th-best
· 34 Fastest Laps Run, series-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.252, third-fastest
· 558 Laps in the Top 15 (52.2), 13th-most
· 87 Quality Passes, 13th-most
Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Budweiser/Jimmy John’s Chevrolet)
· Two top 10s
· Average finish of 11.000, seventh-best
· Average Running Position of 10.600, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 95.2, seventh-best
· 17 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.767, eighth-fastest
· 884 Laps in the Top 15 (82.8), fourth-most
· 133 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Pro Services Chevrolet)
· One top five, four top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 7.000, third-best
· Average Running Position of 6.292, second-best
· Driver Rating of 116.6, second-best
· 127 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.573, second-fastest
· 963 Laps in the Top 15 (90.2), third-most
· 142 Quality Passes, third-most
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 LIFTMASTER Chevrolet)
· One top five, two top 10s
· Average finish of 8.500, fifth-best
· Average Running Position of 12.879, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 98.9, fifth-best
· 64 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.039, fifth-fastest
· 709 Laps in the Top 15 (66.4), eighth-most
· 145 Quality Passes, second-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)
· One win, two top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 4.500, second-best
· Average Running Position of 9.208, third-best
· Driver Rating of 107.2, fourth-best
· 79 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.189, fourth-fastest
· 972 Laps in the Top 15 (91.0), second-most
· 181 Quality Passes, series-most
Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Ford)
· Two wins, two top fives, three top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 10.500, sixth-best
· Average Running Position of 10.234, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 116.1, third-best
· 171 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.863, sixth-fastest
· 840 Laps in the Top 15 (78.7), fifth-most
· 88 Quality Passes, 12th-most
Joey Logano (No. 22 Shell Pennzoil/AutoTrader Ford)
· One top five, two top 10s
· Average finish of 12.250, ninth-best
· Average Running Position of 11.292, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 94.7, eighth-best
· 25 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.579, ninth-fastest
· 669 Laps in the Top 15 (62.6), ninth-most
· 101 Quality Passes, 10th-most
Ryan Newman (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)
· Two top fives, two top 10s
· Average finish of 13.750, 11th-best
· Average Running Position of 12.857, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 90.2, 10th-best
· 14 Fastest Laps Run, third-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 171.476, 11th-fastest
· 776 Laps in the Top 15 (72.7), sixth-most
· 113 Quality Passes, sixth-most
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2015 Top 16 at Kentucky Speedway
|
|
Driver |
Races |
Poles |
Wins |
Top Fives |
Top 10s |
DNFs |
Average Finish |
Driver Rating |
|
|
1 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
11 |
95.2 |
||
|
2 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
12.8 |
90.7 |
||
|
3 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
7 |
116.6 |
||
|
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
12.2 |
94.7 |
||
|
5 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
13 |
84.0 |
||
|
6 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
22.5 |
76.5 |
||
|
7 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
10.5 |
116.1 |
||
|
8 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
11.5 |
89.4 |
||
|
9 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
4.5 |
107.2 |
||
|
10 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
7.2 |
95.4 |
||
|
11 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
8.5 |
98.9 |
||
|
12 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
22.8 |
85.2 |
||
|
13 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20.2 |
74.5 |
||
|
14 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
13.8 |
90.2 |
||
|
15 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
19.2 |
83.3 |
||
|
16 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
26.7 |
67.4 |
* – Based on last four races at Kentucky Speedway.
Kentucky Speedway Data
|
Season Race #: 18 of 36 (07-11-15) Track Size: 1.5-miles Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 14 degrees Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 14 degrees Banking/Frontstretch: 8 degrees Banking/Backstretch: 8 degrees Frontstretch Length: 1,662 feet Backstretch Length: 1,600 feet Race Length: 200 laps / 300 miles
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Kentucky Kyle Busch…………………………. 124.3 Jimmie Johnson…………………… 116.6 Brad Keselowski………………….. 116.1 Matt Kenseth……………………….. 107.2 Kasey Kahne………………………… 98.9 Jeff Gordon………………………….. 95.4 Kevin Harvick………………………… 95.2 Joey Logano………………………… 94.7 Dale Earnhardt Jr.………………….. 90.7 Ryan Newman……………………….. 90.2 Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2014 races (four total) among active drivers at Kentucky Speedway. Qualifying/Race Data 2014 pole winner: Brad Keselowski, Ford 188.791 mph, 28.603 secs. 06-28-14 2014 race winner: Brad Keselowski, Ford 139.723 mph, (02:51:59), 06-29-14 Track qualifying record: Brad Keselowski, Ford 188.791 mph, 28.603 secs. 06-28-14 Track race record: Brad Keselowski., Dodge 145.607 mph, (02:45:02), 06-30-12 |
At Kentucky Speedway:
History
· In 1998, the track broke ground in Sparta, Kentucky, and opened as a 1.5-mile speedway in 2000.
· The original owners, Jerry Carroll and four other investors owned the track until 2008, when current owners, Speedway Motorsports Inc. purchased the facility.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was held in 2011 – won by Kyle Busch.
Starts
· There have been four NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kentucky Speedway since the first race in 2011 – one race per season.
· 60 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway; 45 in more than one.
· 28 different drivers have made all four series starts at Kentucky Speedway.
· Brad Keselowski leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in Average Starting Position at Kentucky with a 5.75; followed by Kyle Busch with a 6.25.
Poles
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Qualifying at Kentucky was cancelled due to weather. The starting line-up was set per the Rule Book – Kyle Busch started from first.
· Brad Keselowski (2014), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2013) and Jimmie Johnson (2012) are the three drivers that have won Coors Light poles at Kentucky.
· Youngest Kentucky pole winner: Brad Keselowski (06/28/2014 – 30 years, 4 months, 16 days).
· Oldest Kentucky pole winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (06/30/2013 – 38 years, 8 months, 20 days).
Wins
· Three different NSCS drivers have won at Kentucky Speedway: Kyle Busch (07/09/2011), Brad Keselowski (06/30/2012 and 6/28/2014) and Matt Kenseth (6/30/2013).
· Brad Keselowski leads the series in wins at Kentucky with two.
· Youngest Kentucky winner: Kyle Busch (07/09/2011 – 26 years, 2 months, 7 days).
· Oldest Kentucky winner: Matt Kenseth (06/30/2013 – 41 years, 3 months, 20 days).
· Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske are tied for the series lead in wins at Kentucky with two each: Joe Gibbs Racing (2011, 2013); Team Penske (2012, 2014).
· Three different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Kentucky: Toyota (2011, 2013), Dodge (2012) and Ford (2014).
· Brad Keselowski is the only driver to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky from the Coors Light poles (2014).
· Kyle Busch won the inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky from the first starting position. Due to the qualifying session being cancelled for the 2011 race, it was not from the Coors Light pole.
· Two of the four (50.0%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kentucky have been won from the front row – both from the first starting position (2011, 2014).
· Three of the four (75%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kentucky have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kentucky is 16th, by Matt Kenseth in 2013.
· The fewest laps led in a single race by an eventual NSCS winner at Kentucky is 38 laps by Matt Kenseth in 2013.
· The most laps led in a single race by an eventual NSCS winner at Kentucky is 199 laps by Brad Keselowski in 2014.
Additional Finishing Position Stats
· Four different drivers have posted NSCS runner-up finishes at Kentucky: David Reutimann (2011), Kasey Kahne (2012), Jamie McMurray (2013) and Kyle Busch (2014).
· 14 different drivers have posted top-five finishes at Kentucky led by Kyle Busch with three; followed by Brad Keselowski, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, and Ryan Newman with two each.
· 19 different drivers have posted top-10 finishes at Kentucky led by Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth with four each.
· Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch are tied for the series among active drivers in Average Finishing Position at Kentucky with a 4.5 each. Jimmie Johnson (7.0), Jeff Gordon (7.2), and Kasey Kahne (8.5) are the other active drivers with an average finish in the top 10.
Track Event Stats
· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky Speedway was the July 9, 2011 race won by Kyle Busch over David Reutimann with a MOV of 0.179 second.
· None of the four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kentucky Speedway have resulted with a green-white-checkered finish.
· None of the four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kentucky Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions.
· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky Speedway once; the 2011 race.
· The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky produced the most lead changes (20) at the 1.5-mile track. The fewest lead changes were in the 2013 race at Kentucky (11).
· The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kentucky produced the most different leaders (12) at the 1.5-mile speedway. The fewest leaders in a NSCS event at Kentucky were last season’s race with three.
· Brad Keselowski leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Kentucky with 346 laps led in four starts.
Female Competitor Stats
· Danica Patrick is the only female driver to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky Speedway.
|
Driver |
Starting Position |
Finishing Position |
Date |
|
29 |
23 |
6/30/2013 |
|
|
10 |
21 |
6/28/2014 |
|
|
Averages |
19.5 |
22.0 |
|
NASCAR in Kentucky
· There have been five NASCAR Sprint Cup races among two tracks in Kentucky.
|
Track Name |
City |
NSCS |
|
Kentucky Speedway |
Sparta |
4 |
|
Corbin Speedway |
Corbin |
1 |
· 42 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Kentucky; three have posted wins in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
|
Driver |
NSCS |
NNS |
NCWTS |
|
Jeremy Mayfield |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
4 |
11 |
1 |
|
|
Tommy Thompson |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
16 |
0 |
|
|
0 |
9 |
0 |
Milestones – Kentucky Speedway
|
HAS |
NEEDS |
MILESTONE |
DESCRIPTION |
DRIVER | |
|
|
|||||
|
174 |
1 |
175th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Career Start |
McDowell is 145th on the all-time NSCS career starts list, two starts behind Walter Ballard and Regan Smith (176 each) in 143rd. |
||
|
99 |
1 |
100th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Career Start |
Patrick is 191st on the all-time NSCS career starts list, one start behind Bruce Hill (100) in 190th. |
||
|
74 |
2 |
76th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 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 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win |
Stewart is 13th on the all-time NSCS wins list, two wins behind NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett in 12th (50 wins). |
||
|
32 |
1 |
33rd NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 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 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win |
Edwards is 31st on the all-time NSCS wins list, one win behind Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joe Weatherly and Denny Hamlin tied for 28th (25 wins). |
||
|
24,826 |
174 |
25,000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Laps Led |
Gordon can become the sixth driver in NSCS history to lead 25,000 laps; joining Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson and Bobby Allison. |
||
|
9,598 |
402 |
10,000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Laps Led |
Kenseth can become the 16th driver in series history to lead 10,000 or more laps. |
||
|
7,788 |
212 |
8,000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Laps Led |
Kevin Harvick can become the 24th driver in series history to lead 8,000 or more laps. |
||
|
#43 car |
199 |
1 |
200 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Wins |
The No. 43 car is second on the all-time NSCS wins list, five wins behind the No. 11 car in first (204). The last win for the No. 43 car came at Daytona last season. |