DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 1, 2011) – Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Kansas Speedway, going into the STP 400 on June 5.
Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M/Walgreens Ford)
· Two wins, six top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 8.1
· Series-best Average Running Position of 5.9
· Series-best Driver Rating of 122.6
· 157 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.739 mph, second-fastest
· Series-high 1,436 Laps in the Top 15 (92.9%)
· 245 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most
Clint Bowyer (No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Chevrolet)
· One top five, two top 10s
· Average finish of 11.8
· Average Running Position of 16.4, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 88.1, eighth-best
· 35 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.896 mph, seventh-fastest
Kurt Busch (No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge)
· Two top 10s
· Average finish of 19.0
· Driver Rating of 84.6, 10th-best
· 58 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· 383 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
· 760 Laps in the Top 15 (49.2%), 13th-most
· 164 Quality Passes, ninth-most
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet)
· Four top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 19.1
· Driver Rating of 82.5, 13th-best
· 52 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· 366 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.599 mph, 13th-fastest
· 158 Quality Passes, 10th-most
Carl Edwards (No. 99 AFLAC Ford)
· Two top fives, five top 10s
· Average finish of 12.3
· Average Running Position of 13.4, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 94.8, seventh-best
· 80 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 386 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.948 mph, fifth-fastest
· 1,033 Laps in the Top 15 (66.9%), seventh-most
· 221 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)
· Two wins, seven top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 8.5
· Average Running Position of 8.9, third-best
· Driver Rating of 106.5, third-best
· 68 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.481 mph, third-fastest
· 1,390 Laps in the Top 15 (90.0%), second-most
· 233 Quality Passes, third-most
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)
· One top five, four top 10s
· Average finish of 14.6
· Average Running Position of 14.8, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 87.1, ninth-best
· 59 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
· 399 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.651 mph, 11th-fastest
· 817 Laps in the Top 15 (52.9%), 11th-most
· 152 Quality Passes, 13th-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet)
· One win, three top fives, seven top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 9.3
· Average Running Position of 7.2, second-best
· Driver Rating of 118.7, second-best
· Series-high 209 Fastest Laps Run
· Series-high 425 Green Flag Passes
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 162.818 mph
· 1,389 Laps in the Top 15 (89.9%), third-most
· Series-high 270 Quality Passes
Kasey Kahne (No. 4 Red Bull Toyota)
· Two top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 19.6
· Average Running Position of 16.2, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 82.7, 11th-best
· 33 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
· 340 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most
· 855 Laps in the Top 15 (55.3%), eighth-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Affliction Clothing Live Fast Ford Fusion Ford)
· Two top fives, four top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 20.6
· Average Running Position of 12.7, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 97.7, fifth-best
· 89 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.767 mph, 10th-fastest
· 1,060 Laps in the Top 15 (68.6%), sixth-most
· 165 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Mark Martin (No. 5 Farmers Insurance/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet)
· One win, two top fives, four top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 12.6
· Average Running Position of 11.6, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 97.3, sixth-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.851 mph, eighth-fastest
· 1,124 Laps in the Top 15 (72.8%), fifth-most
· 158 Quality Passes, 10th-most
Tony Stewart (No. 14 The Glades/Office Depot Chevrolet)
· Two wins, five top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 12.3
· Average Running Position of 9.9, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 103.3, fourth-best
· 86 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.203 mph, fourth-fastest
· 1,216 Laps in the Top 15 (78.7%), fourth-most
· 224 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota)
· Average finish of 25.6
· Average Running Position of 14.9, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 82.7, 12th-best
· 32 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.901 mph, sixth-fastest
· 794 Laps in the Top 15 (62.1%), 12th-most
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Top 12 at Kansas Speedway
|
|
Driver |
Races |
Poles |
Wins |
Top Fives |
Top 10s |
DNFs |
Average Finish |
Driver Rating*
|
|
1 |
Carl Edwards |
7 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
12.3 |
94.8 |
|
2 |
Kevin Harvick |
10 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
14.6 |
87.1 |
|
3 |
Jimmie Johnson |
9 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
1 |
9.3 |
118.7 |
|
4 |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
10 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
19.1 |
82.5 |
|
5 |
Kyle Busch |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
23.9 |
74.9 |
|
6 |
Kurt Busch |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
19.0 |
84.6 |
|
7 |
Matt Kenseth |
10 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
20.6 |
97.7 |
|
8 |
Clint Bowyer |
5 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
11.8 |
88.1 |
|
9 |
Tony Stewart |
10 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
1 |
12.3 |
103.3 |
|
10 |
Ryan Newman |
10 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
17.5 |
62.5 |
|
11 |
Greg Biffle |
9 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
1 |
8.1 |
122.6 |
|
12 |
Denny Hamlin |
6 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
17.8 |
81.8 |
* – Driver Rating based on last six Kansas Speedway races.
Chase Contenders
The Top 10 Following Race 12 of 36
Rank Season
Last Driver
Driver Points Wins Poles Week Rating
1. Carl Edwards 445 1 2 1 103.3
2. Kevin Harvick 409 3 0 5 91.3
3. Jimmie Johnson 408 1 0 2 97.1
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 402 0 1 4 89.7
5. Kyle Busch 392 2 0 3 110.7
6. Kurt Busch 377 0 0 9 86.6
7. Matt Kenseth 374 2 1 6 92.8
8. Clint Bowyer 365 0 0 8 95.0
9. Tony Stewart 356 0 0 10 88.1
10. Ryan Newman 353 0 0 7 86.9
___________________________________________________
ADDITIONAL DRIVERS
11. Greg Biffle 343 30. David Gilliland 213
12. Denny Hamlin 339 31. Dave Blaney 191
13. AJ Allmendinger 335 32. Casey Mears 190
14. Mark Martin 334 33. Robby Gordon 150
15. Juan P. Montoya 329 34. Andy Lally 127
16. Jeff Gordon 324 35. Tony Raines 109
17. Marcos Ambrose 320 36. Bill Elliott 100
18. David Ragan 313 37. Ken Schrader 73
19. Kasey Kahne 309 38. Terry Labonte 40
20. Paul Menard 306 39. J.J. Yeley 38
21. Martin Truex Jr. 300 40. Michael McDowell 37
22. Jeff Burton 282 41. Michael Waltrip 20
23. Joey Logano 279 42. David Stremme 19
24. David Reutimann 279 43. Brian Keselowski 3
25. Brad Keselowski 277 44. Steve Park 2
26. Jamie McMurray 275
27. Bobby Labonte 271
28. Brian Vickers 264
29. Regan Smith 262
Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season determine which 10 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season.
At Kansas Speedway:
History
· Groundbreaking was held on May 25, 1999.
· The official opening of Kansas Speedway was in 2001, with the first events being an ARCA race and a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race on the same day – June 2.
· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was Sept. 30, 2001.
· This is the first season Kansas Speedway will hold two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events.
Notebook
· There have been 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas
since the track opened in 2001.
· All of the races have been scheduled for 267 laps.
· 11 drivers have competed in all 10 races at Kansas.
· Jeff Gordon won the first two NASCAR Sprint Cup races.
· Jason Leffler won the first pole in September 2001.
· Seven different drivers have won poles, led by Jimmie Johnson, with three.
· Seven different drivers have posted victories, led by Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart (each with two).
· There have been seven different winners.
· Seven of the 10 races have been won from a top-10 starting position.
· Two drivers have won from the pole: Joe Nemechek in 2004 and Jimmie Johnson in 2008.
· The furthest back in the field that race winner started was 21st, by Tony Stewart in 2006. Seven of the 12 races this season have been won from a starting position of 20th or lower.
· Denny Hamlin made his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup start at Kansas – a 32nd-place finish in 2005.
· Three active drivers with more than one start have averaged a top-10 finish: Greg Biffle (8.1), Jeff Gordon (8.5) and Jimmie Johnson (9.3).
· Jeff Gordon leads all drivers in top fives (seven) and top 10s (eight). Gordon’s only two non-top 10s were a 39th in 2006 and a 13th in 2004.
· Seven of the nine races that ended under green had a margin of victory under one second. The 2007 race ended under caution.
NASCAR in Kansas
· There have been 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Kansas, all at Kansas Speedway. The only other Kansas track to hold a NASCAR national series race was Heartland Park in Topeka, which hosted five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races from 1995-99.
· 16 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as Kansas, including Jim Roper who won the very first NASCAR Sprint Cup race – Charlotte in 1949.
· There have been two race winners from Kansas in NASCAR’s three national series:
|
Driver |
NSCS |
NNS |
NCWTS |
|
Clint Bowyer |
4 |
8 |
2 |
|
Jim Roper |
1 |
0 |
0 |
Kansas Speedway Data
Race #: 12 of 36 (06-05-11)
Track Size: 1.5 miles
· Banking/Corners: 15 degrees
· Banking/Frontstretch: 10.4 degrees
· Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
· Frontstretch: 2,685 feet
· Backstretch: 2,207 feet
Driver Rating at Kansas
Greg Biffle 122.6
Jimmie Johnson 118.7
Jeff Gordon 106.5
Tony Stewart 103.3
Matt Kenseth 97.7
Mark Martin 97.3
Carl Edwards 94.8
Clint Bowyer 88.1
Kevin Harvick 87.1
Kurt Busch 84.6
Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2010 races (6 total) at Kansas.
Qualifying/Race Data
2010 pole winner: Kasey Kahne (174.844 mph, 30.920 seconds)
2010 race winner: Greg Biffle, 138.077 mph, 10-03-10)
Qualifying record: Matt Kenseth (180.856 mph, 29.858 seconds,
10-08-05)
Race record: Greg Biffle (138.077 mph, 10-03-10)
