1-2 finish stats: A couple interesting stats from Sunday's race, provided by ESPN's Marty Smith:
1) Sunday's 1-2 start/finish by #39-Newman/#14-Stewart is the first teammate 1-2 start and finish since the 1989 Daytona 500 (Darrell Waltrip and Ken Schrader for Hendrick Motorsports).
2) The last time a team started/finished 1-2 with the same drivers in the same order was back on April 7, 1957 at North Wilkesboro with DePaolo Engineering. Fireball Roberts won from the pole, while teammate Paul Goldsmith started second and finished second.
AND Newman and Stewart qualified and finished 1-2, that's the first time in a Cup race that drivers have qualified and finished 1-2 since Denny Hamlin and Kurt Busch qualified and finished 1-2 at Pocono in June 2006.(7-18-2011)
Records Set In Lead Changes And Leaders Per Race in 2011: Tony Stewart won the title in the most statistically-competitive season in the 63-year history of the Sprint Cup Series. Two major NASCAR Sprint Cup competition records were broken this past season: average lead changes and leaders per race. There was an average of 27.1 lead changes per race in 2011, the most in the history of Sprint Cup competition. Additionally, there was an average of 12.8 leaders per event, also the highest average since the series' inaugural year of 1949. For the second consecutive season, the record books were rewritten. The previous record-highs in both statistics were set in 2010, when there were averages of 25.4 lead changes and 11.4 leaders. In addition, there were 131,989 total green flag passes (an average of 3,666 per race), which is a series-high since NASCAR began tabulating passing numbers in 2005. From green flag to checkered, races during the 2011 unfurled in a tight, unpredictable manner. Averaging a margin of victory of 1.321, a record 23 races featured an MOV under one second. That's the most since the inception of timing and scoring in 1993.(NASCAR)(11-24-2011)
No track sweeps in 2011: the 2011 season will be the first season since 2001 that no driver won both races at a track with two points races in one season.(11-13-2011)
First win for #4 since 1998: Kasey Kahne's win in the 2011 Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway was the 45th ever win for a car #4 and the first since Bobby Hamilton won at Martinsville, VA running the #4 on April 20, 1998. See car wins by numbers on my Car Number Wins page (11-13-2011)
Top-35 in Owner Points and guaranteed a starting spot at Daytona in 2012:
#38 remains stayed 35th over the #71 team, with a lead of 28 pts.
34) #32-Bell/FAS Lane, 499, +33
35) #38-Kvapil/Front Row, 494, 28 points ahead of 36th
these teams / drivers will need to qualify by speed:
36) #71-Bliss/TRG, 466, 28 points out of top 35
37) #21-Bayne/Wood Brothers 347, -147
The teams are NOT locked in past the next race as the owners points change after each race.
NOTE: there are a few teams in the top 35 that may not return in 2012 or points transferred
to other car owners such as the #6, #33, #4, #83 teams, so the #71, #21 and others could move up into the top 35
For the owner points standings, see my Owners Points Standings page.(11-20-2011)
Current Consecutive Cup Series Starts:
Jeff Gordon is the current leader
Ricky Rudd is the all time leader with 788 before he took the 2006 season off
the list of current streaks:
(thru 11-20-2011)
Jeff Gordon, 653 [longest ever from the start of career, never missed a race] - started Atlanta 11/1992
Bobby Labonte, 652
Jeff Burton, 556
Tony Stewart, 464 [since start of his career]
Dale Earnhardt, Jr., 431
Matt Kenseth, 430
Jimmie Johnson, 360
Ryan Newman, 360
Kevin Harvick, 352
Jamie McMurray, 328
Greg Biffle, 321
Kasey Kahne, 288 [since start of his career]
Carl Edwards, 257
Denny Hamlin, 223 [since start of his career]
Kurt Busch, 216
Martin Truex Jr., 216
Clint Bowyer, 216
Juan Pablo Montoya, 181 [since start of his career]
David Ragan, 180
Paul Menard, 164
David Reutimann, 145
A.J. Allmendinger, 114
Marcos Ambrose, 112
Mark Martin, 108
Joey Logano, 108
Brad Keselowski, 76
Regan Smith, 73
David Gilliland, 52
Joe Nemechek, 37 [not in top 35 owners pts]
Brian Vickers, 36
Casey Mears, 35
Dave Blaney, 14
Michael McDowell, 13 [not in top 35 owners pts]
Landon Cassill, 12
J.J. Yeley, 9 [not in top 35 owners pts]
Travis Kvapil, 9 [not in top 35 owners pts]
Mike Bliss, 3
Kyle Busch, 2 [was at 249 before being parked at Texas in Nov 2011]
David Stremme, 1 [not in top 35 owners pts]
Trevor Bayne, 1 [not in top 35 owners pts]
(11-20-2011)
Top-10 All-time Consecutive Cup Starts:
1) Ricky Rudd, 788 [ended Nov 2005, retired]
2) Rusty Wallace, 697 [ended Nov 2005, retired]
3) Terry Labonte, 655 [ended Aug 2000 at Indy]
4) Jeff Gordon, 653*
5) Bobby Labonte, 652*
6) Dale Earnhardt, 648 [ended when he was killed at Daytona in 2001]
6) Mark Martin, 621 [ended March 18, 2006 after Atlanta]
8) Ken Schrader, 579 [ended Aug 2003 at Indy]
9) Jeff Burton, 556*
10) Richard Petty, 513
11) Darrell Waltrip, 499 [ended July 1990 at Daytona]
* active streak.(11-20-2011)
All Time Cup Series Starts [wins]:
1) Richard Petty, 1185 [200, 16.9%]
2) Ricky Rudd, 906 [23]
3) Dave Marcis, 883 [5]
4) Terry Labonte, 877* [22]
5) Mark Martin, 830* [40]
6) Kyle Petty, 829 [8]
7) Bill Elliott, 826* [44]
8) Darrell Waltrip, 809 [84, 10.4%]
9) Michael Waltrip, 763* [4]
10) Sterling Marlin, 748 [10]
11) Ken Schrader, 740* [4]
12) Bobby Allison, 718 [84, 11.7%]
13) Rusty Wallace, 706 [55]
14) Buddy Baker, 699 [19]
15) Dale Earnhardt, 676 [76, 11.2%]
16) Dale Jarrett, 668 [32]
17) JD McDuffie, 653 [0]
18) Bobby Labonte, 654* [21]
19) Jeff Gordon, 653* [85]
20) Buck Baker, 636 [46]
21) Jeff Burton, 610* [20]
22) James Hylton, 601 [2]
23) Joe Nemechek, 587* [4]
24) Geoff Bodine, 575* [18]
25) David Pearson, 574 [105, 18.3%]
26) Buddy Arrington, 560 [0]
26) Cale Yarborough, 560 [83]
28) Elmo Langley, 536 [2]
29) Benny Parsons, 526 [21]
30) Morgan Shepherd, 513 [4]
31) Neil Castles, 498 [0]
32) Wendell Scott, 495 [1]
33) Brett Bodine, 480 [1]
34) Jimmy Spencer, 478 [2]
35) Harry Gant, 474 [18]
Tony Stewart, 464 [44]
* = active drivers, who ran a race within the last year or so
(unofficial - compiled from many sources)(11-20-2011)
Top-20 Total Laps Run:
1 Richard Petty, 307,836
2 Ricky Rudd, 259,746
3 Terry Labonte, 252,259
4 Mark Martin, 239,600
5 Bill Elliott, 238,726
6 Darrell Waltrip, 237,773
7 Kyle Petty, 232,922
8 Dave Marcis, 231,337
9 Michael Waltrip, 213,529
10 Ken Schrader, 213,032
11 Sterling Marlin, 209,071
12 Rusty Wallace, 204,818
13 Dale Earnhardt, 202,888
14 Bobby Allison, 197,438
15 Dale Jarrett, 185,948
16 Jeff Gordon, 187,310
17 Bobby Labonte, 184,046
18 Jeff Burton, 174,681
19 James Hylton, 160,762
20 Geoff Bodine, 158,776
(active this season).(11-6-2011)
Top 35 / All time laps led:
Rank, Driver, Racing Reference total
1 Richard Petty 52,193 [some also list 51,381]
2 Cale Yarborough 31,659
3 Bobby Allison 27,541
4 Dale Earnhardt 25,707
5 David Pearson 25,419
6 Darrell Waltrip 23,131
7 Jeff Gordon 22,572
8 Rusty Wallace 19,972
9 Bobby Isaac 13,229
10 Junior Johnson 12,651
11 Mark Martin 12,584
12 Jimmie Johnson 12,110
13 Tony Stewart 11,875
14 Bill Elliott 11,413
15 Buddy Baker 9,748
16 Ned Jarrett 9,468
17 Geoffrey Bodine 8,683
18 Harry Gant 8,445
19 Fred Lorenzen 8,131
20 Ricky Rudd 7,874
21 Kyle Busch, 7,110
22 Kurt Busch, 7,091
23 Terry Labonte 7,070
24 Dale Jarrett 7,054
25 Tim Flock 6,937
26 Benny Parsons 6,866
27 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 6,764
28 Matt Kenseth, 6,599
29 Jeff Burton, 6,471
30 Neil Bonnett 6,382
31 Herb Thomas 6,197
32 Fireball Roberts 5,970
33 Buck Baker 5,662
34 Ernie Irvan, 5,471
35 Denny Hamlin, 5,128
Drivers who have led a lap: 407
From two stats sources:
RacingReference.info / NASCAR Statistics, then compiled by Jayski.(11-6-2011)
2011 Top-5's, Top-10's: #99-Edwards leads all drivers after 34 races with 17 Top-fives in 2011, followed by #18-Busch and #48-Johnson with 14.
#99-Edwards lead all drivers in 2011 with 24 Top-Ten finishes, followed by #48-Johnson with 21 Top-Ten finishes.
#87-Nemechk has run all races in 2011 and did not score a top-ten finish and DNF'd in 35 of 36 races.(11-20-2011)
All-time Top fives:
1 Richard Petty, 555
2 Bobby Allison, 336
3 David Pearson, 301
4 Jeff Gordon, 287
5 Dale Earnhardt, 281
6 Darrell Waltrip, 276
7 Mark Martin, 266
8 Cale Yarborough, 255
9 Buck Baker, 246
10 Lee Petty, 231
11 Buddy Baker, 202
12 Rusty Wallace, 202
13 Benny Parsons, 199
14 Ricky Rudd, 194
15 Ned Jarrett, 185
16 Terry Labonte, 182
17 Bill Elliott, 175
18 Dale Jarrett, 163
19 Tony Stewart, 162
20 Jim Paschal, 149
21 Jimmie Johnson, 148
22 James Hylton, 140
23 Bobby Isaac, 134
24 Jeff Burton, 130
25 Harry Gant, 123
26 Herb Thomas, 122
27 Junior Johnson, 121
28 Bobby Labonte, 115
29 Matt Kenseth, 113
30 Rex White, 110
Joe Weatherly, 105
Geoff Bodine, 100
others:
Dale Earnhardt Jr., 95
Kurt Busch, 88
Kevin Harvick, 86
(11-20-2011)
The most career top-10s in Sprint Cup history:
Driver -- Top 10s -- Titles
Richard Petty -- 712 -- 7
Bobby Allison -- 446 -- 1
Mark Martin -- 438 -- 0*
Dale Earnhardt -- 428 -- 7
Jeff Gordon -- 396 -- 4
Darrell Waltrip -- 390 -- 3
Ricky Rudd -- 374 -- 0
Buck Baker -- 372 -- 2
David Pearson -- 366 -- 3
Terry Labonte -- 361 -- 2
other active drivers
Tony Stewart; 266 -- 3
Jeff Burton; 242
Jimmie Johnson; 224 -- 5
Matt Kenseth; 209 -- 1
Bobby Labonte; 201 -- 1
Kevin Harvick; 174
Kurt Busch; 169 -- 1
Dale Earnhardt Jr.; 162
Ryan Newman; 152
Carl Edwards; 144
Greg Biffle; 123
Kyle Busch; 121
Denny Hamlin; 111
Kasey Kahne; 102
*Finished second in points four times.(11-20-2011)
28 drivers have scored 200 or more top 10 finishes:
Year: Date, Track, Driver
28) 2011: 7/31, Indianapolis, Matt Kenseth
27) 2011: 2/20, Daytona, Bobby Labonte
26) 2010: 10/15, Charlotte, Jimmie Johnson
25) 2008: 7/12, Chicago, Tony Stewart
24) 2008: 4/12, Phoenix, Jeff Burton
23) 2003: 6/15, Michigan, Sterling Marlin
22) 2002: 6/16, Michigan, Jeff Gordon
21) 2001: 6/17, Pocono, Dale Jarrett
20) 1997: 8/31, Darlington, Mark Martin
19) 1996: 7/21, Pocono, Rusty Wallace
18) 1993: 10/3, N. Wilkesboro, Harry Gant
17) 1992: 3/29, Darlington, Bill Elliott
16) 1991: 8/24, Bristol, Ricky Rudd
15) 1990: 8/25, Bristol, Terry Labonte
14) 1989: 6/18, Pocono, Dale Earnhardt
13) 1984: 10/21, Rockingham, Dave Marcis
12) 1984: 2/26, Richmond, Darrell Waltrip
11) 1979: 10/14, N. Wilkesboro, Benny Parsons
10) 1978: 3/19, Atlanta, Cale Yarborough
9) 1977: 10/9, Charlotte, Buddy Baker
8) 1974: 7/20, Nashville Fairgrounds, Bobby Allison
7) 1971: 7/18, Trenton, James Hylton
6) 1969: 6/26, N.C. Fairgrounds, David Pearson
5) 1966: 9/5, Darlington, Jim Paschal
4) 1966: 4/9, Greenville, Richard Petty
3) 1965: 5/15, Winston-Salem, Ned Jarrett
2) 1958: 7/25, Monroe, Buck Baker
1) 1957: 6/15, Tenn.-Carolina, Lee Petty
(NASCAR)(11-6-2011)
2010: The Most Competitive Year In NASCAR Sprint Cup Series History: The recently completed 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season goes down as the most competitive in the 62-year history of the sport's premier series. Two major competition records were broken this past season in the series: average lead changes and leaders per race. There was an average of 25.4 lead changes per event in 2010, the most in the history of NASCAR Sprint Cup competition.
Additionally, there was an average of 11.4 leaders per event, also the highest average since the series' inaugural year of 1949.
The previous highs in both statistics were 24.9 lead changes in 1981 and 11.0 leaders in 2006.
In all, 55 different drivers led at least one lap this season – another record. The previous most was 51, in both 2005 and 2007. Passing numbers, too, were at their statistical peak this season. NASCAR began recording passing numbers in 2005, with the inception of Loop Data. This season, those numbers were higher than any of the past six years.
There were a total of 1,299 green flag passes for the lead (Note: Those are lead changes all around the track, not just at the start-finish line). The previous high was 994 in 2006.
There were also 116,327 total green flag passes. The previous high was 110,226 in 2009.
The tight on-track competition led to a closer-than-ever points battle. The 15 points separating the top-two drivers going into the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway were the fewest in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup's seven-year history. Five-time champion Jimmie Johnson became the first driver since 1992 to overcome a deficit with one-to-go to capture the title.
Five races broke or matched track records in either most leaders or lead changes this season:
Talladega: Both Talladega races were exceptionally competitive, but the spring event made history. There were 88 lead changes among 29 drivers during the April 25 event, both all-time series records – at any track, ever.
Daytona: There were 21 different leaders in the season-opening Daytona 500, the most ever at a track whose history dates back to 1959.
Infineon Raceway: The first road course race of the season, the June 20 event featured 12 lead changes, the most ever at Infineon. The last lead change belonged to 2010 series champion Jimmie Johnson, who won the first road course race of his career.
Phoenix: There were 13 different leaders in the spring Phoenix event, tying a track record.
Texas: The autumn event at Texas had 33 lead changes, setting a track record.(NASCAR)(11-27-2010)
Harvick masters plate tracks: #29-Kevin Harivck is first driver since #24-Jeff Gordon in 2007 to score a top 10 finish in all 4 restrictor place races during the season.(ESPN NASCAR Now)(11-1-2010)
Most Last-Place Finishes (1949-present) in Sprint Cup history:
rank, number of last place finishes, driver, (total races run)
(list does not include non-points races)
1) 32-J.D. McDuffie (653 races run)
2) 28-Joe Nemechek* (570)
3) 26-Derrike Cope* (409)
4) 19-G.C. Spencer (415),
5) 18-Dave Blaney*
6) 17-Buddy Baker (700), Jimmy Means (455), Morgan Shepherd (514), Cale Yarborough (560)
7) 16-Todd Bodine*, Neil Castles, Junior Johnson, Kyle Petty, Darrell Waltrip
8) 15-Buddy Arrington, Ward Burton, Richard Petty, Roy Tyner
9) 14-Michael McDowell*, Mike Skinner*
10) 13-Buck Baker, Henley Gray, Dick May, Joe Ruttman, Rusty Wallace
11) 12-Ricky Craven, Cecil Gordon, Terry Labonte*, Sterling Marlin, Wendell Scott, Michael Waltrip*
12) 11-Bobby Labonte*, John Andretti, Geoff Bodine*, Earl Brooks, Bill Champion, Jimmy Helms, Rick Newsom, Greg Sacks
(stats from Lastcar)(11-20-2011)
Hamlin 36th pole winner to finish last: According to Lastcar statistics, #11-Denny Hamlin, the pole sitter for the Atlanta race this past weekend, is the 36th driver to finish last in the race after starting 1st / on the pole. Hamlin's 74 laps led are also the second-most led by any Cup last-place finisher, behind only Greg Biffle's 95 laps led at Darlington in 2008, the polesitter of that race.(Lastcar)(9-7-2010)
Did Not Finish [DNF] Streak and stats: #99-Edwards has the longest current streak of finishing races at 64, of drivers who have run all the races.
Three drivers have ran all the races in 2011 and not had a DNF: #99-Edwards, #39-Newman, #42-Montoya.
The all-time record for the longest streak of NOT having an DNF is 84 races held by Herman Beam from April 30, 1961 thru March 10, 1963 [Beam didn't run all the races, but did not have a DNF in 84 straight consecutive races that he ran].
Clint Bowyer holds the modern day (1972-present) at 83, next is Kevin Harvick at 81 [also had a 2nd streak of 58], then Jeff Gordon at 56 and Dale Earnhardt at 53.
The Most in 2011: #87-Nemechek has 35 DNF's in 36 races run.(11-20-2011)
- September 16, 2007's Cup race at New Hampshire was the first time all 43 cars that started a Cup race finished it since NASCAR mandated the 43-car rule in 1998.
UPDATE: and on September 7, 2008, the Cup race at Richmond was the 2nd race that all 43 cars that started a Cup race finished it since NASCAR mandated the 43-car rule in 1998.(9-7-2008)
Top-10 Streaks:
The longest streaks of top 10 finishes since 1990:
Jeff Gordon, 21 races, 1998 race #14 - 1999 race #1
Dale Jarrett, 19 races, 1999 race #4 - 1999 race #22
Mark Martin, 16 races, 1996 race #17 - 1997 race #1
Dale Jarrett, 15 races, 2000 race #10 - 2000 race #24
Jeff Gordon, 14 races, 1995 race #14 - 1995 race #27
Mark Martin, 14 races, 1998 race #10 - 1998 race #23
Bobby Labonte, 14 races, 1999 race #25 - 2000 race #4
Jimmie Johnson, 13 races, 2004 race #31 - 2005 race #7
Tony Stewart, 13 races, 2005 race #15 - 2005 race #27
Dale Earnhardt, 12 races, 1990 race #14 - 1990 race #25
Dale Earnhardt, 12 races, 1995 race #22 - 1996 race #2
Morgan Shepherd, 12 races, 1989 race #29 - 1990 race #11
Dale Jarrett, 11 races, 1999 race #27 - 2000 race #3
Jeff Gordon, 10 races, 2007 race #13 - 2007 race #22
Mark Martin, 10 races, 1990 race #16 - 1990 race #25
Terry Labonte, 10 races, 1996 race #26 - 1997 race #4
Tony Stewart, 10 races, 2009 race #13 - 2009 race #22
(11-20-2011)
Top 10 - Consecutive Races Finished on Lead Lap:[modern era?]
1) Jeff Gordon, 21 races, from June 14, 1998 thru Feb 14, 1999
2) Jimmie Johnson, 20, April 2, 2006 thru Sept 9, 2006
3) Matt Kenseth, 19, Oct 14, 2006 thru June 17, 2007
4) Jeff Burton, 18, Charlotte, Oct 13, 2007 thru Charlotte, May 25, 2008
5) Tony Stewart, 17, Martinsville, March 29, 2009 thru Michigan, August 16, 2009
Rusty Wallace, 17, May 29, 2005 thru Sept 25, 2005
Matt Kenseth 17, May 5, 2006 thru Sept 24, 2006
6) Jeff Gordon, 16, Michigan, June 13, 2010 thru Oct 10, 2010
Jamie McMurray, 16, August 8, 2004 thru Nov 21, 2004
Denny Hamlin, 16, May 6, 2006 thru Sept 9, 2006
7) Rusty Wallace, 15, June 20, 1993 thru Oct 24, 1993
Jeff Gordon, 15, June 11, 1995 thru Oct 1, 1995
Dale Jarrett, 15, April 30, 2000 thru Sept 03, 2000
Kyle Busch, 15, Pocono, June 10, 2007 thru Sept 23, 2007
Ryan Newman, 15, Kansas, June 5, 2011 thru Sept 25, 2011
CURRENT:
Carl Edwards, 13, Bristol, August 27, 2011 thru current
(NASCAR Statistics)(11-20-2011)
Last race only 43 cars? Only three times since 2004 had a Sprint Cup race only had 43 cars entered
Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway only had 43 drivers/cars entered, and all started the race on March 27, 2011.
The Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Speedway in August 2009
And California Speedway [now Auto Club Speedway] in May 2004.(3-27-2011)
43rd Fact: Last driver to win from the 43rd starting spot in a Cup Series race was Fonty Flock at Raleigh, NC in 1953, the only other driver to do so was Johnny Mantz in the 1950 Southern 500. A driver who falls to the rear after changing an engine, going to a backup, driver change, etc. does not count as a 43rd spot, they are credited with an official starting spot where they qualified.
Gordon down to two tracks with no win: After finishing 10th at Kentucky Speedway means there's only two race tracks on the Sprint Cup circuit at which #24-Jeff Gordon has yet to win, that being Homestead-Miami Speedway and Kentucky Speedway, both which the series runs only once a year. Gordon has won on 23 of the 25 tracks he has raced at in the Sprint Cup Series, including two tracks that are no longer active, North Wilkesboro and Rockingham.
Driver -- Wins -- Tracks won at/ Tracks ran
Richard Petty -- 200 -- 51 of 84
David Pearson -- 105 -- 38 of 65
Bobby Allison -- 84 -- 28 of 47
Jeff Gordon -- 84 -- 23 of 25
Darrell Waltrip -- 84 -- 16 of 26
Cale Yarborough -- 83 -- 18 of 46
Of course, a disclaimer here is that in the old days of NASCAR, many tracks were raced at once or just a handful of times, but that's still pretty impressive.(ESPN.com)
Current Drivers: the active leaders with the most Sprint Cup wins at the 23 different tracks currently on the NSCS schedule:
Rank, Driver, Number of Tracks
1. #24-Jeff Gordon, 21
2. #14-Tony Stewart, 20
3. #5-Mark Martin, 18
4. #48-Jimmie Johnson, 18
5. #18-Kyle Busch, 16
(NASCAR PR)(11-20-2011)
Youngest Driver to start a Sprint Cup race:
Driver, debut date and track listed with their ages:
Tommie Elliott: Aug. 1, 1951, Altamont-Schenectady Fairgrounds - 15 years, 7 months, 5 days
Darryl Sage: July 10, 1982, Nashville Speedway - 17 years, 2 months, 2 days
Bill Morton: Oct. 9, 1955, Memphis-Arkansas Speedway - 17 years, 2 months, 17 days
Donald Thomas: May 21, 1950, Martinsville Speedway - 17 years, 10 months, 11 days
Bobby Hillin Jr.: April 18, 1982, North Wilkesboro Speedway - 17 years, 10 months, 13 days
Chuck Bown: Jan. 23, 1972, Riverside International Raceway - 17 years, 11 months, 1 day
Jeff McDuffie: April 20, 1980, North Wilkesboro Speedway - 18 years, 0 months, 20 days
Joey Arrington: Sept. 8, 1974, Richmond International Raceway - 18 years, 1 months, 14 days
Buddy Baker: April 4, 1959, Columbia Speedway - 18 years, 2 months, 10 days
Joe Ruttman: Jan. 20, 1963, Riverside International Raceway - 18 years, 2 months, 23 days
Joey Logano: Sept. 14, 2008, New Hampshire - 18 years, 3 months, 20 days
(9-13-2008)
Youngest Winners:
See the All-Time Winners page - youngest winners
Oldest drivers to start Cup race (60 years or older)
Driver, Age, Date, Track, Start, Finish, Laps, Status
Hershel McGriff, 65, 5-16-1993, Sonoma, 42,43, 27/74, engine
Jim Fitzgerald, 65, 6-21-1987, Riverside, 37, 17, 93/95, running
Morgan Shepherd, 64, 9-17-2006, New Hampshire, 41, 42, 61/300, overheating
Geoff Bodine, 62 years, 2 months, 15 days, 7-2-2011, Daytona, 35, 38, 143, wheel bearing
Dave Marcis, 61, 2-17-2002, Daytona, 14, 42, 79/200, engine
Dick Trickle, 60, 6-2-2002, Dover, 29, 42, 170/400, oil pump
(7-2-2011)
Team 1-2-3 finishes: Roush Fenway Racing had a 1-2-3 team finish, something that is not too common, see the list, from 1997 thru current.
Last 1-2-3 Finishes
2008: Dover, 9/21 - Roush Fenway Racing: #16-Biffle, #17-Kenseth, #99-Edwards
2008: Bristol, 3/16 - Richard Childress Racing: #31-Burton, #29-Harvick, #07-Bowyer
2005: Homestead, 11/20 - Roush*: #16-Biffle, #6-Martin, #17-Kenseth, #99-Edwards
2005: Texas, 11/6 - Roush: #99-Edwards, #6-Martin, #17-Kenseth
2005: Kansas, 10/9 - Roush: #6-Martin, #16-Biffle, #99-Edwards
2005: Richmond 9/10- Roush: #97-Busch, #17-Kenseth, #16-Biffle
1997: Daytona 500, Hendrick Motorsports: #24-Gordon, #5-Labonte, #25-Craven
*Finished 1-2-3-4.(9-21-2008)
No Top 10 starters finish with a top-10 in a race: All 10 drivers that started in the top 10 at Las Vegas failed to finish in the top 10. On average, between four and five drivers that start in the top 10, finish in the top 10, but not this weekend. So how long has it been since all 10 drivers failed to finish in the top 10 [in a Cup race]? How about 1,421 races ago. On July 4, 1965, all 10 drivers that started in the top 10 failed to finish in the top 10. Almost 42 years ago. It happened at Daytona. Marvin Panch was the pole sitter and would become the highest finisher among the top 10 starters. Marvin finished 12th and led 39 laps. He would retire from the race after 136 laps of the race's 160 laps [only 14 cars of 40 were running at the finish]. In fact, the top 10 starters that day led 130 laps. AJ Foyt (started 11th) would grab the win, leading the other 30 laps that day. Not only did the top 10 starters in 1965 finish outside the top 10, but all 10 posted a DNF, 3 engines, 3 crashes, 1 heating issue, 1 fuel pump, 1 rocker arm and even 1 driver [Junior Johnson] is listed as 'quit'. The top 10 starters at Vegas this weekend didn't fair that bad, only scoring 3 DNFs. But they all finished outside the top 10, ending a string of 1421 races
with at least top 10 starter finishing in the top 10.(LTPicks.com)(3-13-2007)
The single largest Sprint Cup Series entry fields since 2000:
1. 2007 Daytona 500 - 61 cars
2. 2000 Daytona 500 - 59 cars
3. 2006 Daytona 500 – 58 cars
3. 2004 [Atlanta] Bass Pro Shops 500 – 58 cars
4. 2009 Daytona 500 - 57
4. 2005 Daytona 500 – 57 cars
5. 2006 [Homestead] Ford 400 – 56 cars
5. 2004 [Homestead] Ford 400 – 56 cars
6. 2001 Indianapolis - 54
6. 2010 Daytona 500 - 54
The most ever?
86 at Indianapolis in 1994
82 at Darlington Raceway in 1951
Most Cars To Finish On Lead Lap Complete Race
Less than 400-Mile Race - 38 - Sonoma (June 26, 2011)
400-Mile Race - 35, Indianapolis (Aug. 6, 2006)
500-Mile Race - 32 Daytona (Feb. 17, 2008)
500-Mile Race - 31 Daytona (Feb. 19, 2006)
Shortened Race - 37, Michigan - June 18, 2006 (129 of 200 Laps)(11-20-2011)
- NASCAR Top Streaks of consecutive weeks in the top 10 in drivers points:
1. Dale Earnhardt (174 races): Earnhardt has three streaks in the NASCAR Top 10, including two of more than 100 consecutive weeks among the top 10 in the championship. His record-setting 174 weeks occurred over the course of seven seasons, beginning Feb. 23, 1986 at Richmond. The streak concluded March 1 in the second race of the 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup season at Rockingham, where he finished 24th. During that span, he collected four of his record-tying seven NASCAR Winston Cup championships.
2. Darrell Waltrip (138 races): Waltrip previously held the No. 1 ranking before Earnhardt went on his run that began toward the tail end of Waltrip’s streak. Waltrip began his run May 7, 1983 with a win at Nashville and continued through the conclusion of the 1987 season. The streak ended with an 11th-place finish at the season-opening Daytona 500 in 1988. It took Waltrip five years to build the then-record streak, but Earnhardt overtook the top spot with 139 straight weeks less than three seasons later. However, Waltrip did earn one of his three NASCAR Winston Cup titles during that run, capturing the championship in 1985.
3. Earnhardt (123 races): In addition to his record streak, Earnhardt began another 100-plus week run in the top 10 in the championship almost a year to the day of his record streak ending. Earnhardt, whose record run went through the 1992 Daytona 500, began this one with the 1993 Daytona 500 and watched it also come to a close at the same event in 1997 when he finished 31st in the season opener. He captured two more NASCAR Winston Cup titles during that span, winning consecutive crowns in 1993 and ’94.
4. Bobby Allison (121 races): Allison began his streak on Feb. 17, 1980 at the season-opening Daytona 500 and it culminated in the lone NASCAR Winston Cup championship of his outstanding career. The run extended throughout the 1983 season in which he won the crown, but it came to an end the following year in the season-opening Daytona 500 when he finished 34th in the race.
5. Cale Yarborough (119 races): Yarborough’s streak is a tribute to his dominance during this period. His run began Feb. 29, 1976 at Rockingham and continued through the close of the 1979 season. During that span, he won three consecutive NASCAR Winston Cup titles (1976-78), a feat that remains unparalleled in the series. His streak ended Jan. 19, 1980 in the season opener at Riverside, where he finished 23rd.
6. Jimmie Johnson (105 races): Johnson's streak is current thru end of the 2006 season. The streak started at Atlanta in March 2004 and ended at Daytona in February 2007.
7. Richard Petty (90 races): Petty’s streak encompassed the last of his seven NASCAR Winston Cup championships, which came in 1979. This streak began March 11, 1979 and extended through the entire 1981 season before it ended with a 27th-place finish in the season-opening Daytona 500 in 1982.
8. Bill Elliott (88 races): Elliott’s lone NASCAR Winston Cup championship came in 1988, but his NASCAR Top 10 streak came earlier in his career. It began Feb. 20, 1983 at the season-opening Daytona 500 and lasted through the 1985 season. A 13th-place finish in the 1986 Daytona 500 put an end to the run.
9. Waltrip (86 races): Waltrip’s second streak of 86 weeks joins him with Earnhardt as the only drivers with multiple streaks among the NASCAR Top 10. Waltrip’s streak began April 9, 1978 at Darlington and included the entire 1979 and ’80 seasons. The reigning NASCAR Winston Cup champion watched his streak come to an end in the 1981 season opener at Riverside when he finished 17th.
10. Matt Kenseth (71 races): started at Rockingham in February 2003 and ended at Daytona in 2005, maintaining the streak thru the end of 2004.
and a few more that fell out of the top 10 since I started keeping tabs on the streak
11. Jimmie Johnson (70 races): started at Atlanta in March 2002 [his rookie year] and ended at Rockingham in Feb 2004, the 2nd race of the season.
12. (tie) Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin, Earnhardt (67 races): Earnhardt’s third and final streak among the NASCAR Top 10 lasted a modest 67 weeks for the Intimidator’s standards. His streak began Oct. 7, 1979 at Charlotte and lasted through the 1981 season. The Daytona 500 was the culprit once again as he finished 36th in the 1982 season opener to end his streak. He was tied for No. 9 simultaneously by Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin in 2000. The duo had their streaks begin and conclude at the same races to forge the tie. They opened their streaks Feb. 21, 1999 at Rockingham and concluded them at the 2001 season-opening Daytona 500. Labonte, who won the 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup title, finished 40th in the 500 to end his streak while Martin’s was cut short by a 33rd-place finish.
13. Sterling Marlin (66 races): Marlin unseated Dale Jarrett (65 consecutive weeks) for the No. 10 position in 2002, but his streak ended shortly thereafter due to an injury. His run began Feb. 18, 2001 at the season-opening Daytona 500 and continued the streak into the 2002 season where he led the championship for 25 consecutive races. A neck injury that was the result of an accident in the Sept. 29 race at Kansas ended his season, but he did not officially fall out of the top 10 until the Oct. 13 race at Charlotte when he dropped to 12th in the championship.
(11-20-2011)
An interesting note is that the season-opening race put a halt to all but two of the streaks, the exception being Earnhardt’s record streak and Sterling Marlin’s 10th-ranked run.(NASCAR PR and updated weekly)
Only the second time ever in the Cup series: Casey Mears becomes another first time winner for Rick Hendrick (the 8th from the Hendrick stable). Brian Vickers was the last first time winner, also from the Hendrick stable. In fact, they both won their first career race while driving the same car, Hendrick's #25 Chevy. Did you know that the only other time that consecutive 'first-time' winners drove the same car was way back in 1950, 57 years ago. Harold Kite scored his first career win while driving his own #21 Lincoln. Then the next first time winner in the top series was Tim Flock, driving the same #21 Lincoln. These are the only two instances in which the same car produced two consecutive 'first-time' winners. Did you know part 2 - Only 4 times in Cup history has an owner produced 2 consecutive first
time winners. The two mentioned above plus: in 1957, Bob Welborn was the car owner when he won his first race. Then Bob Welborn was the car owner of the next first-time winner, Max Welborn. And in recent times, Jack Roush was the owner of consecutive first-timers, Greg Biffle in 2003 and then Carl Edwards broke a 1 1/2 year drought of first-timers, in 2005.(LTPicks.com)(5-31-2007)
- Restrictor Plate Streak Ends: Thru Daytona in Feb 2007, three drivers had competed in all 77 restrictor-plate races at Daytona and Talladega, plus all three ran the one-off restrictor plate race at New Hampshire [but that was not a drafting/aero track]: #01-Mark Martin (2 Talladega, 0 Daytona wins); #21-Ken Schrader (1, 0); #55-Michael Waltrip (1, 3). Martin did not run at Talladega as he is running a part time scheduled in 2007. Schrader and Waltrip were both with teams outside the top-35 in owners points and were not fast enough to make the race, so now, no drivers have run all 78 restrictor plate races.(4-29-2007)
- Memorial Day Weekend/Labor Day Weekend Doubles..rare: #9-Kasey Kahne's win at California marks just the 4th time in the modern era that the winner of the Memorial Day weekend Cup race went on to win the Labor Day weekend Cup race in the same season. The others were David Pearson in 1976, Jeff Gordon in 1997, and again Jeff Gordon in 1998. Those 3 instances occurred when
the Labor Day weekend race was held at Darlington Raceway, while the Memorial Day race has always been held at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte during the modern era. Also it should be noted both times when Gordon accomplished this feat, he went on to win the Cup championship.(9-4-2006)
- Gordon sets new record? have done some research on this, been told by a few readers that Jeff Gordon broke a record by finishing 3rd at Dover on Sunday. It was his 20th top-10 finish of the 2004 season, making it 10 straight years that Gordon has had at least 20 top-10 finishes in a season, starting in 1995. Lee Petty had 9 straight seasons [had 19 in 1952]. The following drivers stats were checked and didn't accomplish the feat. Richard Petty [who has 18 total seasons of 20 or more Top-10's and had 43 in 1964 in 61 races, but had a 14 race season in 1965 and 'only' 17 in 1973, that broke up the streak], Dale Earnhardt had 11 20 Top-10 seasons scattered throughout 22 full seasons. Ned Jarrett in 1964, 1965 and Joe Weatherly 1962 hold the record for the most Top 10's with 45.(9-27-2004)
- Johnson's 3 race run historical: #48-Jimmie Johnson has two wins and a second-place finish in the first three races of the season - tied for the best start in NASCAR history [with Pachal in 63, Petty in 69, Yarborough in 77...and only Yarborough won the championship]. In the process, he became the 16th driver to win two of the first three races to start the season. The only reason he doesn't have a big lead in the Cup Series standings is Matt Kenseth's success. He's got a win, a second and a 15th. Johnson leads Kenseth by 52 points heading into Sunday's Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. A year ago, seven of the top 10 drivers in the standings after the Las Vegas race went onto qualify for the Chase for the Championship. Five drivers - Ryan Newman (18th), Tony Stewart (19th), Kurt Busch (22nd), Carl Edwards (23rd) and Greg Biffle (25th) - were in last year's Chase and find themselves playing catch-up. Johnson joins Marshall Teague (1952), Herb Thomas (1954, 3 of 1st 4), Lee Petty (1955, 3 of 1st 5), Marvin Panch (1957), Bob Welborn (1959), Jim Paschal (1963, 2 wins & 2nd), Richard Petty (1969 [2 wins & 2nd], 1972 and 1973),
David Pearson (1976. 2 wins & 29th),
Cale Yarborough (1977, 2 wins & 2nd),
Darrell Waltrip (1980, 2 wins & 40th and 1989, 2 wins & 29th),
Dale Earnhardt (1987, 5th & 2 wins),
Neil Bonnett (1988, 4th & 2 wins),
Bill Elliott (1992 27th & 2 wins & 4 of 5 and after 5 races he DIDn't lead the points),
Jeff Gordon (1997, 2 wins & 4th) and
Matt Kenseth (2004, 9th & 2 wins) as drivers who've won two of the first three races of the season.(in part from the Augusta Chronicle)(3-13-2006)
First sweep at Charlotte since 1986: #48-Jimmie Johnson became the sixth driver to sweep a season’s two Sprint Cup Series points races at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the first since 1986 when the late Dale Earnhardt won both. There others:
1975, Richard Petty
1974, David Pearson
1971, Bobby Allison
1965, Fred Lorenzen.(10-18-2004)
Good Starts among active drivers: Finishing in the top-10 in his first Sprint Cup start puts Carl Edwards in some heady company:
2nd: Rusty Wallace 1980 Spring Atlanta
4th: Terry Labonte 1978 Southern 500 (Darlington)
6th: Matt Kenseth 1998 Fall Dover*
9th: Kyle Petty 1979 Talladega 500
10th: Carl Edwards 2004 Fall Michigan
*driving for Bill Elliott.(Fanball.com)
Other notables:
17th: Richard Petty 1957 Toronto in #142 [out of 19 cars in the field]
22nd: Dale Earnhardt 1975 Coca-Cola 600
28th: Tony Stewart 1999 Daytona 500
31st: Jeff Gordon 1992 Fall Atlanta
33rd: Bill Elliott 1976 Spring Rockingham
38th: Darrell Waltrip 1972 Spring Talladega.(8-23-2004)
Gordon vs Petty before 30 years of age: Jeff Gordon, who turned 30 Saturday, has 56 career victories — 55 (in 277 starts) before the age of 30. Richard Petty had 56 (in 332 starts) career wins before the age of 30.(USA Today). Petty had one Cup Championship before the age of 30 and won it in 1967 when he turned 30. Gordon had 3 championships before 30 and is currently leading the points. Dale Earnhardt had 8 wins and one Championship before he turned 30 in 1981.(8-7-2001)
Dale va Dale Jr after 229 Career Races:
(when Dale Jr won race #17 at Richmond - 229 races)
Dale, DaleJr
Wins: 18, 17
Top-Five: 87, 92
Top-10: 135, 96
Poles: 7, 6
Earnings: $3.9M, $37.5M
Dale: 1980 Cup Championship
Dale Jr: Daytona 500 win
(ESPNEWS)(5-9-2006)
Jeff Gordon vs. Dale Earnhardt 1992-2001 - 258 races:
Gordon vs. Earnhardt
Wins: 52, 23
Top 5's: 129, 101
Top 10's: 166, 160
Ave Finish: 11.8, 10.8
Championships: 3, 2
150 starts - Jeff Gordon vs. Jimmie Johnson:
#24-Jeff Gordon, stats after 150 careers starts, Dover in Sept 1997
Wins: 29
Top fives: 71
Top tens: 92
Poles: 16
Championship 1995, 2nd in 1996
#48-Jimmie Johnson, stats after 150 career starts, Las Vegas in March 2006
Wins: 20
Top Fives: 56
Top Tens: 89
Poles: 9
2nd drivers points in 2003 and 2004.(3-15-2006)
- Best driver records after first four races The following was revealed upon a query of the database by Charlie Vass.
Drivers records after four races....
Adkins, Allen 4 Top 5s
8/1/54 Oakland Stadium 3
8/22/54 Bay Meadows Race Course 4
5/8/55 Arizona State Fairgrounds 5
5/15/55 Tucson Rodeo Grounds 2
Minter, Clyde 4 Top 5s
9/25/49 Martinsville Speedway 4
10/16/49 North Wilkesboro Speedway 4
4/2/50 Charlotte Speedway 3
5/21/50 Martinsville Speedway 5
Gurney, Dan 3 Top 5s
2/16/62 Daytona International Speedway 4
2/18/62 Daytona International Speedway 27
1/20/63 Riverside International Raceway 1
2/22/63 Daytona International Speedway 5
Erickson, Erick 3 Top 5s
9/18/49 Hamburg Fairgrounds 2
4/8/51 Carrell Speedway 5
4/22/51 Arizona State Fairgrounds 2
5/6/51 Martinsville Speedway 24
Byron, Red 3 Top 5s
6/19/49 Charlotte Speedway 3
7/10/49 Daytona Beach & Road Course 1
8/7/49 Orange Speedway 22
9/11/49 Langhorne Speedway 3
Barker, Curley 3 Top 5s
5/27/56 Portland Speedway 5
6/24/56 Portland Speedway 9
8/26/56 Portland Speedway 3
9/23/56 Portland Speedway 3
Kahne, Kasey 3 Top 5s
2/15/04 Daytona International Speedway 41
2/22/04 North Carolina Speedway 2
3/7/04 Las Vegas Motor Speedway 2
3/14/04 Atlanta Motor Speedway 3
(NASCAR Statistics)(3-19-2004)
Slight Increase In Cautions During 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Season: The 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season had an increase in the number of cautions compared to 2010, but less than the 2009 total. There were 278 cautions during the 36-race Sprint Cup season just completed compared to 265 in 2010. The 2009 total was 305. All 36 races reached the scheduled distance with seven extended by late-race cautions which set up a green-white-checkered finish. Here’s a caution breakdown for the last three years provided by Darnell Communications for Dodge Motorsports.
SPRINT CUP SERIES
Season, 2011, 2010, 2009
Cautions: 278; 265; 305
Caution Laps: 1358; 1,325; 1,447
Laps Run: 10,550; 10,778; 10,492
Miles Run: 14,236.738; 14,537.508; 14,107.391
Miles Under Caution: 1,813.507; 1,839.510; 1,972.568
Most Cautions in a Race
2011 – 18 (Martinsville2)
2010 – 15 (Martinsville2)
2009 – 17 (Darlington)
Fewest Cautions in a Race
2011 – 3 (New Hampshire2)
2010 – 3 (Richmond2)
2009 -- 3 (Michigan1, Indianapolis)
Most Caution Laps in a Race
2011 – 108 (Martinsville2)
2010 – 103 (Bristol2)
2009 – 73 (Martinsville1)
Most Miles Under Caution
2011 – 150.000 (Daytona1)
2010 – 100.000 (Daytona1)
2009 – 99.718 (Darlington)
Race Extended Due to Caution
2011 – 7
2010 – 7
2009 – 5
Races Shortened Due To Weather
2011 – 0
2010 – 0
2009 – 3
Caution Breakdown
Seasons, 2011, 2010, 2009
Cautions, 278, 265, 305
Accident, 139, 140, 146
Spin/Stalled, 47, 46, 53
Debris, 59, 49, 70
Oil/Fluids, 17, 16, 14
Rain, 9, 5, 12
Competition Yellow, 6, 6, 9
Other, 1, 3, 1
(Darnell Communications for Dodge Motorsports)(12-16-2011)
40 Fewer ServiceMaster Clean Cautions This Season: The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season had a significant decrease in the number of cautions compared to 2009. There were 265 ServiceMaster Clean cautions during the regular-season, 36-race schedule just completed compared to 305 in 2009. The number was 56 less than the 321 cautions in 2008. ServiceMaster Clean, well known internationally for its cleaning and restoration services, is completing its second season as the official sponsor of caution periods at the 19 International Speedway Corp. and Speedway Motorsports Inc. tracks, as well as Dover International Speedway. ServiceMaster Clean participated in 33 of the 36 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races during the season (Pocono and Indianapolis are not part of the program). When there was a problem on the track and the yellow flag was displayed, the company’s familiar yellow vehicles were dispatched to clean the track.
All 36 races went the scheduled distance, but two (spring races at Martinsville and Texas) were postponed until Monday due to rain. Only two other events (Michigan2 and Richmond2) were interrupted by a caution for rain. Five of the first nine races were extended beyond the scheduled distance for a green-white-checkered finish, but only two in the last 27 races. See the following charts:
| |
2010 |
2009 |
| Cautions (36 races) |
265 |
305 |
| Cautions (33 races*) |
246 |
283 |
| Caution Laps (36 races) |
1325 |
1447 |
| Cautions Laps (33 races*) |
1242 |
1374 |
| Laps Run (36 races) |
10778 |
10492 |
| Laps Run (33 races*) |
10214 |
9960 |
| Miles Run (36 races) |
14537.51 |
14107.39 |
| Miles Under Caution (36 races) |
1839.51 |
1972.568 |
| Most Caution in a Race |
15 (Martinsville2) |
17 (Darlington) |
| Fewest Cautions in a Race |
3 (Richmond2) |
3 (Michigan1 |
| Most Caution Laps in a Race |
103 (Bristol2) |
73 (Martinsville1) |
| Most Miles Under Caution (Race) |
100.000(Daytona1) |
99.718 (Darlington) |
| Race Extended Due to Caution (36 races) |
7 |
5 |
| Race Shortened Due to Weather (36 races) |
0 |
3 |
| Reason |
2010 |
2009 |
| Cautions |
265 |
305 |
| Accident |
140 |
146 |
| Spin/Stalled |
46 |
53 |
| Debris |
49 |
70 |
| Oil/Fluids |
16 |
14 |
| Rain |
5 |
12 |
| Competition Yellow |
6 |
9 |
| Other |
3 |
1 |
2010 races interrupted by rain (Martinsville1, Texas1, Michigan2, Richmond2). Martinsville and Texas were run on Monday while Michigan and Richmond were interrupted only briefly, but completed as scheduled.
2009 races interrupted by rain (Daytona1, Fontana1, Charlotte1, Loudon1, Michigan2, Bristol2, Charlotte2)
2009 races shortened due to rain (Daytona1, Charlotte1, Loudon1).(ServiceMaster Clean)(12-19-2010)
Sprint Cup Crash and Spin Roundup (after 36 races):
# of accidents, driver
1 - Brendan Gaughan, Patrick Carpentier
3 - Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth
5 - Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick
6 - Clint Bowyer
7 - Denny Hamlin, Scott Speed
8 - Robby Gordon, AJ Allmendinger, Jeff Gordon, David Ragan, Paul Menard, Jamie McMurray, Tony Stewart
9 - Bobby Labonte, Greg Biffle, Mark Martin, Regan Smith, Martin Truex, Jr., Jeff Burton
10 - Ryan Newman
11 - Jimmie Johnson
12 - David Reutimann
13 - Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, the six drivers of the #83 Toyota
14 - Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Juan Pablo Montoya
15 - Joey Logano, Elliott Sadler
17 - Sam Hornish Jr.
19 - Marcos Ambrose
(see full story at The Motorsports FanHouse, maintained here since, these are approx numbers)(11-21-2010)
Less crashes in 2009: For the second consecutive year, crashes and spins were down in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series.
Not since 2002 have there been fewer on-track incidents in the sport's top series, according to numbers compiled by USA TODAY. The results are surprising, given that NASCAR made double-file restarts the norm during the second half of the season, a move to spice up competition at the risk of additional mayhem. There were 195 crashes and spins during NASCAR's 36-race season (5.4 per race) compared to 211 (5.9) last year — an 8.5% drop and the lowest since 2002 (5.2). A closer look at the facts and figures for crash data from the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season:
• 83% of drivers who started Cup Series races in 2009 got their cars to the finish line.
• Accident damage accounted for 97 of the 258 cars (38%) that failed to finish races this season. All but one other non-finisher was the result of mechanical failure. One car was parked.
• Among drivers who drove all 36 races, Matt Kenseth showed the greatest improvement in avoiding accidents. In 2008 Kenseth was involved in 15 incidents and failed to finish three races due to damage. He logged only four incidents this season and his only two DNFs were due to engine trouble. However, Kenseth missed the Chase for the first time in 2009, even after winning the season's first two races.
• Not surprisingly, Martinsville Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Richmond International Raceway, the three shortest tracks on the circuit, recorded the most crashes and spins in 2009.
•NASCAR's longest race of the year, the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway, was one of three events to record only one crash or spin this season. The rain-plagued race, typically NASCAR's longest of the season, only went 227 of a scheduled 400 laps (340.5 of a scheduled 600 miles). The others were the LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway and the Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway, relatively wide two-mile ovals that mirror one another.
• According to NASCAR, competition improved. There were 2,272 more green-flag passes in 2009 than there were in 2008 and 38 more green-flag passes for the lead (863-825) this year.
• Despite an unusually large margin of victory (25.686 seconds) in the second race at Texas Motor Speedway, the average margin of victory in 2009 was 2.003 seconds, closer than the 2.216 margin in 2008.
• This season, 52% of race qualifiers finished races on the lead lap, up from 48% a year ago.
• The caution flag came out an average of 8.4 times per race, down from 8.8 times in 2008 and 10.4 in 2005.
Drivers with the highest total of crashes and spins in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series:
2009 -- David Stremme
2008 -- Sam Hornish Jr.*
2007 -- David Ragan*
2006 -- J.J. Yeley*
2005 -- Michael Waltrip
2004 -- Robby Gordon
2003 -- Steve Park
2002 -- Steve Park
(* = rookie)(compiled from USA Today and see the Crash Database there)(12-18-2009)
- Passes Double at "New" Bristol: NASCAR’s Loop Data shows green flag passing during Saturday night’s Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway more than doubled that of the spring race at Bristol – from 991 passes in the spring to 2,147 passes Saturday night. The consensus opinion held by the drivers at the conclusion of the race rang loud and clear: the new surface at Bristol Motor Speedway met – and exceeded – expectations, as the addition of a second and third racing groove greatly increased the number of passes – and thusly, the competition. Take a look at the total passing numbers from the spring and this past weekend:
2007 Green Flag Passes at Bristol
Spring, Location, Summer
184, Frontstretch, 529
128, Backstretch, 487
313, Turns 1 and 2, 571
366, Turns 3 and 4, 560
991, Total, 2,147
The 2,147 green flag passes Saturday is a 108% increase over the spring race at Bristol. The individual numbers also grew. Below is a look at the top five in Green Flag Passes at the spring race and the top five this past Saturday night.
Bristol Green Flag Passes – Spring:
1. Kevin Harvick, 52
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 47
3. Jeff Burton, 46
4. Jeff Gordon, 37
5. David Stremme, 37
Bristol Green Flag Passes – Summer
1. J.J. Yeley, 107
2. Jamie McMurray, 105
3. Reed Sorenson, 87
4. Robby Gordon, 80
5. Martin Truex Jr., 80
Kevin Harvick’s top mark of 52 Green Flag Passes in the spring would have tied him for 18th with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in this past weekend’s race. Tony Stewart, who finished fourth Saturday night and clinched a spot in the Chase for the Cup, gave the new track at Bristol high marks: "Guys were running over each other to pass each other," said Stewart. "It’s the most fun I've had at Bristol in my career. I can't give it a better grade than an A-plus."(NASCAR PR)(8-28-2007)
