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Statistical Advance: Analyzing the AAA Texas 500

October 29, 2019 at 4:59 PM

Top 10 Active Driver Ratings at Texas
Jimmie Johnson…………………… 103.0
Kyle Busch…………………………. 102.2
Chase Elliott…………………………. 97.3
Kevin Harvick……………………….. 95.9
Martin Truex Jr……………………… 94.1
Erik Jones……………………………. 91.8
Kurt Busch…………………………… 90.0
Denny Hamlin……………………….. 89.2
Joey Logano…………………………. 88.5
Brad Keselowski……………………. 87.8
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2019 races (28 total) among active drivers at Texas Motor Speedway.

Monster Energy Series Playoff Fast Facts Race No. 8: Texas Motor Speedway

  • The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs began in 2004. Texas Motor Speedway was added to the Playoffs in 2005; replacing Darlington Raceway. Texas has hosted the eighth Playoff race since being added to the postseason in 2005.
  • Only two tracks have hosted the eighth race in the Monster Energy Series Playoffs, Texas Motor Speedway (2005-2019) and ISM Raceway (2004).
  • Six different drivers have won the Monster Energy Series Playoff races at Texas, led by Jimmie Johnson with five victories (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015) and followed by Carl Edwards with three (2005, 2008, 2016), Tony Stewart with two (2006, 2011), Kevin Harvick (2017, 2018) with two and Denny Hamlin (2010) and Kurt Busch (2009) each with one.
  • Three times the winner of the Monster Energy Series Playoff race at Texas has gone on to win the title later that season:

o   In 2007, Jimmie Johnson won from the eighth starting position at Texas, and went on to win his second MENCS championship.

o   In 2011, Tony Stewart won from the fifth starting position at Texas, and went on to win his third MENCS championship.

o   In 2013, Jimmie Johnson won from the third starting position at Texas, and went on to win his sixth MENCS championship.

  • The worst finish in a Playoff race at Texas by a driver that went on to win the title was 38th by Jimmie Johnson in 2009.
  • Last season’s champion, Joey Logano, finished third at Texas in last season’s Texas Playoff race.
  • Three times a non-Playoff driver has won the Playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway:

o   Tony Stewart (2006) was ranked 11th in the points at the time of the win.

o   Jimmie Johnson (2014) was 11th in points at the time of the win. Johnson had made the Playoffs in 2014 but was eliminated in the Round of 12.

o   Jimmie Johnson (2015) was 12th in points at the time of the win. Johnson had made the Playoffs in 2015 but was eliminated in the Round of 16.

  • Four manufacturers have won Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Texas Motor Speedway – Chevrolet (seven wins), Ford (four), Toyota (two) and Dodge (one).

Texas Motor Speedway:

History

  • Construction on Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) began in 1995.
  • The first NASCAR national series race at Texas Motor Speedway was a NASCAR Xfinity Series event on April 5, 1997 – won by Mark Martin.
  • The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race was on April 6, 1997 – won by Jeff Burton.
  • The track underwent a repave between the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
  • In 2011, the spring Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race was moved from Sunday to Saturday night under the lights at Texas Motor Speedway. 2017 marked the first season it was moved back to a Sunday afternoon race.
  • Texas Motor Speedway hosted its first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race on November 6, 2005 – won by Carl Edwards.
  • The track underwent its second repave between the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The renovation added a new layer of asphalt over the existing pavement, an expansive French drainage system on the frontstretch and backstretch and reduced the banking in Turns 1 and 2 by four degrees (now 20 degrees).
  • There have been 37 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, one event from 1997 – 2004 and two races per year since 2005.

Starts

  • A total of 166 different drivers have competed in at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas; a 133 have competed in more than one.
  • Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch lead the series in starts at Texas Motor Speedway with 33 each.
  • Steve Park (five starts) leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Texas Motor Speedway with an 8.0.
  • Ryan Blaney leads all active Monster Energy Series drivers in average starting position at Texas Motor Speedway with an 8.5; followed by Jimmie Johnson with a 9.8.
  • Six drivers have made their first Monster Energy Series career start at Texas Motor Speedway.

Poles

  • A total of 25 different Monster Energy Series drivers have won Busch Pole Awards at Texas Motor Speedway; nine of the 25 are active this weekend.
  • Kurt Busch leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in Busch Pole Awards at Texas Motor Speedway with three (Spring 2015, Playoffs 2017, Spring 2018).
  • The inaugural Busch Pole Qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway in 1997 was cancelled due to weather conditions – Dale Jarrett started the race from the first starting position.
  • Jeremy Mayfield was the first Busch Pole Award winner in 1998 at Texas Motor Speedway with a speed of 185.906 mph.
  • Nine different drivers have won multiple poles at Texas; four are active this weekend.
  • Three drivers have won consecutive Busch poles at Texas Motor Speedway: Bobby Labonte (2003 and 2004), Ryan Newman (2005 sweep) and Kurt Busch (2017 and 2018).
  • Youngest Texas Busch Pole winner: Brian Vickers (Nov. 5, 2006 – 23 years, 0 months, 12 days).
  • Oldest Texas Busch Pole winner: Bill Elliott (April 8, 2002 – 46 years, 6 months, 0 days).
  • David Ragan (4/09/2011) and Martin Truex Jr. (11/04/2007) are the only two drivers who have posted their first Monster Energy Series pole at Texas Motor Speedway.
  • 10 different organizations have won a Busch Pole Award at Texas Motor Speedway in the Monster Energy Series.
  • Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in poles at Texas with seven – Terry Labonte (2000), Brian Vickers (Fall 2006), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Spring 2008), Jeff Gordon (Fall 2008, Fall 2009), Jimmie Johnson (Fall 2012, Spring 2019).
  • Four different manufacturers have won a Monster Energy Series pole at Texas Motor Speedway; led by Chevrolet (15 poles), and followed by Ford (11), Toyota (five) and Dodge (four).

Wins

  • A total of 19 different Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Texas Motor Speedway, seven of 19 are active this weekend.
  • Jimmie Johnson leads the series in wins at Texas with seven victories (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 sweep and 2017) in 32 starts – a winning percentage of 21.8%.
  • Eight drivers have multiple wins at Texas Motor Speedway; four of them are active this weekend.
  • Three Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers have posted consecutive wins at Texas Motor Speedway: Jimmie Johnson (2014 Playoff race and 2015 sweep), Carl Edwards (2008 sweep) and Denny Hamlin (2010 sweep).
  • All seven active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have won at Texas Motor Speedway participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane – Ryan Newman won in the fewest appearances of the seven winners – he won in his second appearance at TMS.
  • Four of the seven active winning drivers made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Texas Motor Speedway: Kevin Harvick (29), Kyle Busch (15), Kurt Busch (13), and Joey Logano (11).
  • Martin Truex Jr. leads the series among active drivers with the most Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 28 starts; followed by Clint Bowyer (27) and Paul Menard (26).
  • Youngest Texas winner: Joey Logano (April 7, 2014 – 23 years, 10 months, 14 days).
  • Oldest Texas winner: Dale Jarrett (April 1, 2001 – 44 years, 4 months, 6 days).
  • Jeff Burton (April 6, 1997) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (April 2, 2000) are the only two drivers to win their first Monster Energy Series career race at Texas Motor Speedway.
  • A total of nine different organizations have won in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway.
  • Roush Fenway Racing and Hendrick Motorsports lead the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Texas Motor Speedway with nine each; followed by Joe Gibbs Racing with eight.
  • Three of the 37 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races (8.11%) at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from the Busch Pole: Kasey Kahne (2006), Jimmie Johnson (2012) and Kyle Busch (2013).
  • Six of the 37 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races (16.22%) at Texas Motor Speedway have been won from the front row: three from first starting position and three from the second starting position.
  • The third starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field at Texas Motor Speedway, producing more wins (eight) than any other starting position – most recently: Kevin Harvick’s win in last season’s Playoff race.
  • The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Texas Motor Speedway is 31st, by Matt Kenseth in 2002.
  • Two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver have won at Texas Motor Speedway in two different manufacturers: Jeff Burton (1997 – Ford; 2007 – Chevrolet) and Carl Edwards (2005, 2008 sweep – Ford; 2016 – Toyota)
  • Four different manufacturers have won a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas, led by Ford (14 wins); followed by Chevrolet (13), Toyota (seven) and Dodge (three).

Additional Finishing Positions

  • A total of 20 different drivers have finished runner-up in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway.
  • Jimmie Johnson leads the series in runner-up finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with five second-place finishes.
  • A total of 43 different Monster Energy Series drivers have finished in the top-five at Texas Motor Speedway.
  • Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-five finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with 16 top fives.
  • A total of 63 different Monster Energy Series drivers have finished in the top-10 at Texas Motor Speedway.
  • Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-10 finishes at Texas Motor Speedway with 22 top 10s.

Additional Finishing Positions

  • Chase Elliott (seven starts) leads the series in average finishing position at Texas with a 8.0.

Track / Event Specific Stats

  • Since the advent of electronic scoring, the closest margin of victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway was the April 4, 2004 race won by Elliott Sadler with a margin of victory of 0.028 over second-place Kasey Kahne.
  • Five Monster Energy Series races at Texas that have resulted with NASCAR Overtime.
  • The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas has been rain-shortened only once.
  • Weather has postponed the Monster Energy Series Texas race to another date twice:
    • Spring 2014 race (scheduled for 04/06 but was run on 04/07) Winner: Joey Logano
    • Spring 2010 race (scheduled for 04/18 but was run on 04/19) Winner: Denny Hamlin
  • Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions twice in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway: The inaugural event in 1997 and The spring race of 2007.

Lap Leader Stats

  • A total of 81 different drivers have led at least one lap at Texas Motor Speedway in the Monster Energy Series.
  • Jimmie Johnson (32 starts) leads the series in laps led at Texas Motor Speedway with 1,112.
  • The most laps led by a driver in a single race at Texas is 312 of the scheduled 334 laps (93.4%) by Brad Keselowski on Nov. 8, 2015; he started from the pole and finished second.
  • The most laps led in a single Monster Energy Series race at Texas by the race winner is 278 of the scheduled 339 laps (82%) by Tony Stewart on Nov. 5, 2006 – he started eighth and won.
  • The fewest laps led in a single race at Texas by the race winner is one lap of the scheduled 334 by Jeff Burton on April 15, 2007 – he started second and won.

Female Competitor Stats

  • Two female drivers have made Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway: Shawna Robinson and Danica Patrick.

NASCAR in Texas

  • There have been 127 NASCAR national series races among three tracks in the state of Texas.
  • The first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Texas was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas. The event was held on December 7, 1969 and it was won by Bobby Isaac (Dodge).

Texas Drivers in NASCAR

  • A total of 88 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Texas.
  • A total of 10 different drivers from Texas have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte leads all Texas drivers with 34 NASCAR national series wins.

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