Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Federated Auto Parts 400

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Richmond
Kevin Harvick……………………… 111.0
Kyle Busch…………………………. 110.1
Denny Hamlin……………………… 107.6
Brad Keselowski……………………. 99.1
Kurt Busch…………………………… 94.7
Clint Bowyer…………………………. 93.9
Martin Truex Jr……………………… 91.4
Joey Logano………………………… 91.0
Matt Kenseth………………………… 90.0
Jimmie Johnson……………………. 89.0
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2019 races
(30 total) among active drivers at Richmond Raceway.

NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Fast Facts: Race #2 (Richmond)

  • The 2020 season marks the third time the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff’s second race has been held at Richmond Raceway (2018-2020).
  • Richmond Raceway is the third track in series history to host the second race of the Playoffs; joining Dover International Speedway (2004-2010) and New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2011–2017).
  • Prior to 2018, Richmond Raceway was the regular season finale for the NASCAR Cup Series from 2004-2017.
  • A total of 12 different drivers have won the second race of the Playoffs, led by Hendrick Motorsport’s Jimmie Johnson with three wins (2005, 2009, 2010); followed by Kyle Busch (2017, 2018) and Matt Kenseth (2013, 2015) with two each.
  • No non-Playoff driver has ever won the second Playoff race at Dover International Speedway (2004-2010) or New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2011-2017) or Richmond Raceway (2018-2019).
Second Race Of The Playoffs – Race Winners
Track Playoff Race Winners Date
Richmond Martin Truex Jr Saturday, September 21, 2019
Richmond Kyle Busch Saturday, September 22, 2018
Loudon Kyle Busch Sunday, September 24, 2017
Loudon Kevin Harvick Sunday, September 25, 2016
Loudon Matt Kenseth Sunday, September 27, 2015
Loudon Joey Logano Sunday, September 21, 2014
Loudon Matt Kenseth Sunday, September 22, 2013
Loudon Denny Hamlin Sunday, September 23, 2012
Loudon Tony Stewart Sunday, September 25, 2011
Dover Jimmie Johnson Sunday, September 26, 2010
Dover Jimmie Johnson Sunday, September 27, 2009
Dover Greg Biffle Sunday, September 21, 2008
Dover Carl Edwards Sunday, September 23, 2007
Dover Jeff Burton Sunday, September 24, 2006
Dover Jimmie Johnson Sunday, September 25, 2005
Dover Ryan Newman Sunday, September 26, 2004
  • When Dover International Speedway hosted the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, twice the winning driver went on to win the series title – Jimmie Johnson (2009 and 2010).
  • When New Hampshire Motor Speedway moved to the second race in the Playoffs (2011 – 2017), only one driver won the event and went on to win the title – Tony Stewart (2011). Stewart won five races in the 2011 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (a series-record) including the first two (Chicago and New Hampshire).
  • The worst finish by a driver in the second Playoff race that went on to win the title was:
    • At Dover – The 2005 series champion, Tony Stewart, finished 18th.
    • At New Hampshire – The 2015 series champion, Kyle Busch, finished 37th.
    • At Richmond – The 2018 series champion, Joey Logano, finished 14th.
    • Last season’s champion, Kyle Busch, finished second in the Richmond Playoff race and went on to win the title.

NASCAR Cup Series 2020 Top 16 in the Driver Standings at Richmond Raceway

Rank Driver Races Poles Wins Top Fives Top 10s DNFs Average Finish Driver Rating
1 Kevin Harvick 38 3 3 15 25 0 9.8 110.1
2 Denny Hamlin 27 3 3 13 17 0 9.1 107.6
3 Joey Logano 22 2 2 9 12 1 11.1 91.0
4 Brad Keselowski 21 2 1 5 11 1 12.7 99.1
5 Alex Bowman 8 0 0 0 0 0 25.6 55.7
6 Martin Truex Jr 28 1 2 5 11 4 17.9 91.4
7 Chase Elliott 9 0 0 2 3 0 12.8 84.3
8 Austin Dillon 12 0 0 0 2 0 18.7 71.9
9 William Byron 4 0 0 0 0 0 17.2 73.1
10 Kyle Busch 29 1 6 18 22 0 6.8 111.0
11 Kurt Busch 38 0 2 7 15 1 15.4 94.7
12 Aric Almirola 16 0 0 2 5 0 16 76.5
13 Clint Bowyer 28 0 2 5 16 1 12.5 93.9
14 Cole Custer 1 0 0 0 0 0 26 57.4
15 Matt DiBenedetto 10 0 0 0 0 1 28.7 44.6
16 Ryan Blaney 8 0 0 0 0 1 25.5 59.9

* – Based on last 30 races at Richmond Raceway (2005 – 2019).

At Richmond Raceway:

History

  • Originally known as the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds, Richmond Raceway held its first race in 1946 as a half-mile dirt track.
  • The first NASCAR Cup Series race held at Richmond was on April 19, 1953 and won by Lee Petty.
  • The spring 1964 race was run on a Tuesday night under temporary lighting.
  • The track name changed to Virginia State Fairgrounds in 1967.
  • The track surface was changed from dirt to asphalt between races in 1968.
  • The track name changed to Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in 1969.
  • The track was re-measured to .542-mile in 1970.
  • The track was rebuilt as a three-quarters-mile D-shaped oval following the Feb. 21, 1988 race.
  • The first race under permanent lights was Sept. 7, 1991.
  • The first season with both races as night races was 1999.
  • In 2017, the track underwent renovations and changed the name to Richmond Raceway.
  • There have been 127 NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond Raceway, one event from 1953 – 1958 and two races per year since 1959.

Starts

  • A total of 509 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway; 336 drivers have competed in more than one race at Richmond.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Richmond with 63; followed by Mark Martin with 56.
  • Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch lead all active series drivers with 38 Richmond starts each.
  • A total of 50 different drivers have made their first career NASCAR Cup Series start at Richmond Raceway – the most recent was Daniel Hemric (April 21, 2018).
  • Dick Rathmann (two series starts) leads the series in average finish at Richmond Raceway with a 2.0.
  • Brad Keselowski leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Richmond Raceway with an 10.0; followed by Denny Hamlin (10.1).

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Richmond Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Avg Start Races Rank Active Drivers Avg Start Races
1 Dick Rathmann 2.0 2 1 Brad Keselowski 10.0 21
2 Herb Thomas 3.0 2 2 Denny Hamlin 10.1 27
3 Billy Wade 3.7 3 3 Joey Logano 10.7 23
4 Bobby Isaac 3.7 10 4 Kyle Busch 12.1 29
5 Ned Jarrett 4.1 13 5 Kevin Harvick 13.1 38
6 Glen Wood 4.3 3 6 Martin Truex Jr 13.3 28
7 Speedy Thompson 4.6 5 7 Jimmie Johnson 13.6 36
8 Marvin Panch 5.0 3 8 Ryan Newman 13.8 36
9 Cotton Owens 5.1 9 9 Clint Bowyer 14.7 28
10 Bill Morgan 6.0 2 10 Ryan Blaney 14.9 8

Poles

  • A total of 55 different drivers have won a pole at Richmond Raceway, nine are active this weekend.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Bobby Allison lead the series in poles at Richmond with eight each.
  • Denny Hamlin (2006, 2008 and 2016) and Kevin Harvick (2005, 2018 and 2019) lead all active drivers in poles at Richmond with three each; followed by Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Jimmie Johnson with two each.
  • Buck Baker won the inaugural pole at Richmond in 1953 with a speed of 48.465 mph.
  • Nine drivers have won consecutive poles at Richmond – Joey Logano (2015 sweep) and Kevin Harvick (2018 Playoff race and 2019 Spring race) are the two active drivers to accomplish the feat.
  • Bobby Allison holds the record for most consecutive poles at Richmond with five straight from 1972 – 1974.
  • Youngest Richmond pole winner: Brian Vickers (05/15/2004 – 20 years, 6 months, 21 days).
  • Oldest Richmond pole winner: Mark Martin (04/28/2012 – 53 years, 3 months, 19 days).
  • Nine NASCAR Cup Series drivers posted their first career pole at Richmond Raceway – Brian Vickers (2004), Ted Musgrave (1994), Bobby Labonte (1993), Alan Kulwicki (1987), Morgan Shepherd (1981), Bill Dennis (1971), Dave Marcis (1971), Ned Jarrett (1960) and Russ Hepler (1957).
  • A total of nine different manufacturers have posted poles at Richmond Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by Chevrolet (46), Ford (34), Dodge (11), Toyota (10), Pontiac (six), Plymouth (five), Mercury (three), Buick (two) and Oldsmobile (two).

Wins

NASCAR Cup Series
Richmond Winners
Winners Wins
1 Kyle Busch 6
2 Denny Hamlin 3
3 Jimmie Johnson 3
4 Kevin Harvick 3
5 Clint Bowyer 2
6 Joey Logano 2
7 Kurt Busch 2
8 Mat Kenseth 2
9 Martin Truex Jr 2
10 Brad Keselowski 1
11 Ryan Newman 1
  • A total of 52 different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway, 11 are entered this weekend.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in wins at Richmond with 13 victories (spring 1961, 1967 sweep, fall 1968, fall 1970, 1971 sweep, 1972 sweep, 1973 sweep, fall 1974 and spring 1975) – the third-most wins by a single driver at a single track in series history behind his 15 wins at Martinsville and North Wilkesboro.
  • Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in wins at Richmond with six victories (spring 2009, spring 2010, spring 2011, spring 2012 and spring 2018, Playoff race 2018).
  • Youngest Richmond winner: Richard Petty (04/23/1961 – 23 years, 9 months, 21 days).
  • Oldest Richmond winner: Harry Gant (09/07/1991 – 51 years, 7 months, 28 days).
  • Nine drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Richmond Raceway – Joe Weatherly, David Pearson, Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Terry Labonte, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr.
  • Richard Petty leads the series in consecutive wins at Richmond after posting seven consecutive victories from the fall race of 1970 to the fall race of 1973.
  • The pole starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners than any other starting position at Richmond Raceway with 24.
  • Only four active series drivers have been able to win from the pole at Richmond: Jimmie Johnson (2007), Kyle Busch (2010), Brad Keselowski (2014) and Denny Hamlin (2016).

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Richmond Raceway

Starting Position Wins Winning % Starting Position Wins Winning % Starting Position Wins Winning %
1 24 18.90% 10 3 2.36% 21 1 0.79%
2 14 11.02% 11 2 1.57% 22 2 1.57%
3 17 13.39% 12 2 1.57% 23 1 0.79%
4 11 8.66% 13 2 1.57% 24 1 0.79%
5 7 5.51% 14 3 2.36% 25 2 1.57%
6 7 5.51% 16 3 2.36% 26 1 0.79%
7 11 8.66% 17 2 1.57% 28 1 0.79%
8 3 2.36% 19 1 0.79% 31 1 0.79%
9 2 1.57% 20 2 1.57% 32 1 0.79%
Stats Winning % Wins
Winning from the First Starting Position: 18.90% 24
Winning from the Front Row: 29.92% 38
Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position: 57.48% 73
Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position: 77.95% 99
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20: 8.66% 11
  • The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Richmond Raceway is 32nd, by Kyle Busch in the spring of 2018.
  • Five drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Richmond – Kasey Kahne (2005), Tony Stewart (1999), Kyle Petty (1986), Neil Bonnett (1977) and James Hylton (1970)
  • Reed Sorenson leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Cup Series starts at Richmond without visiting Victory Lane at 23.
  • Petty Enterprises and Joe Gibbs Racing have the most wins at Richmond in the NASCAR Cup Series with 15 victories each; followed by Hendrick Motorsports with 10 and Richard Childress Racing with nine.
  • Nine different manufacturers have won at Richmond. Chevrolet leads the series in wins at Richmond with 38 victories; followed by Ford (32), Dodge (17), Toyota (14), Pontiac (11) Plymouth (10), Buick (two), Oldsmobile (two) and Chrysler (one).

Additional Finishing Position Stats

  • A total of 57 different drivers have finished runner-up in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famers Bobby Allison and Richard Petty are tied for the series-most runner-up finishes at Richmond with nine each.
  • Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in series runner-up finishes at Richmond with seven.
  • A total of 135 different drivers have finished in the top-five in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in top-five finishes at Richmond with 34.
  • Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in top-five finishes at Richmond with 18; followed by Kevin Harvick (15) and Denny Hamlin (13).
  • A total of 234 different drivers have finished in the top-10 in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Richmond with 41.
  • Kevin Harvick leads all active drivers in top 10s at Richmond with 25; followed by Kyle Busch (22) and Ryan Newman (20).
  • Lee Petty (seven series starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Richmond Raceway with a 4.857.
  • Kyle Busch (29 series starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Richmond Raceway with a 6.8.

Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Richmond Raceway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Avg Finish Races Rank Active Drivers Avg Finish Races
1 Lee Petty 4.9 7 1 Kyle Busch 6.8 29
2 Tommy Irwin 5.3 3 2 Denny Hamlin 9.1 27
3 Paul Goldsmith 5.5 4 3 Kevin Harvick 9.8 38
4 Herb Thomas 6.0 2 4 Joey Logano 11.1 23
5 Rex White 6.3 10 5 Daniel Suarez 12.2 6
6 Glen Wood 6.3 3 6 Ryan Newman 12.3 36
7 Speedy Thompson 6.4 5 7 Clint Bowyer 12.5 28
8 Ned Jarrett 6.8 13 8 Brad Keselowski 12.7 21
9 Kyle Busch 6.8 29 9 Chase Elliott 12.8 9
10 Billy Wade 7.0 3 10 Jimmie Johnson 14.9 36

Track / Event Specific Stats

  • Since the advent of electronic scoring, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway was the race on September 12, 1998 – won by Jeff Burton with a MOV of 0.051 second over second-place finisher Jeff Gordon.

Top Five Closest Margin of Victories at Richmond in the NASCAR Cup Series

Rank MOV Date Winner Runner-Up
1 0.051 Saturday, September 12, 1998 Jeff Burton Jeff Gordon
2 0.100 Saturday, September 7, 1996 Ernie Irvan Jeff Gordon
3 0.139 Saturday, September 10, 2011 Kevin Harvick Carl Edwards
4 0.153 Saturday, September 9, 2006 Kevin Harvick Kyle Busch
5 0.159 Saturday, May 6, 2000 Dale Earnhardt Jr Jeremy Mayfield

 

  • Five NASCAR Cup Series races have resulted in NASCAR Overtime at Richmond Raceway:
Date Scheduled Laps Actual Laps Overtime Laps Race Winner
Saturday, April 21, 2018 400 402 2 Kyle Busch
Saturday, September 9, 2017 400 404 4 Kyle Larson
Saturday, September 10, 2016 400 407 7 Denny Hamlin
Saturday, April 27, 2013 400 406 6 Kevin Harvick
Saturday, May 3, 2008 400 410 10 Clint Bowyer
  • Four NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond have been shortened due to weather conditions:
Date Scheduled Laps Actual Laps Fewer Laps Race Winner
Saturday, May 3, 2003 400 393 -7 Joe Nemechek
Sunday, February 21, 1982 400 250 -150 Dave Marcis
Sunday, February 27, 1977 400 245 -155 Cale Yarborough
Sunday, April 1, 1962 250 180 -70 Rex White
  • Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway eight times: 1955, 1962 (spring), 1967 (fall), 1986 (spring), 1997 (spring), 2008 (fall), 2014 (spring) and 2016 (spring).

Lap Leader Stats

  • In total 135 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have led at least one lap in a race at Richmond Raceway.
  • Richard Petty leads the series in laps led at Richmond Raceway with 5,136 laps led in 63 starts; followed by Rusty Wallace with 3,024 laps led.
  • Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers with 1,659 laps led; followed by Kyle Busch (1,484).

Top 10 Lap Leaders in the NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond Raceway

Rank All-Time Drivers Laps Led Completed % Led Starts
1 Richard Petty 5,136 21,135 24.30% 63
2 Rusty Wallace 3,024 16,730 18.08% 44
3 Bobby Allison 2,961 14,313 20.69% 38
4 Darrell Waltrip 2,172 18,741 11.59% 53
5 Dale Earnhardt 1,976 16,808 11.76% 44
6 Denny Hamlin 1,659 10,812 15.34% 27
7 Jeff Gordon 1,637 17,669 9.26% 47
8 Kyle Busch 1,484 11,682 12.70% 29
9 David Pearson 1,221 3,535 34.54% 13
10 Cale Yarborough 1,208 6,861 17.61% 22
  • Richard Petty has led the most laps (488 laps led of 500 = 97.6%) in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway and won (9/13/1970) – he started from the pole position.
  • Denny Hamlin has led the most laps (381 laps led of 407 = 93.6%) in a series race at Richmond and did not win; finishing 24th after starting from the pole.

Female Competitor Stats

  • Two female drivers have competed at Richmond in the NASCAR Cup Series – Danica Patrick and Janet Guthrie
Driver Starting Position Finishing Position Date Driver Rating
Danica Patrick 19 23 9/9/2017 63.5
Danica Patrick 21 18 4/30/2017 56.9
Danica Patrick 29 15 9/10/2016 66.4
Danica Patrick 21 24 4/24/2016 56.8
Danica Patrick 14 19 9/12/2015 61.1
Danica Patrick 21 25 4/26/2015 56.5
Danica Patrick 13 16 9/6/2014 75.5
Danica Patrick 35 34 4/26/2014 36.5
Danica Patrick 36 30 9/7/2013 39.1
Danica Patrick 30 29 4/27/2013 42.6
Averages 23.9 23.3   55.5
Driver Starting Position Finishing Position Date
Janet Guthrie 14 12 9/11/1977
Janet Guthrie 13 12 2/27/1977
Averages 13.5 12.0

NASCAR in Virginia

  • There has been a total of 526 NASCAR national series races among 10 tracks in the state of Virginia.
Track Name City Cup Xfinity Truck Total Races First Year
1 Martinsville Speedway Martinsville 143 34 42 220 1949
2 Richmond Raceway Richmond 127 72 12 213 1953
3 South Boston Speedway South Boston 10 35 3 48 1960
4 Langley Field Speedway Hampton 9 14 0 23 1964
5 Old Dominion Speedway Manassas 7 0 0 7 1958
6 New River Valley Speedway Dublin 0 4 0 4 1989
7 Southside Speedway Richmond 4 0 0 4 1961
8 Starkey Speedway Roanoke 4 0 0 4 1958
9 Norfolk Speedway Norfolk 2 0 0 2 1956
10 Princess Anne Speedway Norfolk 1 0 0 1 1953
Totals 307 159 57 526

Virginia Drivers In NASCAR

  • A total of 182 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Virginia.
  • 19 drivers from the state of Virginia have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series.
  • 11 of the 19 Virginia native NASCAR winners have won in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Race Winners Cup Xfinity Truck Combined
1 Denny Hamlin 43 17 2 62
2 Joe Weatherly 25 0 0 25
3 Ricky Rudd 23 1 0 24
4 Jeff Burton 21 27 0 48
5 Curtis Turner 17 0 0 17
6 Ward Burton 5 4 0 9
7 Glen Wood 4 0 0 4
8 Elliott Sadler 3 13 1 17
9 Emanuel Zervakis 2 0 0 2
10 Lennie Pond 1 0 0 1
11 Wendell Scott 1 0 0 1
12 Tommy Ellis 0 22 0 22
13 Jimmy Hensley 0 9 2 11
14 Rick Mast 0 9 0 9
15 Hermie Sadler 0 2 0 2
16 Elton Sawyer 0 2 0 2
17 Stacy Compton 0 0 2 2
18 Jon Wood 0 0 2 2
19 Jeb Burton 0 0 1 1
Totals 145 106 10 261

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