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Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Pennzoil 400

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada, going into the Pennzoil 400 on Sunday, March 6 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Data
Season Race #: 3 of 36 (03-06-22)
Track Size: 1.5-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 20 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 20 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 9 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  2,275 feet
Backstretch Length:  1,572 feet
Race Length: 267 laps (400.5 miles)
Stage 1 Length: 80 laps
Stage 2 Length: 85 laps
Final Stage Length: 102 laps

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Stats & Tidbits:

HISTORY

  • The construction to build the facility known today as Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) began in 1995. Speedway Motorsports Inc. acquired the property in 1998.
  • The first NASCAR race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was an ARCA Menards Series West race won by Ken Schrader on November 2, 1996.
  • The first NASCAR Cup Series race was held on March 1, 1998. NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Jarrett won the pole for the event and Mark Martin won the race.
  • In 2006, the track was reconfigured to include progressive banking.
  • In total there have been 28 NASCAR Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
  • The 1.5-mile track has hosted one race per season from 1998 to 2017. Starting in 2018, Las Vegas has hosted two NASCAR Cup Series events per year.

STARTS

  • In total 170 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway; 138 have competed in more than one.
  • Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with 25 starts.
  • A total of six drivers have made their NASCAR Cup Series career debut at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Stanton Barrett (1999), Kyle Busch (2004), Timmy Hill (2012), Jon Wood (2007), Aric Almirola (2007) and Cole Custer (2018).
  • Daniel Hemric (two starts) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a 5.5.

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Las Vegas (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Avg. Start Races Rank Active Drivers Avg Start Races
1 Daniel Hemric 5.500 2 1 Daniel Hemric 5.500 2
2 Kyle Larson 8.364 11 2 Kyle Larson 8.364 11
3 Joey Logano 8.824 17 3 Joey Logano 8.824 17
4 Chase Elliott 9.000 10 4 Chase Elliott 9.000 10
5 Kyle Busch 9.048 21 5 Kyle Busch 9.048 21
6 Jerry Nadeau 9.400 6 6 Kurt Busch 10.167 24
7 Kurt Busch 10.167 24 7 Brad Keselowski 10.824 17
8 Scott Riggs 10.800 7 8 Ryan Blaney 12.727 11
9 Brad Keselowski 10.824 17 9 Martin Truex Jr 13.750 20
10 Kasey Kahne 10.933 15 10 Austin Dillon 14.077 13

POLES

  • A total of 17 different drivers have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
  • Seven of the 17 NASCAR Cup Series Las Vegas Motor Speedway pole winners are active this weekend.
Active Pole Winners Poles Seasons
Kurt Busch 2 2016, 2010
Kyle Busch 2 2009, 2008
Kevin Harvick 1 2019
Ryan Blaney 1 2018
Erik Jones 1 2018
Brad Keselowski 1 2017
Joey Logano 1 2014
  • Kasey Kahne leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with three (2004, 2007, 2012).
  • Five drivers have multiple poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Kasey Kahne (three), Bobby Labonte, Dale Jarrett, Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch (two each).
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett won the series’ inaugural pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a speed of 168.224 mph (32.773 secs.).
  • Kyle Busch is the only driver to win consecutive poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (2008-2009).
  • Youngest Las Vegas Motor Speedway pole winner: Erik Jones (September 16, 2018 – 22 years, 3 months, 17 days).
  • Oldest Las Vegas Motor Speedway pole winner: Dale Jarrett (March 4, 2001 – 44 years, 3 months, 6 days).
  • Only one NASCAR Cup Series driver has posted his first career pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Kasey Kahne (03/07/2004).
  • Eight different organizations in the NASCAR Cup Series have won poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Rank Organization Poles
1 Joe Gibbs Racing 5
2 Team Penske 5
3 Robert Yates Racing 3
4 Stewart-Haas Racing 3
5 Evernham Motorsports 2
6 Hendrick Motorsports 2
7 Roush Fenway Racing 2
8 Travis Carter Motorsports 1
  • Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske are tied for the most NASCAR Cup Series pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with five each:
    • Joe Gibbs Racing – Bobby Labonte (1999, 2003), Kyle Busch (2008, 2009) and Erik Jones (2018).
    • Team Penske – Ryan Newman (2005), Kurt Busch (2010), Joey Logano (2014), Brad Keselowski (2017) and Ryan Blaney (2018).
  • Five manufactures have won a pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, led by Ford with 11 and followed by Chevrolet (4), Dodge (4), Toyota (3) and Pontiac (1).

WINS

  • A total of 16 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway among 28 races.
  • Eight of the 16 NASCAR Cup Series Las Vegas Motor Speedway winners are active this weekend.
Rank Active Race Winners Wins Seasons
1 Brad Keselowski 3 2018, 2016, 2014
2 Joey Logano 2 2020, 2019
3 Kevin Harvick 2 2018, 2015
4 Martin Truex Jr 2 2019, 2017
5 Denny Hamlin 1 2021
6 Kyle Larson 1 2021
7 Kurt Busch 1 2020
8 Kyle Busch 1 2009
  • Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with four victories (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010).
  • Brad Keselowski leads all active drivers in wins at Las Vegas with three victories (2014, 2016, 2018)
  •    Eight drivers (all-time) have multiple NASCAR Cup Series wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Jimmie Johnson (four), Matt Kenseth (three), Brad Keselowski (three), Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano and Carl Edwards (each have two).
  • Youngest Las Vegas Motor Speedway winner: Kyle Busch (Mar. 01, 2009 – 23 years, 9 months, 27 days).
  • Oldest Las Vegas Motor Speedway winner: Sterling Marlin (Mar. 03, 2002 – 44 years, 7 months, 32 days).
  • Three drivers have won consecutive races at Las Vegas: Jeff Burton (1999, 2000); Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004) and Jimmie Johnson, the only driver to win three consecutive races (2005, 2006 and 2007).
  • Las Vegas-native Kyle Busch became the first and only driver to win from the pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, he accomplished the feat on March 1, 2009.
  • The second starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing the more winners (four) than any other position.
  •    Five of the 28 Las Vegas races (17.86%) have been won from the front row: Kyle Busch, 2009 (pole); Carl Edwards, 2008 (second starting position); Brad Keselowski, 2014 (second starting position); Martin Truex Jr., 2017 (second starting position); Kevin Harvick, 2018 (second starting position).

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Starting Position Wins Winning % Starting Position Wins Winning %
1 1 3.57% 11 1 3.57%
2 4 14.29% 13 1 3.57%
3 3 10.71% 17 1 3.57%
4 1 3.57% 18 2 7.14%
5 1 3.57% 19 1 3.57%
6 1 3.57% 20 1 3.57%
7 2 7.14% 23 1 3.57%
9 2 7.14% 24 3 10.71%
10 1 3.57% 25 1 3.57%
Stats Winning % Wins
Winning from the Pole: 3.57% 1
Winning from the Front Row: 17.86% 5
Winning from a Top Five Starting Position: 35.71% 10
Winning from a Top 10 Starting Position: 57.14% 16
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 10: 42.86% 12
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20: 17.86% 5
  • The deepest in the field that a race winner has started is 25th, by Matt Kenseth in 2004.
  • Eight of the 16 NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have won at Las Vegas participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Mark Martin (1998; inaugural event) is the only driver to win at Las Vegas in his first appearance.
  • Ryan Newman leads the series among active drivers with the most starts at Las Vegas without visiting Victory Lane at 22 races; followed by Martin Truex Jr. with 18.
  • No NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won their first career race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
  • Five reigning NASCAR Cup Series champions have gone on to win at Las Vegas the following season: Matt Kenseth (2004), Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2010), Tony Stewart (2012), Kevin Harvick (2015), and Joey Logano (2019).
  • Five drivers have won a Las Vegas Motor Speedway race and the NASCAR Cup Series championship in the same season: Jeff Gordon (2001), Matt Kenseth (2003), Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2007, 2010), Martin Truex Jr. (2017), Kyle Larson (2021).
  • Seven different organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
Organizations Wins
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing 7
Hendrick Motorsports 6
Team Penske 5
Joe Gibbs Racing 4
Stewart-Haas Racing 3
Chip Ganassi Racing 2
Furniture Row Racing 1
  • Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with seven victories: Mark Martin (1998), Jeff Burton (1999, 2000), Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004), Carl Edwards (2008, 2011).
  • Four manufacturers have visited Victory Lane in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, led by Ford with 13 victories; followed by Chevrolet (nine), Toyota (five) and Dodge (one).

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Second-Place Finishes:

  • A total of 19 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished runner-up at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series in runner-up finishes at Las Vegas with three.
  • Brad Keselowski, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson lead all active drivers in second-place finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with two each.

Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (All-time)

Rank All-Time Drivers Runner-Ups Rank Active Drivers Runner-Ups
1 Dale Earnhardt Jr 3 1 Brad Keselowski 2
2 Brad Keselowski 2 Kevin Harvick 2
Kasey Kahne 2 Kyle Busch 2
Kevin Harvick 2 Kyle Larson 2
Kyle Busch 2 5 Chase Elliott 1
Kyle Larson 2 Joey Logano 1
Matt DiBenedetto 2 Martin Truex Jr 1
Tony Stewart 2

Top Fives:

  • A total of 42 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished inside the top-five at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
  • Kyle Busch leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with nine.

Top Five of Top-Five Finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Top Fives Rank Active Drivers Top Fives
1 Kyle Busch 9 1 Kyle Busch 9
2 Brad Keselowski 8 2 Brad Keselowski 8
3 Jimmie Johnson 7 3 Kevin Harvick 7
Kevin Harvick 7 Martin Truex Jr 7
Martin Truex Jr 7 5 Joey Logano 6

Top-10 Finishes:

  • A total of 67 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished inside the top-10 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
  • Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with 13 top 10s.

Top Five in Top 10 Finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (All-time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Top 10s Rank Active Drivers Top 10s
1 Kevin Harvick 13 1 Kevin Harvick 13
2 Brad Keselowski 12 2 Brad Keselowski 12
Kyle Busch 12 Kyle Busch 12
4 Joey Logano 11 4 Joey Logano 11
Martin Truex Jr 11 Martin Truex Jr 11

Average Finishing Positions:

  • NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a 7.667 in three starts.
  • Joey Logano leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with an 8.588 in 17 starts.

Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Las Vegas (All-Time and Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Avg Finish Races Rank Active Drivers Avg Finish Races
1 Dale Earnhardt 7.667 3 1 Joey Logano 8.588 17
2 Joey Logano 8.588 17 2 Ryan Blaney 8.818 11
3 Ryan Blaney 8.818 11 3 Kyle Larson 9.818 11
4 Ron Hornaday Jr 9.000 2 4 Martin Truex Jr 10.400 20
5 Kyle Larson 9.818 11 5 Brad Keselowski 10.588 17
6 Martin Truex Jr 10.400 20 6 Kyle Busch 11.524 21
7 Brad Keselowski 10.588 17 7 Denny Hamlin 12.300 20
8 Kyle Busch 11.524 21 8 Kevin Harvick 13.800 25
9 Jimmie Johnson 11.591 22 9 Austin Dillon 15.692 13
10 Jeff Burton 12.176 17 10 Chase Briscoe 17.500 2

LAP LEADERS

  • At total of 78 different drivers have led laps in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway; led by Kevin Harvick with 679 laps led in 23 starts
  • The most laps led by the race winner in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas is 214 of the scheduled 267 (80.1%) by Kevin Harvick on March 4, 2018; he started second.
  • The fewest laps led by the race winner in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas is just one (the last lap) of the scheduled 267 (0.004%) by Jimmie Johnson on March 12, 2006; he started third.
  • The most laps led by a driver that didn’t win in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas are 219 of the scheduled 267 (82%) by Jeff Gordon on February 28, 2010; he started second.

Top 10 Lap Leaders at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Rank All-Time Drivers Races Led Completed % Led
1 Kevin Harvick 25 679 6,342 11%
2 Jimmie Johnson 22 595 5,863 10%
3 Matt Kenseth 19 526 4,653 11%
4 Joey Logano 17 495 4,562 11%
5 Tony Stewart 17 482 4,187 12%
6 Jeff Gordon 18 457 4,551 10%
7 Denny Hamlin 20 323 5,337 6%
8 Brad Keselowski 17 313 4,487 7%
9 Martin Truex Jr 20 300 5,363 6%
10 Dale Earnhardt Jr 18 286 4,380 7%
Rank Active Drivers Races Led Completed % Led
1 Kevin Harvick 25 679 6,342 11%
2 Joey Logano 17 495 4,562 11%
3 Denny Hamlin 20 323 5,337 6%
4 Brad Keselowski 17 313 4,487 7%
5 Martin Truex Jr 20 300 5,363 6%
6 Kyle Busch 21 262 5,216 5%
7 Kyle Larson 11 224 2,936 8%
8 Chase Elliott 10 178 2,487 7%
9 Kurt Busch 24 137 6,133 2%
10 William Byron 8 71 2,075 3%

FEMALE COMPETITORS

  • Danica Patrick and Shawna Robinson are the only two female drivers to compete at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Danica Patrick holds the record for the best finish by a female competitor at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series with a 21st-place finish (twice) in 2014, 2016.
Driver Season Starting Position Finishing Position Driver Rating
Danica Patrick 2017 28 36 40.8
Danica Patrick 2016 18 21 54.9
Danica Patrick 2015 21 27 60.4
Danica Patrick 2014 22 21 58.0
Danica Patrick 2013 37 33 40.5
Averages   25.2 27.6 50.9
Driver Season Starting Position Finishing Position Driver Rating
Shawna Robinson 2002 36 42 N/A

TRACK SPECIFIC STATS

  • Three times the NASCAR Cup Series race has resulted with a NASCAR Overtime finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
Date Scheduled Laps Actual Laps NASCAR Overtime Winner Runner-Up
3/12/2006 267 270 3 Jimmie Johnson Matt Kenseth
9/16/2018 267 272 5 Brad Keselowski Kyle Larson
9/27/2020 267 268 1 Kurt Busch Matt DiBenedetto
  • Only one NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas has ended early due to weather:
Date Scheduled Laps Actual Laps No. of Fewer Laps Winner Runner-Up
3/5/2000 267 148 119 Jeff Burton Tony Stewart
  • Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather twice at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series:
    • In 2013: As a result, Brad Keselowski started from the first starting position.
    • February 2020: As a result, Kyle Busch started from the first starting position.
  • Qualifying has only been cancelled due to the pandemic three times at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series: Sept. 2020 and both races in 2021.
  • The closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the March 12, 2006 race won by Jimmie Johnson over Matt Kenseth by a margin of 0.045-second.

Top Five Closest Margins of Victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas

Smallest Margin of Victory Race Winner Runner-Up Date
0.045 Jimmie Johnson Matt Kenseth 3/12/2006
0.148 Kurt Busch Matt DiBenedetto 9/27/2020
0.236 Joey Logano Brad Keselowski 3/3/2019
0.411 Kyle Busch Clint Bowyer 3/1/2009
0.442 Denny Hamlin Chase Elliott 9/26/2021
  • The largest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the March 2, 2003 race won by Matt Kenseth over Dale Earnhardt Jr. by a margin of 9.104-seconds.

Top Five Largest Margins of Victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas

Largest Margin of Victory Race Winner Runner-Up Date
9.104 Matt Kenseth Dale Earnhardt Jr 3/2/2003
4.173 Martin Truex Jr Kevin Harvick 9/15/2019
3.426 Matt Kenseth Kasey Kahne 3/7/2004
3.156 Kyle Larson Brad Keselowski 3/7/2021
2.906 Kevin Harvick Kyle Busch 3/4/2018

Previous Race Stats at Las Vegas

Categories Last Race Most/Largest Fewest/Smallest
Cars: 38 43 – 18 Times (03/08/2015) 37 (03/04/2018)
Lead Changes: 21 28 (03/11/2007) 11 (03/04/2018)
Leaders: 10 16 (03/11/2007) 6 – 2 Times (03/04/2018)
Cautions: 4 14 (03/01/2009) 2 – 3 Times (03/03/2019)
Caution Laps: 21 66 (03/01/2009) 9 (03/01/1998)
Lead Lap Finish: 12 30 (03/12/2006) 9 (03/04/2018)
Running at Finish: 36 42 – 3 Times (03/08/2015) 29 (09/16/2018)
Laps Led (Winner): 137 214 (03/04/2018) 1 (03/12/2006)
Margin of Victory*: 0.442 9.104 (03/02/2003) 0.045 (03/12/2006)
* Since 1993 (advent of digital timing and scoring); does not include races completed under caution

NASCAR IN NEVADA

  • There has been a total of 87 NASCAR national series races among two tracks in the state of Nevada.
Track Name City Cup XFINITY Truck Total Races First Year
Las Vegas Motor Speedway Las Vegas 28 29 29 86 1996
Las Vegas Park Speedway Las Vegas 1 0 0 1 1955
Totals 29 29 29 87
  • The first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Nevada was at Las Vegas Park Speedway on October 16, 1955. Las Vegas Park Speedway was a 1-mile dirt track, and the event was 200 laps. Norm Nelson won the race driving a Chrysler.

NEVADA IN NASCAR

  • A total of 29 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Nevada.
  • Five drivers with their home state recorded as Nevada have won at least one NASCAR national series race.
  • Kyle Busch from Las Vegas, Nevada is the all-time leader in combined NASCAR national series wins with 222 victories.

Winning Driver from Nevada

Rank Nevada Drivers Cup Xfinity Truck Combined
1 Kyle Busch 59 102 61 222
2 Kurt Busch 33 5 4 42
3 Noah Gragson 0 5 2 7
4 Brendan Gaughan 0 2 8 10
5 Spencer Gallagher 0 1 0 1
Totals 92 115 75 282
  • Three drivers from Nevada have won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in NASCAR national series races:
    • Kyle Busch (Las Vegas) has won in all three of NASCAR’s national series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Cup once, Xfinity twice and Trucks three times for a total of six NASCAR national series wins at the 1.5-mile track.
    • Kurt Busch (Las Vegas) has won at Las Vegas in the NASCAR Cup Series (once).
    • Brendan Gaughan (Las Vegas) has won at Las Vegas in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (once).

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