Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Hollywood Casino 400

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, going into the Hollywood Casino 400 on Sunday, September 10, at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Fast Facts: Race #2 (Kansas Speedway)

• The 2023 season marks the second-time the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ second race has been hosted by Kansas Speedway.
• Kansas Speedway is the fourth different track in NASCAR Cup Series history to host the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs; joining Dover Motor Speedway (2004-2010), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2011–2017) and Richmond Raceway (2018-2021).
• A total of 14 different drivers have won the second race of the Playoffs, led by Jimmie Johnson with three wins (2005, 2009, 2010); followed by Kyle Busch (2017, 2018), Matt Kenseth (2013, 2015) and Martin Truex Jr. (2019, 2021) with two victories each.

• Since the inception of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2004, Kansas Speedway has participated in the postseason each year, and moving to the second race last season marked the seventh different position on the Playoff schedule the track has occupied:

1. From 2004, 2005, 2011, 2013 and 2014 Kansas Speedway hosted the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
2. From 2006-2010 Kansas Speedway hosted the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
3. From 2015-2016 Kansas hosted the fifth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
4. Then in 2012, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Kansas Speedway hosted the sixth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
5. In 2020, Kansas Speedway hosted the seventh race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
6. In 2021, Kansas Speedway hosted the eighth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
7. Since 2022, Kansas Speedway has hosted the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

• A total of 14 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Kansas Speedway:

• Joey Logano leads the NASCAR Cup Series in Playoff wins at Kansas Speedway with three postseason victories (2014, 2015, 2020); followed by four other drivers with multiple Kanas Playoff wins: Tony Stewart (2006, 2009), Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2011), Greg Biffle (2007, 2010) and Kevin Harvick (2013, 2016).
• The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff contender and 23XI Racing driver, Bubba Wallace, is the most recent Playoff race winner at Kansas Speedway (2022).
• Last season, 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace became the first non-Playoff driver to win the second race on the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ schedule (2004-2022). Wallace was ranked 20th in the standings at the time of the win.
• When Dover Motor Speedway hosted the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2004-2010), 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 tied with Kyle Larson, 2021) including the first two (Chicago and New Hampshire).
• None of the Playoff winners at Richmond Raceway (2018-2021) have gone on to win the title in the same season.
• The worst finish by a driver in the second race on the NASCAR Cup Playoffs schedule that went on to win the title that same season was:
  • At Dover Motor Speedway – the 2005 series champion, Tony Stewart, finished 18th.
  • At New Hampshire Motor Speedway – the 2015 series champion, Kyle Busch, finished 37th.
  • At Richmond – the 2018 series champion, Joey Logano, finished 14th.
  • Last season’s champion, Team Penske’s Joey Logano, finished 17th at Kansas Speedway, the second race of the 2022 Playoff schedule, and went on to win the title that same season.

• Twice the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway has gone on to win the title that same season:

1)     In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won the Kansas Speedway NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race from the pole, leading 124 laps, and then went on to win his third consecutive series title later that season. Kansas was the third race of the Playoffs in 2008. The Kansas win was the first of three Playoff wins for Johnson en route to the 2008 title.

2)     In 2017, Martin Truex Jr. won the Kansas Speedway NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race from the pole, leading 91 laps, and then went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title later that season. Kansas was the sixth race of the Playoffs in 2017. The Kansas win was the second of four Playoff victories for Truex en route to the championship in 2017.

• Four non-Playoff drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway:

1)     In 2004, Joe Nemechek won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway and was ranked 21st in the point standings at the time of the win.

2)     In 2006, NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway and was ranked 11th in point standings at the time of the victory.

3)     In 2007, Greg Biffle won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway and was 14th in points at the time of the win.

4)     In 2022, Bubba Wallace won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway and was 20th in points at the time of the win.

• The worst finish in a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Kansas Speedway by a driver that went on to win the championship later that same season was 17th by Joey Logano last season.

Kansas Speedway Stats & Tidbits:
Season Race #: 28 of 36 (10-10-23)
NCS Playoff Race #: 2 of 10
The Purse: $8,806,315
Track Size: 1.5-miles
Banking/Turns: 17 to 20 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 10 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  2,685 feet
Backstretch Length:  2,207 feet
Race Length: 267 laps / 400.5 miles
Stage 1 Length: 80 laps
Stage 2 Length: 85 laps
Final Stage Length: 102 laps

TRACK RECORD DATA

Track Qualifying Record: Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 197.773 mph, 27.304 secs. October 3, 2014

2022 Pole Winner: Tyler Reddick, Chevrolet, 180.608 mph, 29.899 secs., September 10, 2022

Track Race Record: Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 152.057 mph, (02:38:02), October 21, 2018

2022 Race Winner: Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 126.440 mph, (03:10:03), September 11, 2022

HISTORY

• Groundbreaking for Kansas Speedway was held on May 25, 1999.
• The official opening of Kansas Speedway was in 2001 with the first events being an ARCA Menards Series race and an ARCA Menards Series West race on the same day – June 2.
• The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway was on September 30, 2001 and the race was won by Hendrick Motorsport’s driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet).
• During the 2012 season, between the April and October events, the 1.5-mile track underwent a repave, adding variable banking in the corners (17 to 20 degrees).
• There have been 35 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, one event from 2001 – 2010 and two races per year since 2011.

STARTS

• A total of 165 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway; 131 drivers have competed in more than one.
• One driver has started all 35 NASCAR Cup Series races and leads the series in starts at Kansas Speedway – Kevin Harvick.
• Five drivers all-time have made their first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Kansas Speedway:

1)     Matt Mills (May 2, 2021)

2)     Erik Jones (May 9, 2015)

3)     Ryan Blaney (May 10, 2014)

4)     Austin Dillon (October 9, 2011)

5)     Denny Hamlin (October 9, 2005)

• Of the five drivers that made their NASCAR Cup Series debut at Kansas Speedway, Austin Dillon posted the best finish with a 26th-place result in 2011; after starting in the 26th starting spot.
• Jason Leffler leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Kansas Speedway with a 3.5 in three starts.
• Ryan Blaney leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Kansas with a 10.294 in 17 starts. Blaney is also ranked third on the all-time list.

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Kansas Speedway (All-Time & Active)

POLES

• A total of 19 different drivers have won the pole at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, six of the 19 have won multiple poles.
• Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Kansas Speedway with five poles (fall 2013, 2014 sweep, spring 2018 and spring 2019).
• A total of nine of the 19 NASCAR Cup Series Kansas Speedway pole winners are active this weekend.

• Jason Leffler won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Kansas Speedway in 2001 with a speed of 176.499 mph (Dodge) driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
• Jason Leffler (2001), Ryan Blaney (2017) and Daniel Hemric (2019) are the only three drivers to post their first-career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Kansas Speedway.
• Jimmie Johnson (two straight: 2007-2008) and Kevin Harvick (three-straight: fall of 2013-2014 sweep) are the only two drivers to win consecutive poles at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Youngest Cup Series Kansas pole winner: Ryan Blaney (May 13, 2017 – 23 years, 2 months, 43 days).
• Oldest Cup Series Kansas pole winner: Mark Martin (October 4, 2009 – 50 years, 8 months, 25 days).
• A total of 13 different NASCAR Cup Series organizations have won a pole at Kansas Speedway, led by Hendrick Motorsports with six poles among four drivers – Jimmie Johnson (2003, 2007, 2008), Mark Martin (2009), Kasey Kahne (2012), William Byron (2023).
• Four manufacturers have won poles at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by Chevrolet with 13 poles; followed by Ford (nine), Toyota (five) and Dodge (four).

WINS

• A total of 18 different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway; 11 of the 18 Kansas winners have won multiple Cup Series races at the 1.5-mile track.
• A total of nine of the 18 NASCAR Cup Series Kansas Speedway winners are active this weekend.

• Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Kansas Speedway with four victories (2012, 2019, 2020, 2023).
• Four other drivers are tied for the second-most wins all-time in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway with three victories each:
  • Jeff Gordon (2001, 2002, 2014)
  • Kevin Harvick (2013, 2016, 2018)
  • Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2011, 2015)
  • Joey Logano (2014, 2015, 2020)
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon won the first NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on September 30, 2001.
• Youngest Cup Series Kansas winner: Chase Elliott (October 21, 2018 – 22 years, 10 months, 23 days).
• Oldest Cup Series Kansas winner: Mark Martin (October 9, 2005 – 46 years, 9 months, 0 days).
• Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin are the only four NASCAR Cup Series drivers that have posted consecutive wins at Kansas Speedway:
  • Jeff Gordon (2001 and 2002) – the first two series events at Kansas
  • Matt Kenseth (fall 2012, spring 2013)
  • Martin Truex Jr. (2017 sweep)
  • Denny Hamlin (2019 Playoff race and 2020)

• NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon is the only NASCAR Cup series driver to win at Kansas in his first appearance (2001).
• No NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won their first career race at Kansas Speedway.
• A total of 18 different starting spots in the field have led to victories in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.
• A total of seven of the 35 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway (20%) have been won from the pole or first starting position; the most proficient starting spot in the field:
  • Joe Nemechek (2004)
  • Jimmie Johnson (2008)
  • Matt Kenseth (spring 2013)
  • Kevin Harvick (Playoffs 2013)
  • Martin Truex Jr. (Playoffs 2017)
  • Kevin Harvick (spring 2018)
  • Kyle Larson (Playoffs 2021)

• Nine of the 35 NASCAR Cup Series races have been won from the front row (25.7%).
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kansas Speedway is 25th, by Brad Keselowski in the spring of 2011.

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Kansas Speedway

• Michael McDowell leads the Cup Series in NASCAR Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 24 starts; followed by Aric Almirola with 23.
• A total of nine different organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.

• Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing are tied for the series most wins at Kansas Speedway with eight victories each.
  • Hendrick Motorsports has put up eight NASCAR Cup Series wins at Kansas Speedway among four different drivers: Jeff Gordon (three: 2001, 2002 and 2014), Jimmie Johnson (three: 2008, 2011 and 2015), Chase Elliott (one: Playoffs 2018) and Kyle Larson (one: Playoffs 2021).
  • Joe Gibbs Racing has put up eight NASCAR Cup Series wins at Kansas Speedway among four different drivers: Denny Hamlin (four: 2012, 2019, 2020, 2023), Kyle Busch (two: 2016, 2021), Matt Kenseth (2013) and Tony Stewart (2006).
• Four manufacturers have won at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by Chevrolet with 13 victories, Toyota has 11, Ford with nine, and Dodge has two.

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes

• A total of 20 different drivers have finished runner-up at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Kevin Harvick (2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Kansas Speedway with five second-place finishes.

Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Kansas Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 40 different drivers have finished in the top-five at Kanas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin lead the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Kansas Speedway with 12 top fives each.

Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Kansas Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 61 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have posted top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway.
• Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick lead the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway with 19 top 10s each.

Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Kansas Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Average Finish:

• NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace (five starts) leads the series in average finish at Kansas Speedway with an 8.200.
• Kevin Harvick (35 starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway with an average finishing position with a 9.914.

Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Kansas Speedway (All-Time & Active)

LAP LEADERS

• A total of 78 different drivers have led at least one lap in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway; 65 of the 78 have led multiple laps.
• Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Kansas Speedway with 949 laps led in 35 starts.
• The most laps led by the race winner in a single NASCAR Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway was 197 of the 272 scheduled laps (72.4%) by Jimmie Johnson on October 9, 2011 – he started the race from the 19th position.
• The most laps led by a driver that did not win in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway was 173 laps of the 267 scheduled laps (64.7%) by Martin Truex Jr. on April 22, 2012 – he started sixth and ultimately finished runner-up.
• The fewest laps led by the race winner in a single NASCAR Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway was five of the 267 scheduled laps (1.8%) by Tony Stewart on October 1, 2006 – he started the race from the 21st position.

Top 10 NASCAR Cup Series Lap Leaders at Kansas Speedway (All-Time & Active)

FEMALE COMPETITORS

• Danica Patrick is the only female driver that has competed at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series:
• Danica Patrick’s seventh-place finish (2014) at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series is the third-highest finish by a female driver in series history.
• Danica Patrick’s series career-best finish is sixth at Atlanta.
• The best finish by a female driver in the NASCAR Cup Series is Sarah Christian’s fifth-place finish (Heidelberg) in 1949.

TRACK / EVENT STATS

• Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway is 0.081-second from the October 10, 2004 race – the inaugural series event – Joe Nemechek beat Ricky Rudd.

Top Five Closest Margins of Victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway 

• Of the 35 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, four have resulted in NASCAR Overtime:

• Only one of the 35 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions:

• Of the 35 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Kansas Speedway, only the Sept. 30, 2007 event has ended under caution – weather – Greg Biffle won the event.
• Qualifying has never been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway, but it has been cancelled four times due to the pandemic – both races in 2020 and 2021.
• The NASCAR Cup Series Kansas Speedway race has never been postponed to another date due to weather conditions.

NASCAR IN KANSAS

• There has been a total of 89 NASCAR national series races among two tracks held in the state of Kansas.

• The first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Kansas was on July 29, 1995 at Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kansas. The event was a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race, and it was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr. (Chevrolet) driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc.

KANSAS IN NASCAR

• A total of 18 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Kansas.
• Of the 18 Kansas drivers, only two of them have won a NASCAR national series race; both have won in the NASCAR Cup Series.

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