Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, going into the Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet on Sunday, September 29, at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Fast Facts: Race #4 (Kansas Speedway)

• The 2024 season marks the second-time the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 12 has opened at Kansas Speedway (2014, 2024), and it is the fifth-time Kansas Speedway has hosted the fourth race in 10-race Playoffs (Race No. 30 of the season: 2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2024).
• Kansas Speedway (2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2024), is one of seven different tracks to host the fourth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, alongside Talladega Superspeedway (2006, 2007, 2008, 2012), Auto Club Speedway (2009, 2010), Charlotte Motor Speedway (2015, 2016, 2017), Dover Motor Speedway (2018, 2019), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (2020, 2021) and Texas Motor Speedway (2022-2023).
• Since the inception of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in 2004, Kansas Speedway has participated in the postseason each year – a total of 20 Playoff races (2004-2023).
• Kansas Speedway has occupied seven different positions on the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff schedule:
• From 2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014 and again in 2024 Kansas Speedway has hosted the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
• From 2006-2010 Kansas Speedway hosted the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
• From 2015-2016 Kansas hosted the fifth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
• Then in 2012, 2017, 2018 and 2019 Kansas Speedway hosted the sixth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
• In 2020, Kansas Speedway hosted the seventh race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
• In 2021, Kansas Speedway hosted the eighth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
• From 2022-2023, Kansas Speedway hosted the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
• A total of 15 different drivers have won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs., led by Jimmie Johnson with three postseason victories (2009, 2011, 2016). Joey Logano leads all active drivers with two wins (2014, 2015).

• Six of the 15 drivers that have won the fourth Playoff race in the NASCAR Cup Series are active in the postseason this weekend – William Byron (2023), Tyler Reddick (2022), Denny Hamlin (2021), Kyle Larson (2019), Chase Elliott (2018) and Joey Logano (2014, 2015).
• Three times a non-Playoff driver has won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs: 2004, 2006, 2022.
• In 2004, Joe Nemechek won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Kansas Speedway, he was ranked 21st in the point standings at the time of the victory.
• In 2006, Brian Vickers won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway, he was ranked 16th in points at the time of the victory.
• In 2022, Tyler Reddick won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway. Reddick had qualified for the postseason but was eliminated from the Playoffs in the Round of 16, he was ranked 13th in points at the time of the victory.
• Three times the winner of the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs has gone on to win the Cup title in the same season: 2009, 2016 and 2017.
• In 2009, Jimmie Johnson won the fourth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Auto Club Speedway and went on to win his fourth-straight series title in the same season. The victory was his second of four wins during his postseason run that season.
• In 2016, Jimmie Johnson won at Charlotte Motor Speedway (oval) and went on to win his record tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series title that same season. The win was Johnson’s first of three that postseason.
• In 2017, Martin Truex Jr. won at Charlotte Motor Speedway and went on to win the series title the same season. It was his first of three wins that postseason.
• The worst finish by a driver in the fourth NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race that later went on to win the title that same season was a 24th-place finish by Jimmie Johnson in 2006 at Talladega Superspeedway.
• The worst finish by the eventual champion in the fourth race of the Playoffs at Kansas Speedway was 15th by Tony Stewart in 2011.
• The worst finish by the eventual champion in the fourth race of the Playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway was 24th by Jimmie Johnson in 2006.
• The worst finish by the eventual champion in the fourth race of the Playoffs at Auto Club Speedway was third by Jimmie Johnson in 2010.
• The worst finish by the eventual champion in the fourth race of the Playoffs at Charlotte Motor Speedway was 20th by Kyle Busch in 2015.
• The worst finish by the eventual champion in the fourth race of the Playoffs at Dover Motor Speedway was sixth by Kyle Busch in 2019.
• The worst finish by the eventual champion in the fourth race of the Playoffs at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was 22nd by Chase Elliott in 2020.
• The worst finish by the eventual champion in the fourth race of the Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway was a 38th-place finish by Jimmie Johnson in 2009.
• Last season, Ryan Blaney finished 28th in the fourth race of the Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win the title later that same year.
• A total of 14 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Kansas Speedway, and five of the 14 are active in the postseason this weekend at Kansas – Joey Logano (three wins), Chase Elliott. Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick (each have one).
• Team Penske’s 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 Kansas Playoff wins: Tony Stewart (2006, 2009), Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2011), Greg Biffle (2007, 2010) and Kevin Harvick (2013, 2016).

• 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick, is the most recent Playoff race winner at Kansas Speedway (2023), and his teammate Bubba Wallace won in 2022.

NASCAR Cup Series 2024 Top 12 in the Playoff Standings at Kansas Speedway

 * – Based on last 32 races at Kansas Speedway (2005 – 2024).

Kansas Speedway Stats & Tidbits:

TRACK & RACE DATA
Season Race #: 30 of 36 (09-29-24)
NCS Playoff Race #: 4 of 10
The Purse: $9,222,964
Track Size: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval
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

QUALIFYING & RACE RECORD DATA

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

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

2023 Pole Winner: Christopher Bell, Toyota, 180.276 mph, 29.954 secs., September 9, 2023

2023 Race Winner: Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 123.569 mph, (03:14:28), September 10, 2023

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).
• In total, there have been 37 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, one event from 2001 – 2010 and two races per year since 2011. Of those 37 race 20 have been Playoff events.

STARTS

• A total of 172 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway; 133 drivers have competed in more than one.
• Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Kansas Speedway with 36 starts.
• Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Kansas Speedway with 33 starts.
• Top five all-time in starts at Kansas: Kevin Harvick (36), Kurt Busch (33), Kyle Busch (33), Denny Hamlin (32), Martin Truex Jr. (32) and Ryan Newman (32).
• Six drivers all-time have made their first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Kansas Speedway:
• Matt Mills (May 2, 2021)
• Erik Jones (May 9, 2015)
• Ryan Blaney (May 10, 2014)
• Austin Dillon (October 9, 2011)
• Denny Hamlin (October 9, 2005)
• Sheldon Creed (September 10, 2023)
• 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 two starts.
• Christopher Bell leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Kansas with a 9.0 in nine starts.

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, seven 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).
• Christopher Bell leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Kansas Speedway with three (2022-1, 2023-2, 2024-1).
• 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.
• Christopher Bell (two straight: 2023-2024), Jimmie Johnson (two straight: 2007-2008) and Kevin Harvick (three-straight: fall of 2013-2014 sweep) are the only three 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 organizations have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway; seven of the 13 are active this weekend.

• Hendrick Motorsports leads the Cup Series in poles at Kansas Speedway with six poles among four drivers – Jimmie Johnson (2003, 2007, 2008), Mark Martin (2009), Kasey Kahne (2012) and William Byron (2023).
• Four manufacturers have won poles at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, led by Chevrolet with 13; followed by Ford (nine), Toyota (seven) and Dodge (four).

WINS

• A total of 19 different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway; 12 of the 19 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).
• Not one NASCAR Cup Series driver has 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 37 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway (18.8%) have been won from the pole or first starting position; the most proficient starting spot in the field.
• Six different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won from the pole or first starting position at Kansas Speedway, Kevin Harvick is the only driver to accomplish the feat twice (2013, 2018).
• 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 37 NASCAR Cup Series races have been won from the front row (24.32%).
• 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 starts at Kansas Speedway without visiting Victory Lane with 26 starts; followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with 23 and Austin Dillon with 22.
• A total of nine different organizations have won a race in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.

• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series wins at Kansas Speedway with nine victories among four drivers: Jeff Gordon (three: 2001, 2002 and 2014), Jimmie Johnson (three: 2008, 2011 and 2015), Chase Elliott (one: Playoffs 2018) and Kyle Larson (two: Playoffs 2021, 2024).
• Three organizations have won consecutive Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway – Hendrick Motorsports (2001-2002), Furniture Row Racing (2017 sweep), Joe Gibbs Racing (2019-2020), 23XI Racing (2022 sweep).
• Four manufacturers have won at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by Chevrolet with 14 victories, Toyota has 12, Ford with nine, and Dodge has two.
• The most consecutive NASCAR Cup Series wins by a manufacturer at Kansas Speedway is four straight wins by Toyota from 2022 (sweep) and 2023 (sweep).

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes

• A total of 21 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.
• Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Larson lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in runner-up finishes at Kansas Speedway with three second-place finishes each.

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

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 42 different drivers have finished in the top-five at Kanas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Kansas Speedway with 14 top fives.

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

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 63 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.
• Martin Truex Jr. leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway with 18.

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.
• Chase Elliott (17 starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway with an average finishing position with a 10.176.

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

LAP LEADERS

• A total of 80 different drivers have led at least one lap in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.
• Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Kansas Speedway with 949 laps led in 36 starts.
• Martin Truex Jr. leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in laps led at Kansas Speedway with 906 in 32 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 two of the 268 scheduled laps (0.7%) by Tyler Reddick on September 10, 2023 – he started the race from the fifth 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 0.001-second – the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history. The race was held on May 5, 2024 -. With Kyle Larson beating Chris Buescher to the finish line.

Top Five Closest Margins of Victory at Kansas Speedway

Top Five Largest Margins of Victory at Kansas Speedway

• In the 37 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, six have resulted in NASCAR Overtime (16.2%):

• Only one of the 37 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions:

• Of the 37 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.
• The NASCAR Cup Series events from 2019-2021 had their qualifying sessions cancelled due to the pandemic.
• The NASCAR Cup Series Kansas race has never been postponed to another date due to weather conditions.

NASCAR IN KANSAS

• There have been a total of 94 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 DRIVERS 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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