Statistical Advance: Analyzing the South Point 400

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada, going into the South Point 400 on Sunday, October 12 at 5:30 p.m. ET on USA, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90) – the seventh race of the 10-race Playoffs and the first of the Round of 8.

LAS VEGAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

(Playoff Driver stats below are from 2005 – Present)

Denny Hamlin

(No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

• One win, six top fives, 14 top 10s
• Average Finish of 12.778, seventh-best
• Average Running Position of 12.609, ninth-best
• Driver Rating of 90.5, eighth-best
• 4,698 Laps in the Top 15 (64.8%), 10th-most

Ryan Blaney

(No. 12 Team Penske Ford)

• Six top fives, 10 top 10s, one pole
• Average Finish of 13.889, ninth-best
• Average Running Position of 12.455, seventh-best
• Driver Rating of 92.6, seventh-best
• 3,372 Laps in the Top 15 (69.9%), seventh-most

Kyle Larson

(No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

• Three wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s
• Average Finish of 9.389, series-best
• Average Running Position of 10.185, third-best
• Driver Rating of 105.5, series-best
• 3,691 Laps in the Top 15 (76.5%), third-most

William Byron

(No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

• One win, four top fives, eight top 10s
• Average Finish of 13.600, eighth-best
• Average Running Position of 11.073, fifth-best
• Driver Rating of 97.1, sixth-best
• 3,027 Laps in the Top 15 (75.3%), fifth-most

Christopher Bell

(No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

• Three top fives, five top 10s, three poles
• Average Finish of 16.909, 13th-best
• Average Running Position of 15.302, 13th-best
• Driver Rating of 84.9, 12th-best
• 1,676 Laps in the Top 15 (56.8%), 13th-most

Chase Elliott

(No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

• Three top fives, six top 10s
• Average Finish of 19.000, 18th-best
• Average Running Position of 12.549, eighth-best
• Driver Rating of 88.9, ninth-best
• 3,057 Laps in the Top 15 (71.3%), sixth-most

Chase Briscoe

(No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

• One top five, one top 10
• Average Finish of 22.111, 27th-best
• Average Running Position of 22.757, 28th-best
• Driver Rating of 56.0, 30th-best
• 551 Laps in the Top 15 (22.8%), 27th-most

Joey Logano

(No. 22 Team Penske Ford)

• Four wins, eight top fives, 14 top 10s, three poles
• Average Finish of 9.750, third-best
• Average Running Position of 9.898, series-best
• Driver Rating of 100.8, second-best
• 5,249 Laps in the Top 15 (81.5%), series-most

NASCAR Cup Series 2025 Top 8 in the Driver Standings at Las Vegas

* – Based on last 28 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (2005 – 2025).

NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Fast Facts: Race #7 (Las Vegas)

• This season will be the eighth-time Las Vegas Motor Speedway has hosted a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race (2018-2025).
• The 2025 season marks the fourth-time the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 8 has opened at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Race No. 33 of the season and seventh of the postseason).
• In total Las Vegas Motor Speedway has occupied three different spots on the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff schedule – from 2018 to 2019 Las Vegas hosted the first race of the Playoffs, then from 2020 to 2021 the 1.5-mile track hosted the fourth race of the Playoffs, since 2022 Las Vegas has hosted the seventh race in the Playoffs (2022-2025).
• Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the sixth different track to host the seventh race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs (2022-2024); joining Atlanta Motor Speedway (2004-2008), Talladega Superspeedway (2009-2010), Martinsville Speedway (2011-2019), Kansas Speedway (2020) and Texas Motor Speedway (2021).
• A total of six different drivers have won the seven previous NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, led by Joey Logano with two Las Vegas Playoff race victories (2022, 2024).
• Of the six different Las Vegas Playoff race winners, three are currently in the Cup Series Playoffs this weekend – Denny Hamlin (2021 winner), Joey Logano (2022 & 2024 winner) and Kyle Larson (2023 winner).

• A non-Playoff driver hasn’t won a NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
• Team Penske crew chief Paul Wolfe leads all NASCAR Cup Series crew chiefs in Playoff wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with three (with Brad Keselowski in 2018 and Joey Logano in 2022, 2024).
• Team Penske (2018, 2022, 2024) leads the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with three.
• Twice the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has gone on to win the title in the same season. Below are the finishes by the eventual champion in Las Vegas Motor Speedway Playoff race:

o   4th by Joey Logano in 2018 – the first race of the Playoffs.

o   19th by Kyle Busch in 2019 – the first race of the Playoffs.

o   22nd by Chase Elliott in 2020 – the fourth race of the Playoffs.

o   1st by Kyle Larson in 2021 – the fourth race of the Playoffs.

o   1st by Joey Logano in 2022 – the seventh race of the Playoffs.

o   6th by Ryan Blaney in 2023 – the seventh race of the Playoffs.

o   1st by Joey Logano in 2024 – the seventh race of the Playoffs.

• The worst finish by a driver in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that later went on to win the title that same season was a 22nd-place finish by Chase Elliott in 2020 – then the fourth race in the Playoffs.
• A total of 11 different drivers have won the seventh race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson (Atlanta: 2004, 2007 and Martinsville: 2012, 2016) and Joey Logano (Martinsville: 2018; Kansas: 2020; Las Vegas: 2022, 2024) with four postseason victories each.
• Of the 11 former Playoff race winners, only two current Playoff drivers have won the seventh race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs – Joey Logano (four wins) and Kyle Larson (two wins),

• A non-Playoff driver has won the seventh race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs three times – 2006, 2009 and 2010.

o   In 2006, Tony Stewart won the seventh race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Atlanta Motor Speedway, he was 11th in points at the time of the win.

o   In 2009, Jamie McMurray won the seventh race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway, he was ranked 22nd in the points at the time of the win.

o   In 2010, Clint Bowyer won the seventh race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway, he was 12th in the points at the time of the win.

• NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Chad Knaus leads all crew chiefs in the Cup Series in wins in the seventh race of the Playoffs with four victories (all with driver Jimmie Johnson – Atlanta: 2004, 2007 and Martinsville: 2012, 2016).
• Hendrick Motorsports leads all organizations in the Cup Series in wins in the seventh race of Cup Playoffs with nine (2004, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2023).
• Seven times the winner of the seventh NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race has gone on to win the championship later that same season – 2007, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2022.

o   In 2007, Jimmie Johnson won from the sixth starting position at Atlanta Motor Speedway and went on to win his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship. The win was the second of four consecutive Playoff victories he put up en route to the title (Martinsville, Atlanta, Texas and Phoenix).

o   In 2011, Tony Stewart won from the fourth starting position at Martinsville Speedway and went on to win his third NASCAR Cup Series championship. The victory was his third of a record setting five Playoff wins season en route to the title.

o   In 2016, Jimmie Johnson won from the third starting position at Martinsville Speedway and went on to win his record tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship. The victory was his second of three Playoff wins en route to the title.

o   In 2018, Joey Logano won from the 10th starting position at Martinsville Speedway and went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship. It was his first of two Playoffs wins that season (Las Vegas, Miami).

o   In 2021, Kyle Larson won from the pole at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to win his first career NASCAR Cup Series championship. The victory was his third of a record tying five Playoff wins season en route to the title.

o   In 2022, Joey Logano won from the fifth starting position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and went on to win his second NASCAR Cup Series championship (2018, 2022). It was his first of only two Playoffs wins that season (Las Vegas, Phoenix).

o   In 2024, Joey Logano won from the 10th starting position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and went on to win his third NASCAR Cup Series championship (2018, 2022, 2024). It was his second of three Playoffs wins that season (Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix).

• The worst finish by a driver in the seventh NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race that later went on to win the title that same season was at Atlanta Motor Speedway (2004-2008) when Kurt Busch posted a 42nd-place finish in the 2004 Atlanta race, then the seventh race in the Playoffs, and went on to win the title that same season. The finish was due to an engine failure.

At Las Vegas Motor Speedway Stats & Tidbits:

TRACK DATA

Track Size/Type: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval

Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 20 degrees

Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 20 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch & Backstretch: 9 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 2,275 feet

Backstretch Length: 1,572 feet

RACE DATA

Season Race #: 33 of 36 (October 12, 2025)

Playoff Race #: 7 of 10 (Round of 8)

The Purse: $9,797,935

Race Length: 267 laps (400.5 miles)

Stage 1 Length: 80 laps

Stage 2 Length: 85 laps

Final Stage Length: 102 laps

Las Vegas Qualifying & Race Data:

Track Qualifying Record:

Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet, 196.328 MPH. 27.505 secs., March 4, 2016

Track Race Record:

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, 154.849 MPH, (02:35:11), March 3, 2019

2024 Playoff Race Pole Winner:

Chrsitopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 185.344 MPH, 29.135 secs., October 19, 2024

2024 Playoff Race Winner:

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford, 139.385 MPH, (02:52:24), October 20, 2024

HISTORY

• The construction to build Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) began in April of 1995 and the site was originally owned by racing enthusiasts Ralph Engelstad and Bill Bennett, both hotel/casino CEOs in the area.
• Las Vegas Motor Speedway is located on a 1,600-acre site just north of Las Vegas Blvd. near Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Construction concluded on the track in June of 1996.
• 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 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was held on March 1, 1998. NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett won the pole for the event driving for Robert Yates Racing, and NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin won the race driving a Ford for RFK Racing.
• Speedway Motorsports (SM) acquired the property in December of 1998.
• In 2006, Speedway Motorsports launched a multi-million dollar project for the track that included adding the Neon Garage, the new media center and the track itself was reconfigured to include progressive banking.
• In total there have been 35 NASCAR Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 1.5-mile track has hosted one race per season from 1998 to 2017.
• The 2018 season marked the first time Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted two Cup Series events in a single season and joined the Playoffs. Las Vegas has hosted a Playoff race each season since 2018.

STARTS

• In total 183 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway; 148 have competed in more than one race.
• Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with 29 career starts.
• Kyle Busch leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Las Vegas with 28 career starts.
• Top five all-time in Cup Series starts at Las Vegas: Kevin Harvick (29), Kyle Busch (28), Denny Hamlin (27), Martin Truex Jr. (26), Kurt Busch (25).   
• A total of seven different drivers have made their NASCAR Cup Series career debut at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

• Of the seven drivers that made their first career NASCAR Cup Series start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Cole Custer put up the best finish in his series debut with a 25th-place finish in 2018.
• Austin Cindric leads all NASCAR Cup Series drivers in average starting position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a 7.143 in seven starts.

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

POLES

• A total of 20 different drivers have won the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway; seven of the 20 pole winners have won multiple poles at Las Vegas
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett won the NASCAR Cup Series inaugural pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 1998 with a speed of 168.224 MPH (32.773 secs.) driving a Yates Racing Ford.
• Of the 20 NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, eight are active this weekend:

• Kasey Kahne (2004, 2007, 2012), Joey Logano (2014, 2023, 2024) and Christopher Bell (2022, 2023, 2024) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with three each.
• Kyle Busch is the only driver to win consecutive Cup Series poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway from 2008-2009.
• Youngest Cup Series Las Vegas pole winner: Erik Jones (Sept. 16, 2018 – 22 years, 3 months, 17 days).
• Oldest Cup Series Las Vegas pole winner: Dale Jarrett (March 4, 2001 – 44 years, 3 months, 6 days).
• Two NASCAR Cup Series drivers have posted his first career pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:

o   Kasey Kahne (March 7, 2004)

o   Christopher Bell (March 6, 2022).

• A total of 10 different organizations have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, led by Joe Gibbs Racing with eight poles.

o   Joe Gibbs Racing has eight poles among four drivers at Las Vegas – Bobby Labonte (1998, 2003), Kyle Busch (2008, 2009), Erik Jones (2018), and Christopher Bell (2022, 2023, 2024).

• In total five different manufacturers have won a pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by Ford with 13 poles, and followed by Chevrolet (six poles), Toyota (six), Dodge (four) and Pontiac (one).
• The longest streak of consecutive poles won by a manufacturer in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was three straight by Ford from 2000-2002.

WINS

• A total of 19 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and nine of the 19 winners have won more than once at the 1.5-mile track.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2010) and Joey Logano (2019, 2020, 2022, 2024) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with four victories each.
• Of the 19 NASCAR Cup Series race winners at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, eight of them are active this weekend.

• Youngest LVMS Cup Series winner: Kyle Busch (March 01, 2009 – 23 years, 9 months, 27 days).
• Oldest LVMS Cup Series winner: Sterling Marlin (March 03, 2002 – 44 years, 7 months, 32 days).
• Three drivers have won consecutive races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series: Jeff Burton (1999, 2000); Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004) and Jimmie Johnson, who is the only driver to win three consecutive races (2005, 2006 and 2007).
• A total of 18 different starting positions in the NASCAR Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway have resulted in race wins.
• 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 more winners (seven) than any other starting position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – with a winning percentage of 20%.
• A total of eight of the 35 NASCAR Cup Series Las Vegas races (22.86%) have been won from the front row.
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is 25th, by Matt Kenseth in 2004 driving for RFK Racing.
• The deepest in the field that an active race winner has started at Las Vegas is 13th (twice); by Brad Keselowski in 2018 and Alex Bowman in 2022.
• A total of five of the 35 NASCAR Cup Series Las Vegas races (14.29%) have been won from outside the top-20.

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

• Eight of the 19 NASCAR Cup Series winners 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.
• One NASCAR Cup Series driver has won his first career race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Josh Berry (2025).
• A total of 20 different crew chiefs have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, led by Paul Wolfe with six victories.
• A total of eight different organizations have won a race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.

• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with 10 victories among five drivers: Jeff Gordon (2001), Jimmie Johnson (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010), Kyle Larson (2021, 2023, 2024), Alex Bowman (2022), William Byron (2023).
• Four manufacturers have visited Victory Lane in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, led by Ford with 16 wins, followed by Chevrolet (13), Toyota (five) and Dodge (one).

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes:

• A total of 23 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished runner-up at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and nine of 23 have finished runner-up multiple times.
• Kyle Larson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Las Vegas with four.

Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 52 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished inside the top-five at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 32 of the 52 have multiple top-five finishes.
• Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Las Vegas with 12 top fives.

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

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 77 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished inside the top-10 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and 52 of the 77 have finished inside the top-10 multiple times.
• Martin Truex Jr. leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with 17 top 10s.

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

Average Finish:

• NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in average finishing position at Las Vegas with a 7.667.
• Kyle Larson leads all active drivers in the Cup Series in average finishing position at Las Vegas with an 9.389 in 18 starts.

Top Five in Average Finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

LAP LEADERS

• A total of 90 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have led at least one lap at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
• Kyle Larson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with 690 laps led in 18 starts.
• The most laps led by the race winner in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is 214 of the scheduled 267 laps (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 Motor Speedway is just one lap of the scheduled 270 laps by Jimmie Johnson on March 12, 2006. Johnson passed Matt Kenseth on the final lap in NASCAR Overtime to win – he started third.
• The most laps led by a driver that did not win in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was 219 of the scheduled 267 laps (82%) by Jeff Gordon on February 28, 2010 – he started second and finished third.

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

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.

• Katherine Legge is entered this weekend and will attempt to become the third female driver to compete at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.  

TRACK SPECIFIC STATS

• The closest Margin of Victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the March 12, 2006 race won by Jimmie Johnson over Matt Kenseth by a margin of 0.045-second.

Top 10 Closest Margins of Victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas

• The largest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is 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

• Twice the NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has ended under caution – in 2000 (Jeff Burton won) and in 2020 (Joey Logano won).
• Five times the NASCAR Cup Series race has resulted with a NASCAR Overtime finish at Las Vegas:

• Only one NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas has ended early due to weather:

• Qualifying has been cancelled five times at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series:

• The most leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is 16, set on March 11, 2007.
• The fewest leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is six and it has happened twice on March 12, 2017 and March 4, 2018.
• The most lead changes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is 32, set on March 16, 2025.
• The fewest lead changes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is 11, set on March 4, 2018.

NASCAR IN NEVADA

• There has been a total of 105 NASCAR national series races among two tracks in the state of Nevada.

• 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 31 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Nevada.
• A total of six drivers with their home state recorded as Nevada have won at least one NASCAR national series race.
• Kyle Busch leads all drivers from the state of Nevada in NASCAR national series wins with 232 combined victories.

— NASCAR —