Statistical Advance: Analyzing the Enjoy Illinois 300

Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, going into the Enjoy Illinois 300 this Sunday, September 13 at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

NASCAR Cup Series Chase Fast Facts: Race #2 (World Wide Technology Raceway)

• This season marks the second consecutive year that World Wide Technology Raceway will host the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason.
• This is also the second time World Wide Technology Raceway has hosted a NASCAR Cup Series postseason race (2025-2026).
• World Wide Technology Raceway is the sixth different track to host the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason:
  • Dover Motor Speedway (2004-2010)
  • New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2011–2017)
  • Richmond Raceway (2018-2021)
  • Kansas Speedway (2022-2023)
  • Watkins Glen International (2024)
  • World Wide Technology Raceway (2025-2026)
• A total of 16 different drivers have won the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason, led by Jimmie Johnson with three wins (2005, 2009, 2010); followed by Kyle Busch (2017, 2018), Matt Kenseth (2013, 2015), Martin Truex Jr. (2019, 2021) and with two victories each.

– Drivers that are bolded in the above chart went on to win title that season.

• The second race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason has been won by non-postseason drivers twice:
  • In 2022, 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace became the first non-Playoff driver to win the second race on the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ schedule (2004-2024) at Kansas Speedway. Wallace was ranked 20th in the standings at the time of the win.
  • In 2024, RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher became the second non-Playoff driver to win the second race on the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ schedule (2004-2024) at Watkins Glen International. Buescher was ranked 18th in points at the time of the win.
• Three times the winner of the second race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason has gone on to win the overall championship – 2009, 2010 (Jimmie Johnson), and 2011 (Tony Stewart).
  • When Dover Motor Speedway hosted the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series Chase (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 Chase/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 postseason winners at Richmond Raceway (2018-2021), Kansas Speedway (2022-2023) or Watkins Glen International (2024) when hosting the second race of the postseason went on to win the title in the same season.
• The worst finish by a driver in the second race of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason 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.
• At Kansas Speedway – the 2022 series champion, Joey Logano, finished 17th.
• At Watkins Glen, the 2024 series champion Joey Logano finished 15th.
• Last season at Gateway, the 2025 series champion Kyle Larson finished 12th.
• A total of 17 different crew chiefs have won the second race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason.
• Of the 17 crew chiefs with Cup Series victories in the second race of the postseason, only four have won it multiple times, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Chad Knaus (three wins), Adam Stevens (two), Darian Grubb (two) and Jason Ratcliff (two).
• Seven different organizations have won the second race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason, led by Joe Gibbs Racing with eight victories; followed by Hendrick Motorsports, Team Penske, RFK Racing (three each), 23XI Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing (two each) and Richard Childress Racing (one).

NASCAR Cup Series 2026 Top 16 in the Driver Standings at World Wide Technology Raceway

* – Based on four races at World Wide Technology Raceway (2022-2025).

World Wide Technology Raceway Stats & Tidbits:

TRACK & RACE DATA
Season Race #: 28 of 36 (Sept. 13, 2026)
Race Purse: $11,233,037
Track Size: 1.25-miles
Track Type: Paved asphalt oval
Banking in the Turns 1 & 2: 11 degrees
Banking in the Turns 3 & 4: 9 degrees
Race Length: 240 laps (300 miles)
Stage 1 Length: 45 laps
Stage 2 Length: 95 laps (ends on Lap 140)
Final Stage Length: 100 laps (ends on Lap 240)

QUALIFYING & RACE RECORDS

Track Qualifying Record:
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 139.190 mph, 32.330 seconds, Sept. 6, 2025

Track Race Record:
Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford, 133.889 mph, (2:48:03), June 2, 2024

2025 Pole Winner:
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 139.190 mph, 32.330 seconds, Sept. 6, 2025

2025 Race Winner:
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 98.262 mph, (3:03:11), Sept. 7, 2025

HISTORY

• Louis International Raceway was built in 1967 as a drag racing facility by Wayne and Ruth Meinert on the property that sits World Wide Technology Raceway today. The drag strip was 1/8 mile in length.
• In 1985 a road course was constructed on the property by then-owner Jody Trover. The road course had two configurations, the first measured 2.6 miles in length and the second was 1.010 miles. The road course was an asphalt circuit that had a 30 ft (9.1 m) track width and 55 pit boxes within the 880 foot pit lane.
• In 1994, Chris Pook, acquired the facility for $21.5 million. The existing tracks (drag strip and road course) were demolished over the course of 1995–1996 and a new oval speedway and drag strip were constructed at a cost of $25 million.
• The current 1.25-mile oval has a unique shape and different degrees of banking in each corner. The backstretch is confined to run parallel with Illinois Route 203, making Turns 1 & 2 a tighter radius than Turns 3 & 4.
• Turns 1 & 2 have similar characteristics to New Hampshire Motor Speedway while Turns 3 & 4 are similar to Phoenix Raceway. The track’s egg shape mimics the legendary Darlington Raceway.
• The first NASCAR national series race held at World Wide Technology Raceway was a NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race held on June 26, 1997. The event was won by Elliott Sadler.
• The first NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway took place on June 5, 2022 and the race was won by Joey Logano.
• World Wide Technology Raceway has hosted four NASCAR Cup Series races all-time (2022-2025).

STARTS

• A total of 49 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series points-paying race at World Wide Technology Raceway.
• A total of 40 of the 49 drivers have competed in more than one Cup Series race at WWTR.
• And 21 of the 49 drivers have competed in all four of the Cup races at WWTR.
• Two drivers have made their first career NASCAR Cup Series start at World Wide Technology Raceway.
  • Zane Smith in 2022 – he started 32nd and finished 17th.
  • Carson Hocevar in 2023 – he started 26th and finished 36th.
• Ryan Blaney leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at World Wide Technology Raceway with a 3.750 in four starts.

Top 10 NCS Drivers In Average Starting Position at WWTR (All-Time & Active)

POLES

• A total of four drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series pole at World Wide Technology Raceway – Chase Briscoe (2022), Kyle Busch (2023), Michael McDowell (2024), Denny Hamlin (2025).
• One driver has posted his first career NASCAR Cup Series pole at World Wide Technology Raceway – Chase Briscoe (June 4, 2022).
• Youngest pole winner at World Wide Technology Raceway: Chase Briscoe (June 4, 2022 – 27 years, 5 months and 21 days).
• Oldest pole winner at World Wide Technology Raceway: Denny Hamlin (Sept. 7, 2025 – 44 years, 9 months and 20 days).
• Four crew chiefs have won a pole at the World Wide Technology Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series: John Klausmeier (2022), Randall Burnett (2023), Travis Peterson (2024), and Chris Gayle (2025).
• Four organizations have won a pole at the World Wide Technology Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series:
  • Stewart-Haas Racing (Chase Briscoe, 2022)
  • Richard Childress Racing (Kyle Busch, 2023)
  • Front Row Motorsports (Michael McDowell, 2024)
  • Joe Gibbs Racing (Denny Hamlin, 2025)
• Three manufacturers have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at World Wide Technology Raceway: Ford (2022, 2024), Chevrolet (2023) and Toyota (2025).

WINS

• A total of four different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway – Joey Logano (2022), Kyle Busch (2023), Austin Cindric (2024) and Denny Hamlin (2025).
• Youngest Cup Series race winner at WWTR: Austin Cindric (June 2, 2024 – 25 years, 9 months and 0 days).
• Oldest Cup Series race winner at WWTR: Denny Hamlin (Sept. 7, 2025 – 44 years, 9 months and 20 days).
• Three different starting positions on the grid have led to victories in the NASCAR Cup Series at World Wide Technology Raceway:
  • Joey Logano won after starting from the seventh starting position in 2022.
  • Kyle Busch won from the pole or first starting position in 2023.
  • Austin Cindric won after starting from the second starting position in 2024.
  • Denny Hamlin won from the pole or first starting position in 2025.
• The first starting position is the most proficient starting position on the grid, having led to more victories (two) in the NASCAR Cup Series at World Wide Technology Raceway than any other starting position.
• The deepest in the field a race winner has started in a NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway is seventh by Joey Logano in 2022.
• None of the WWTR Cup races have been won from starting position outside the top 10.
• Four crew chiefs have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at World Wide Technology Raceway:
  • Paul Wolfe (Joey Logano, 2022)
  • Randall Burnett (Kyle Busch, 2023)
  • Brian Wilson (Austin Cindric, 2024)
  • Chris Gayle (Denny Hamlin, 2025)
• Three organizations have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at World Wide Technology Raceway:
  • Team Penske (Joey Logano, 2022 and Austin Cindric, 2024)
  • Richard Childress Racing (Kyle Busch, 2023)
  • Joe Gibbs Racing (Denny Hamlin, 2025)
• Three manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series at World Wide Technology Raceway:
  • Ford (2022 and 2024)
  • Chevrolet (2023)
  • Toyota (2025)

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes:

• Two drivers have finished runner-up in the four NASCAR Cup Series races at World Wide Technology Raceway: Kyle Busch (2022 and 2025), Denny Hamlin (2023 and 2024).

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 13 different drivers have finished in the top-five in the Cup Series races at World Wide Technology Raceway.
• Joey Logano leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at World Wide Technology Raceway with four – the only driver to finish in the top five in all four Cup races at WWTR.

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 28 different drivers have finished in the top-10 in the Cup Series race at the WWTR.
• Joey Logano leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at World Wide Technology Raceway with four.

Average Finishes:

• Joey Logano leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at World Wide Technology Raceway with a 3.5 in four starts.
• Four drivers have posted average finishes inside the top-10 heading into this weekend: Joey Logano (3.5), Christopher Bell (8.5), Kyle Larson (9.5), Ryan Blaney (9.5) and Denny Hamlin (9.75).

Top 15 in Average Finishing Position at WWTR in the NASCAR Cup Series:

LAP LEADERS

• A total of 19 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have led at least one lap at World Wide Technology Raceway.
• Kyle Busch leads the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at WWTR with 202 laps led (23% of his laps completed).
• Ryan Blaney leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in laps led at WWTR with 120 laps led (12%).

All-Time Lap Leaders at World Wide Technology Raceway

• The most laps led by the race winner in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway was 121 laps led by Kyle Busch on June 4, 2023 – 49.8% of his laps completed (243).
• The fewest laps led by the race winner in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway was 22 laps led by Joey Logano on June 5, 2022.
• The most laps led in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway by a driver that did not win the race was 83 laps led by Ryan Blaney last season – he started second and ultimately finished sixth.
• Last season’s winner, Denny Hamlin, led 75 laps in the WWTR Cup race – most of the event.

TRACK / EVENT STATS

• Qualifying has not been canceled for the four NASCAR Cup Series races at World Wide Technology Raceway.
• The four NASCAR Cup Series races at World Wide Technology Raceway have not been shortened due to weather.
• Two of the four Cup Series races at World Wide Technology Raceway have finished with NASCAR Overtime:

• The most lead changes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at WWTR are 16 (June 2, 2024).
• The fewest lead changes in a NASCAR Cup Series race at WWTR are 10 (June 4, 2023).
• The final lead change of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway took place with two laps to go – Joey Logano passed Kyle Busch for the lead and ultimately the win.
• The final lead change of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway took place with 60 laps to go – Kyle Busch passed Kyle Larson and went on to win the race.
• The final lead change of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway took place with two laps to go – Austin Cindric passed Ryan Blaney and went on to win the race.
• The final lead change of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway took place with 25 laps to go – Denny Hamlin passed Brad Keselowski and went on to win the race.
• The most leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race at WWTR are 10 (June 2, 2024).
• The fewest leaders in a NASCAR Cup Series race at WWTR are five (June 4, 2023).
• The closest margin of victory in a NASCAR Cup Series race at WWTR was the 0.517 second that Kyle Busch finished ahead of Denny Hamlin in 2023.
• The largest margin of victory in a NASCAR Cup Series race at WWTR was the 3.844 seconds that Austin Cindric finished ahead of Denny Hamlin in 2024.

NASCAR IN ILLINOIS

• There have been 110 NASCAR national series races among six tracks in the state of Illinois.

• The first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Illinois was a NASCAR Cup Series race at Santa Fe Speedway in Willow Springs, Illinois. The event was held on July 10, 1954 and it was won by Dick Rathman (Hudson).

ILLINOIS IN NASCAR

• A total of 83 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Illinois.
• A total of five different drivers from Illinois have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series.
• Justin Allgaier leads all Illinois drivers with 34 combined NASCAR national series wins.

Winners from Illinois:

— NASCAR —