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 4 at 5:30 p.m. ET on USA, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90) – the fifth race of the 10-race Chase presented by Mobil 1.

NASCAR Cup Series Postseason Fast Facts: Race #5 (Las Vegas)

• This season will be the ninth time Las Vegas Motor Speedway has hosted a NASCAR Cup Series postseason race (2018-2026).
• Las Vegas Motor Speedway has occupied four different spots on the NASCAR Cup Series postseason schedule:
  • First Race: From 2018 to 2019
  • Fourth Race: From 2020 to 2021
  • Fifth Race: This season – 2026
  • Seventh Race: From 2022-2025

• Las Vegas Motor Speedway is one of four different tracks to host the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason:
  • Charlotte Motor Speedway (2004 – 2014
  • Talladega Superspeedway (2017 – 2023)
  • Kansas Speedway (2015 – 2016, 2025)
  • Las Vegas Motor Speedway (2026)

• A total of 16 different drivers have won the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins in the fifth race of the Playoffs with three victories (2004, 2005, 2009 – all at Charlotte Motor Speedway).
• Chase Elliott (2022 Talladega and 2025 Kansas), Brad Keselowski (2013 Charlotte and 2017 Talladega) and Ryan Blaney (2019 and 2023 at Talladega) lead all active drivers in wins in the fifth race of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason with two victories each.
• This weekend, five of the 16 drivers that have won the fifth race on the NASCAR Cup Series postseason are Chase drivers this season – Chase Elliott (2), Ryan Blaney (2), Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano (1 each).

• Three times the winner of the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason (2004-2025) has gone on to win the championship later that season: 2009, 2014, 2023.

1. In 2009, Jimmie Johnson won the fifth race in the postseason from the pole at Charlotte Motor Speedway and then went on to win his fourth consecutive NASCAR Cup Series title – it was his third of four wins in the 2009 postseason.
2. In 2014, Kevin Harvick won the fifth race in the postseason from the seventh starting position at Charlotte Motor Speedway and went on to win his first career NASCAR Cup Series title – it was his first of three wins during the 2014 postseason.
3. In 2023, Ryan Blaney won the fifth race in the postseason from the 10th starting spot at Talladega Superspeedway and then went on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title – it was his first of two wins in the 2023 postseason.

• Four times a non-postseason driver has won the fifth race in the Cup Series postseason: 2010, 2013, 2021, 2024.

1. In 2010, Jamie McMurray won the fifth race in the postseason at Charlotte; he was 14th in points.
2. In 2013, Brad Keselowski won the fifth race in postseason at Charlotte; he was 16th in points.
3. In 2021, Bubba Wallace won the postseason race at Talladega; he was 21st in points.
4. In 2024, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the postseason race at Talladega; he was 24th in points.

• A total of 17 different crew chiefs have won the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason, led by Chad Knaus with three wins: 2004, 2005, 2009.
• A total of 11 different organizations have won the fifth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason, led by Hendrick Motorsports with six wins: 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2022, 2025.
• A total of six different drivers have won the eight previous NASCAR Cup Series postseason 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 postseason race winners, three are currently in the Cup Series Chase this weekend – Denny Hamlin (2021 & 2025 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.
• Twice the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason 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 the Las Vegas Motor Speedway postseason races:
  • 4th by Joey Logano in 2018 – the first race of the postseason.
  • 19th by Kyle Busch in 2019 – the first race of the postseason.
  • 22nd by Chase Elliott in 2020 – the fourth race of the postseason.
  • 1st by Kyle Larson in 2021 – the fourth race of the postseason.
  • 1st by Joey Logano in 2022 – the seventh race of the postseason.
  • 6th by Ryan Blaney in 2023 – the seventh race of the postseason.
  • 1st by Joey Logano in 2024 – the seventh race of the postseason.
  • 2nd by Kyle Larson in 2025 – the seventh race of the postseason.

• 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 on the postseason schedule.
• Team Penske crew chief Paul Wolfe leads all NASCAR Cup Series crew chiefs in postseason wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with three (with Brad Keselowski in 2018 and Joey Logano in 2022, 2024).
• Team Penske leads the NASCAR Cup Series postseason race wins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with three (2018, 2022, 2024).

At Las Vegas Motor Speedway Stats & Tidbits:

TRACK & RACE 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
Season Race #: 31 of 36 (October 4, 2026)
Chase Race #: 5 of 10
The Purse: $11,233,037
Race Length: 267 laps (400.5 miles)
Stage 1 Length: 80 laps
Stage 2 Length: 85 laps (End of Laps 165)
Final Stage Length: 102 laps (End on Lap 267)

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

2025 Postseason Race Pole Winner:
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 184.849 MPH, 29.213 secs., October 11, 2025

2025 Postseason Race Winner:
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 137.131 MPH, (02:55:14), October 12, 2025

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 37 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 postseason. Las Vegas has hosted a postseason race each season since 2018.

STARTS

• In total 184 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.
• Kyle Busch leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with 30 career starts.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Las Vegas with 29 career starts.
• Top five all-time in Cup Series starts at Las Vegas: Kyle Busch (30), Kevin Harvick (29), Denny Hamlin (29), Martin Truex Jr. (26), Brad Keselowski (26) and Joey Logano (26).   
• 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.
• Kyle Larson leads all NASCAR Cup Series drivers in average starting position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a 7.200 in 20 starts.

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

POLES

• A total of 21 different drivers have won the pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway; eight of the 21 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 21 NASCAR Cup Series pole winners at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, eight are active this weekend:

• Christopher Bell (2022, 2023, 2024, 2026) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with four.
• 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 their first career pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
  • Kasey Kahne (March 7, 2004)
  • 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 10 poles.
• Joe Gibbs Racing has 10 poles among five drivers at Las Vegas – Bobby Labonte (1998, 2003), Kyle Busch (2008, 2009), Erik Jones (2018), Christopher Bell (2022, 2023, 2024, 2026) and Denny Hamlin (2025).

• 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 Toyota (eight), Chevrolet (six poles), 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 10 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).
• Four drivers have won consecutive races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series: Jeff Burton (1999, 2000); Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004), Jimmie Johnson, who is the only driver to win three consecutive races (2005, 2006 and 2007) and Denny Hamlin (2025, 2026).
• A total of 18 different starting positions in the NASCAR Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway have resulted in race wins.
• Only two drivers have won from the pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series: Las Vegas-native Kyle Busch (2009) and Denny Hamlin (2025).
• The second starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field producing more winners (eight) than any other starting position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – with a winning percentage of 27%.
• A total of eight of the 37 NASCAR Cup Series Las Vegas races (21.6%) 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 37 NASCAR Cup Series Las Vegas races (13.51%) 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 (seven) 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 10 of 23 have finished runner-up multiple times.
• Kyle Larson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Las Vegas with five.

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, 35 of the 52 have multiple top-five finishes.
• Kyle Busch leads all drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Las Vegas with 12 top fives.
• Brad Kesleowski and Kyle Larson lead all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Las Vegas with nine top fives each.

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

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 76 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished inside the top-10 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and 55 of the 76 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.
• Denny Hamlin leads active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with 16 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

LAP LEADERS

• A total of 93 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 881 laps led in 20 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, Shawna Robinson and Katherin Legge are the three female drivers 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 109 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 32 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 234 combined victories.

— NASCAR —