NASCAR 2012 – Statistical Advance: Analyzing The Hollywood Casino 400

CHASE FOR THE CUP WEEK 5 STANDINGS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 15, 2012) – 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 Oct. 21.

KANSAS-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

Additional Statistically Notable Drivers at Kansas:

Chase Contenders

The Top 12

Following Race 31 of 36

ADDITIONAL DRIVERS
13. Kyle Busch                     951         36. Brian Vickers             213
14. Ryan Newman                889         37. Michael McDowell      166
15. Carl Edwards                  881         38. J.J. Yeley                  153
16. Paul Menard                   847         39. Josh Wise                 123
17. Joey Logano                   832         40. Ken Schrader             111
18. Marcos Ambrose             828         41. Stephen Leicht           107
19. Jeff Burton                     764         42. Michael Waltrip            94
20. Jamie McMurray             741         43. Terry Labonte              94
21. Aric Almirola                   718         44. Scott Speed               93
22. Juan Pablo Montoya        700         45. Tony Raines               71
23. Regan Smith                   676         46. Scott Riggs                52
24. Bobby Labonte                667         47. Brendan Gaughan         50
25. Mark Martin                    602         48. Boris Said                   34
26. Kurt Busch                     580         49. Bill Elliott                     14
27. David Gilliland                 541         50. Hermie Sadler III          13
28. David Ragan                   540         51. Mike Olsen                  11
29. Travis Kvapil                   531         52. Robby Gordon             11
30. Casey Mears                  526         53. Mike Skinner               10
31. Landon Cassill                493         54. Tomy Drissi                  6
32. AJ Allmendinger              420         55. Stacy Compton             5
33. Dave Blaney                   368         56. David Mayhew              4
34. David Reutimann             351         57. Kelly Bires                    3
35. David Stremme               216         58. Patrick Long                  2

Note: The first 26 races of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season determine which 12 drivers qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, contested over the final 10 races of the season. After race No. 26, the top 10 earn a berth in the Chase. Spots 11 and 12 – the Wild Cards – will go to those drivers outside the top 10 with the most wins, provided they are in the top 20.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2012 Top 12 at 

Kansas Speedway

* – Based on last seven races at Kansas Speedway.

At Kansas Speedway:

History

• Groundbreaking was held on May 25, 1999.
• The official opening of Kansas Speedway was in 2001, with the first events being an ARCA race and a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race on the same day – June 2.
• The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was Sept. 30, 2001.
• During the 2012 season, between the April race and this weekend’s event the 1.5-mile track underwent a repave adding variable banking in the corners and on the frontstretch.

Notebook

• There have been 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas since the track opened in 2001.
• All of the races have been scheduled for 267 laps.
• 10 drivers have competed in all 13 races at Kansas. Mark Martin has completed the most laps at Kansas with 3,388.
• Jeff Gordon won the first two NASCAR Sprint Cup races.
• Jason Leffler won the first pole in September 2001.
• 10 different drivers have won poles, led by Jimmie Johnson with three.
• Nine different drivers have posted victories, led by Greg Biffle, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart (each with two).
• Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Kansas with four, followed by Roush Fenway Racing with three.
• Seven of the 13 races have been won from a top-10 starting position.
• Two drivers have won from the pole: Joe Nemechek in 2004 and Jimmie Johnson in 2008.
• The furthest back in the field that a race winner started was 25th, by Brad Keselowski last season.
• Two active drivers with more than one start have averaged a top-10 finish: Jimmie Johnson (7.9) and Greg Biffle (8.0).
• Nine of the 13 races that ended under green had a margin of victory under one second. The 2007 race ended under caution.
• The 2009 Chase race holds the record for most lead changes (26) among the most leaders (14) in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history at Kansas Speedway.
• Jimmie Johnson has led the most laps (503) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway, followed by Greg Biffle with 346 laps led.
• Denny Hamlin made his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Kansas Speedway on 10/09/2005.
• Jimmie Johnson posted the highest NSCS Driver Rating performance at Kansas Speedway in this event last season with a 149.2. A perfect Driver Rating (150.0) performance in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway has yet to be achieved.
• Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kansas Speedway winner: Ryan Newman (10/05/2003 – 25 years, 9 months, 27 days). Oldest NSCS Kansas Speedway winner: Mark Martin (10/09/2005 – 46 years, 9 months, 0 days).
• Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kansas Speedway pole winner: Jason Leffler (9/30/2001 – 26 years, 0 months, 14 days). Oldest NSCS Kansas Speedway pole winner: Mark Martin (10/04/2009 – 50 years, 8 months, 25 days).

 Kansas Speedway Data

• Chase Race #: 6 of 10
• Season Race #: 32 of 36 (10-21-12)
• Track Size: 1.5-mile
• Variable Banking/Turns: 17-20 degrees
• Variable Banking/Frontstretch: 9-11 degrees
• Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
• Frontstretch Length:  2,685 feet
• Backstretch Length:  2,207 feet
• Race Length: 267 laps / 400.5 miles

Top 12 Driver Rating at Kansas

1. Jimmie Johnson…………………… 120.7
2. Greg Biffle………………………….. 116.3
3. Tony Stewart……………………….. 102.9
4. Matt Kenseth……………………….. 102.4
5. Jeff Gordon………………………… 102.2
6. Carl Edwards………………………… 96.2
7. Kevin Harvick………………………… 92.1
8. Mark Martin…………………………… 91.9
9. Brad Keselowski……………………. 90.7
10. Kurt Busch……………………………. 90.3
11. Denny Hamlin……………………….. 89.9
12. Martin Truex Jr………………………. 88.4

Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2012 races (seven total) among active drivers at Kansas Speedway.

Qualifying/Race Data

• 2011 pole winner:
  • Greg Biffle, Ford (174.887 mph, 30.877 sec., 10-07-11)
•  
• 2011 race winner:
  • Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet (137.181 mph, 2:58:27, 10-09-11)
•  
• Track qualifying record:
  • Matt Kenseth, Ford (180.856 mph, 29.858 sec., 10-08-05)
•  
• Track race record:
  • Denny Hamlin, Toyota (144.122 mph, 02:46:44, 4-22-12)

NASCAR in Kansas

• There have been 13 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Kansas, all at Kansas Speedway. The only other Kansas track to hold a NASCAR national series race was Heartland Park in Topeka, which hosted five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races from 1995-99.
• 16 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as Kansas, including Jim Roper who won the very first NASCAR Sprint Cup race – Charlotte in 1949.
• There have been two race winners in the top three NASCAR national series from Kansas:

• Driver	NSCS	NNS	NCWTS
  Clint Bowyer	8	8	3
  Jim Roper	1	0	0

An F-6 Flying Falcon and the Daytona 500 trophy on display during a visit from U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds at the Daytona International Speedway on October 11, 2012.