Analyzing The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

[NickHolt]

Analyzing The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race

 

 

Charlotte Motor Speedway Data

 

Track Size: 1.5 miles

· Banking/Corners: 24 degrees

· Banking/Straights: 5 degrees

· Frontstretch: 1,980 feet

· Backstretch: 1,500 feet

 

2011 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race Entry List

 

Bayne, Trevor

Biffle, Greg

Bowyer, Clint

Busch, Kurt

Busch, Kyle

Edwards, Carl

Gordon, Jeff

Hamlin, Denny

Harvick, Kevin

Johnson, Jimmie

Kahne, Kasey

Kenseth, Matt

Martin, Mark

McMurray, Jamie

Montoya, Juan Pablo

Newman, Ryan

Reutimann, David

Smith, Regan

Stewart, Tony

Fan Vote Winner

Winner Sprint Showdown

Second Place Sprint Showdown

 

· There have been 26 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Races.

· The first NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race was in 1985.

· 25 have been held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In 1986, the event was held at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and won by Bill Elliott. That season was also the first year for what is now known as the Sprint Showdown.

· 84 drivers have run in at least one All-Star Race.

· There have been 18 different winners of the All-Star Race.

· Mark Martin has participated in 21 races, more than any other driver.

· The race has featured a field that ranged from 10 drivers in 1986 to 27 in 2002.

· Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990 and 1993) and Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997 and 2001) are the only three-time winners of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

· There have been seven different winners in the last seven NASCAR Sprint All-Star races.

· Davey Allison (1991 and 1992), Terry Labonte (1988 and 1999), Mark Martin (1998 and 2005) and Jimmie Johnson (2003 and 2006) are the only other drivers to post multiple victories in the All-Star Race. Allison is the only driver to ever win consecutive All-Star events.

· Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2000) and Ryan Newman (2002) are the only drivers to win the All-Star Race in their rookie season.

· Jeff Gordon is the youngest winner of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at 23 years, 9 months and 18 days (1995). Mark Martin is the oldest at 46 years, 4 months and 12 days (2005).

· Matt Kenseth has a 6.6 average finish in 10 appearances in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, the best of any driver in this weekend’s field; followed by Jimmie Johnson with a 6.7 average finish in nine appearances. The best average finish by a driver with more than five starts is Ken Schrader, at 6.125.

· The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race has been won from the pole position four times; the first three came in consecutive years: Dale Earnhardt (1990) and Davey Allison (1991 and 1992). Kurt Busch posted the fourth win from the pole last season.

· The deepest in the field an All-Star Race winner has started was 27th, by Ryan Newman in 2002.

· Hendrick Motorsports drivers have won six All-Star Races: Jeff Gordon (three), Jimmie Johnson (two) and Terry Labonte (one).

· Five drivers have won the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship in the same year: Darrell Waltrip (1985), Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990, 1993), Rusty Wallace (1989), Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997, 2001) and Jimmie Johnson (2006).

· The record for lead changes in a NASCAR Sprint All-Star race is 10 in 2004. The most different leaders is nine in 2002.

 

Loop Data

 

· Some top statistical performers in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race since the inception of Loop Data in 2005:

 

Kurt Busch (No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge)

 

· Average Running Position of 8.0, fifth-best

· Driver Rating of 91.2, fourth-best

· 30 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 177.512 mph, eighth-fastest

· 477 Laps in the Top 15 (85.2%), fourth-most

· 135 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), eighth-most

 

Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)

 

· Average Running Position of 7.7, third-best

· Driver Rating of 104.6, second-best

· 54 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 178.601 mph, second-fastest

· 359 Laps in the Top 15 (76.4%), 11th-most

 

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)

 

· Average Running Position of 8.3, seventh-best

· Driver Rating of 86.8, seventh-best

· 49 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

· 158 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 177.900 mph, fifth-fastest

· 509 Laps in the Top 15 (90.9%), second-most

· 145 Quality Passes, fifth-most

 

 

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)

 

· Average Running Position of 11.1, 12th-best

· Driver Rating of 81.6, 10th-best

· 11 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most

· 163 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

· 380 Laps in the Top 15 (67.9%), eighth-most

· 130 Quality Passes, ninth-most

 

Jimmie Johnson (No. 5 Lowe's 5% Every Day Chevrolet)

 

· Series-best Average Running Position of 5.5

· Series-best Driver Rating of 112.8

· Series-high 112 Fastest Laps Run

· 162 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 178.629 mph

· Series-high 533 Laps in the Top 15 (95.2%)

· 150 Quality Passes, fourth-most

 

Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Crown Royal Ford)

 

· Average Running Position of 7.4, second-best

· Driver Rating of 95.5, third-best

· 30 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

· 163 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 177.514 mph, seventh-fastest

· 480 Laps in the Top 15 (85.7%), third-most

· 142 Quality Passes, seventh-most

 

Mark Martin (No. 25 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)

 

· Average Running Position of 8.1, sixth-best

· Driver Rating of 91.0, fifth-best

· 35 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

· 142 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 178.004 mph, fourth-fastest

· 451 Laps in the Top 15 (80.5%), seventh-most

· 125 Quality Passes, 12th-most

 

Ryan Newman (No. 39 Haas Automation Chevrolet)

 

· Average Running Position of 8.6, eighth-best

· Driver Rating of 86.4, eighth-best

· 20 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

· 174 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 177.451 mph, ninth-fastest

· 460 Laps in the Top 15 (82.1%), sixth-most

· 158 Quality Passes, third-most

 

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Burger King Chevrolet)

 

· Driver Rating of 81.3, 11th-best

· 9 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most

· 187 Green Flag Passes, third-most

· 358 Laps in the Top 15 (63.9%), 12th-most

· 144 Quality Passes, sixth-most

 

NASCAR Sprint All-Star Wins List

 

Year Driver

 

1985 Darrell Waltrip

1986 Bill Elliott

1987 Dale Earnhardt

1988 Terry Labonte

1989 Rusty Wallace

1990 Dale Earnhardt

1991 Davey Allison

1992 Davey Allison

1993 Dale Earnhardt

1994 Geoff Bodine

1995 Jeff Gordon

1996 Michael Waltrip

1997 Jeff Gordon

1998 Mark Martin

1999 Terry Labonte

2000 Dale Earnhardt Jr.

2001 Jeff Gordon

2002 Ryan Newman

2003 Jimmie Johnson

2004 Matt Kenseth

2005 Mark Martin

2006 Jimmie Johnson

2007 Kevin Harvick

2008 Kasey Kahne

2009 Tony Stewart

2010 Kurt Busch