Statistical Advance: Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway

[NickHolt]

Statistical Advance: Kobalt Tools 500 at Phoenix International Raceway

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (November 7, 2011) – Below is a look at how the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series field has performed at Phoenix International Raceway, going into the Kobalt Tools 500 on Nov. 13.

 

PHOENIX-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

 

1 - Carl Edwards (No. 99 AFLAC Ford)

 

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 99.1

 

2011 Rundown

 

· One win, 17 top fives, 24 top 10s; two poles

 

· Average finish of 9.7

 

· Led 23 races for 757 laps

 

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:

 

· One win, five top fives, nine top 10s; three poles

 

· Average finish of 13.0 in 14 races

 

· Average Running Position of 13.6, ninth-best

 

· Driver Rating of 99.6, fourth-best

 

· 252 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 123.428 mph, second-fastest

 

· 2,827 Laps in the Top 15 (68.6%), eighth-most

 

 

 

2 - Tony Stewart (No. 14 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)

 

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.9

 

2011 Rundown

 

· Four wins, seven top fives, 17 top 10s; one pole

 

· Average finish of 12.6

 

· Led 19 races for 688 laps

 

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:

 

· One win, seven top fives, 10 top 10s

 

· Average finish of 11.7 in 19 races

 

· Average Running Position of 10.4, fourth-best

 

· Driver Rating of 98.1, seventh-best

 

· 559 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 123.417 mph, fourth-fastest

 

· 3,122 Laps in the Top 15 (75.7%), fourth-most

 

· 336 Quality Passes, fourth-most

 

 

 

3 - Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)

 

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.2

 

2011 Rundown

 

· Four wins, nine top fives, 18 top 10s

 

· Average finish of 11.4

 

· Led 16 races for 391 laps

 

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:

 

· Two wins, four top fives, eight top 10s

 

· Average finish of 13.8 in 17 races

 

· Average Running Position of 11.7, seventh-best

 

· Driver Rating of 95.9, ninth-best

 

· 154 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

 

· 506 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 123.322 mph, eighth-fastest

 

· 2,981 Laps in the Top 15 (72.3%), sixth-most

 

· 281 Quality Passes, eighth-most

 

 

 

4 - Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Crown Royal Ford)

 

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 98.8

 

2011 Rundown

 

· Three wins, 11 top fives, 19 top 10s; two poles

 

· Average finish of 11.8

 

· Led 21 races for 811 laps

 

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:

 

· One win, five top fives, eight top 10s

 

· Average finish of 17.2 in 18 races

 

· Average Running Position of 17.3, 18th-best

 

· Driver Rating of 84.6, 14th-best

 

· 137 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most

 

· 550 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 123.163 mph, 12th-fastest

 

· 278 Quality Passes, ninth-most

 

 

 

5 - Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge)

 

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 86.8

 

2011 Rundown

 

· Three wins, 10 top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole

 

· Average finish of 14.6

 

· Led 18 races for 283 laps

 

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:

 

· Average finish of 27.5 in four races

 

· Average Running Position of 26.3, 34th-best

 

· Driver Rating of 59.7, 29th-best

 

 

 

6 - Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's / Kobalt Tools Chevrolet)

 

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 100.4

 

2011 Rundown

 

· Two wins, 14 top fives, 21 top 10s

 

· Average finish of 11.3

 

· Led 22 races for 1,113 laps

 

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:

 

· Four wins, 11 top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole

 

· Average finish of 4.8 in 16 races

 

· Series-best Average Running Position of 5.4

 

· Series-best Driver Rating of 121.8

 

· Series-high 434 Fastest Laps Run

 

· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 123.850 mph

 

· Series-high 3,918 Laps in the Top 15 (95.0%)

 

· 339 Quality Passes, third-most

 

 

 

7 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Retro Diet Mountain Dew / National Guard Chevrolet)

 

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 83.5

 

2011 Rundown

 

· Four top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole

 

· Average finish of 14.3

 

· Led 9 races for 52 laps

 

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:

 

· Two wins, four top fives, eight top 10s

 

· Average finish of 18.0 in 18 races

 

· Average Running Position of 16.3, 17th-best

 

· Driver Rating of 84.8, 13th-best

 

· 111 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most

 

· 513 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most

 

 

 

8 - Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)

 

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.1

 

2011 Rundown

 

· Three wins, 12 top fives, 17 top 10s; one pole

 

· Average finish of 12.7

 

· Led 21 races for 915 laps

 

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:

 

· Two wins, 10 top fives, 18 top 10s; three poles

 

· Average finish of 10.0 in 25 races

 

· Average Running Position of 9.7, second-best

 

· Driver Rating of 103.3, second-best

 

· 169 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 123.410 mph, fifth-fastest

 

· 3,421 Laps in the Top 15 (83.0%), third-most

 

· 268 Quality Passes, 11th-most

 

 

 

9 - Kurt Busch (No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Dodge)

 

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.0

 

2011 Rundown

 

· Two wins, eight top fives, 16 top 10s; three poles

 

· Average finish of 13.8

 

· Led 19 races for 713 laps

 

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:

 

· One win, four top fives, 10 top 10s

 

· Average finish of 12.9 in 17 races

 

· Average Running Position of 9.9, third-best

 

· Driver Rating of 100.3, third-best

 

· 242 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 123.292 mph, 11th-fastest

 

· 2,933 Laps in the Top 15 (77.0%), seventh-most

 

· 244 Quality Passes, 13th-most

 

 

 

10 - Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Freight Toyota)

 

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 88.4

 

2011 Rundown

 

· One win, five top fives, 13 top 10s

 

· Average finish of 16.3

 

· Led 15 races for 450 laps

 

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:

 

· Five top fives, six top 10s; one pole

 

· Average finish of 11.6 in 12 races

 

· Average Running Position of 11.7, sixth-best

 

· Driver Rating of 98.3, sixth-best

 

· 192 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 123.419 mph, third-fastest

 

· 286 Quality Passes, seventh-most

 

 

 

11 - Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M's Toyota)

 

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 106.1

 

2011 Rundown

 

· Four wins, 14 top fives, 18 top 10s; one pole

 

· Average finish of 12.0

 

· Led 25 races for 1,439 laps

 

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:

 

· One win, two top fives, eight top 10s; one pole

 

· Average finish of 12.9 in 13 races

 

· Average Running Position of 11.0, fifth-best

 

· Driver Rating of 98.1, eighth-best

 

· 162 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 123.327 mph, seventh-fastest

 

· 3,518 Laps in the Top 15 (85.3%), second-most

 

· Series-high 387 Quality Passes

 

 

 

12 - Ryan Newman (No. 39 U.S. Army Veterans Day Chevrolet)

 

· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 87.9

 

2011 Rundown

 

· One win, eight top fives, 16 top 10s; three poles

 

· Average finish of 14.4

 

· Led 18 races for 403 laps

 

Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:

 

· One win, six top fives, six top 10s; four poles

 

· Average finish of 19.3 in 18 races

 

· Average Running Position of 14.4, 12th-best

 

· Driver Rating of 89.7, 11th-best

 

· 499 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 123.128 mph, 13th-fastest

 

· 2,986 Laps in the Top 15 (72.4%), fifth-most

 

· 359 Quality Passes, second-most

 

 

 

The Chase Is On

 

The Top 12

 

Following Race 34 of 36

 

 

 

Rank Season

 

Last Driver

 

Driver Pts. Wins Poles Week Rating

 

 

 

1. Carl Edwards 2,316 1 2 1 99.1

 

2. Tony Stewart 2,313 4 1 2 93.9

 

3. Kevin Harvick 2,283 4 0 3 92.2

 

4. Matt Kenseth 2,278 3 2 5 98.8

 

5. Brad Keselowski 2,267 3 1 4 86.8

 

6. Jimmie Johnson 2,261 2 0 6 100.4

 

7. Dale Earnhardt Jr 2,237 0 1 9 83.5

 

8. Jeff Gordon 2,235 3 1 10 97.1

 

9. Kurt Busch 2,229 2 3 8 95.0

 

10. Denny Hamlin 2,217 1 0 11 88.4

 

11. Kyle Busch 2,216 4 1 7 106.1

 

12. Ryan Newman 2,213 1 3 12 87.9

 

 

At Phoenix International Raceway:

History

 

· Construction was completed in January 1964. The facility consisted of a one-mile oval and a 2.5-mile road course.

· Alan Kulwicki won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix on Nov. 6, 1988.

· The first spring race was held on April 23, 2005 and also the first night race, which was won by Kurt Busch.

· The track underwent its first repave this year. The construction began in March and concluded in September of 2011.

· The following changes were made during the construction period:

· Widened the frontstretch from 52 to 62 feet

· Reconfigured pit road with the installation of concrete pit stalls

· Pushed the dog-leg curve between Turn 2 and Turn 3 out 95 feet

· Tightened the turn radius of the dog-leg from 800 to 500 feet

· Implemented variable banking to ensure the immediate use of two racing grooves, including 10-11 degree banking between Turn 1 and Turn 2; 10-11 degree banking in the apex of the dog-leg; and 8-9 degree banking in Turn 4.

 

 

Notebook

 

· There have been 30 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Phoenix International Raceway, one per season from 1988-2004 and two each season since.

· Geoffrey Bodine won the first Coors Light Pole in 1988.

· There have been 18 different pole winners, led by Ryan Newman with four. Newman’s next pole will be his 50th.

· Ryan Newman, Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards are the only drivers to win consecutive poles. Newman won three straight (2002-04), while Gordon won the fall of 2006 and spring of 2007, and Edwards won the fall of 2010 and spring of 2011.

· There have been 21 different race winners, led by Jimmie Johnson with four.

· The race has been won from the pole four times: Jeff Gordon (spring 2007), Jimmie Johnson (fall 2008), Mark Martin (spring 2009) and Carl Edwards (fall 2010).

 

· The race has been won from a top-10 starting position in 15 of 30 events.

 

· Denny Hamlin won his first career pole at Phoenix in November 2005. AJ Allmendinger won his first career pole in April 2010.

 

· Ricky Rudd won the 1995 race from the 29th-place starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.

 

· Mark Martin has 12 top-five finishes, more than any other driver. Martin (8.8 average finish) is one of three active drivers who average a top-10 finish. Jimmie Johnson (4.8) and Jeff Gordon (10.0) are the others.

 

· Two perfect Driver Ratings of 150.0 have been recorded at Phoenix. Kurt Busch did it with his win in April of 2005, and Kevin Harvick did it in November of 2006.

 

 

Phoenix International Raceway Data

 

Race: 35 of 36 (11-13-11)

 

Track Size: 1 mile

 

· Banking/1 and 2: 10 - 11 degrees

 

· Banking/3 and 4: 8 - 9 degrees

 

· Banking/Frontstretch: 3 degrees

 

· Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees

 

· Frontstretch: 1,179 feet

 

· Backstretch: 1,551 feet

 

 

Driver Rating at Phoenix

Jimmie Johnson 121.8

 

Jeff Gordon 103.3

 

Kurt Busch 100.3

 

Carl Edwards 99.6

 

Mark Martin 99.4

 

Denny Hamlin 98.3

 

Tony Stewart 98.1

 

Kyle Busch 98.1

 

Kevin Harvick 95.9

 

Greg Biffle 94.8

 

Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-11 races (13 total) at Phoenix.

 

 

 

Qualifying/Race Data

 

2010 pole winner: Carl Edwards (136.389 mph, 26.395 seconds)

 

2010 race winner: Carl Edwards (110.758 mph, 11-14-10)

 

Track qualifying record: Carl Edwards (137.279 mph, 26.224 seconds, 2-27-11)

 

Track race record: Tony Stewart (118.132 mph, 11-7-99)

 

 

 

NASCAR in Arizona

 

· There have been 35 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Arizona: 30 at Phoenix International Raceway; four at Arizona State Fairgrounds; one at Tucson Rodeo Grounds.

· 30 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Arizona.

· There have been no race winners from Arizona in NASCAR’s three national series.