Statistical Advance: Analyzing The Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan

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Statistical Advance: Analyzing The Quicken Loans 400

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 11, 2012) – Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan going into the Quicken Loans 400 on June 17.

 

MICHIGAN-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

 

Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M / Salute Ford)

 

· Two wins, seven top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole

 

· Average finish of 12.8

 

· Series-best Average Running Position of 8.6

 

· Series-best Driver Rating of 106.5

 

· 213 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

 

· 980 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 174.286 mph, second-fastest

 

· Series-high 2,306 Laps in the Top 15 (84.2%)

 

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

 

 

 

Kurt Busch (No. 51 Phoenix Construction Services Chevrolet)

 

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

 

· Average finish of 20.6

 

· Average Running Position of 13.3, 10th-best

 

· Driver Rating of 95.3, ninth-best

 

· 133 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 173.837 mph, seventh-fastest

 

· 1,922 Laps in the Top 15 (70.2%), seventh-most

 

· 497 Quality Passes, 11th-most

 

 

 

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Snickers Toyota)

 

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

 

· Average finish of 15.5

 

· Average Running Position of 13.2, ninth-best

 

· Driver Rating of 95.6, eighth-best

 

· 133 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

 

· 964 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 173.756 mph, 10th-fastest

 

· 1,966 Laps in the Top 15 (71.8%), sixth-most

 

· 562 Quality Passes, sixth-most

 

 

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew / The Dark Knight Rises Chevrolet)

 

· One win, four top fives, eight top 10s; two poles

 

· Average finish of 15.8

 

· Average Running Position of 12.9, eighth-best

 

· Driver Rating of 94.2, 10th-best

 

· 119 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

 

· 1,149 Green Flag Passes, third-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 173.759 mph, ninth-fastest

 

· 1,785 Laps in the Top 15 (65.2%), ninth-most

 

· 610 Quality Passes, fourth-most

 

 

 

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford)

 

· Two wins, nine top fives, 12 top 10s

 

· Average finish of 8.2

 

· Average Running Position of 10.0, second-best

 

· Driver Rating of 106.5, second-best

 

· 177 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

 

· 976 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 174.259 mph, third-fastest

 

· 2,277 Laps in the Top 15 (83.2%), second-most

 

· Series-high 691 Quality Passes

 

 

 

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet)

 

· Two wins, 18 top fives, 24 top 10s; five poles

 

· Average finish of 11.4

 

· Average Running Position of 12.1, sixth-best

 

· Driver Rating of 96.4, seventh-best

 

· 154 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 173.853 mph, sixth-fastest

 

· 1,887 Laps in the Top 15 (68.9%), eighth-most

 

· 529 Quality Passes, eighth-most

 

 

 

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota)

 

· Two wins, five top fives, seven top 10s

 

· Average finish of 12.1

 

· Average Running Position of 11.8, fifth-best

 

· Driver Rating of 97.1, fifth-best

 

· 94 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 173.832 mph, eighth-fastest

 

· 1,685 Laps in the Top 15 (72.1%), 10th-most

 

· 547 Quality Passes, seventh-most

 

 

 

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet)

 

· Three top fives, eight top 10s

 

· Average finish of 15.2

 

· Average Running Position of 10.0, third-best

 

· Driver Rating of 105.6, third-best

 

· Series-high 282 Fastest Laps Run

 

· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 174.357 mph

 

· 2,122 Laps in the Top 15 (77.5%), fourth-most

 

· 524 Quality Passes, 10th-most

 

 

 

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)

 

· One win, six top fives, seven top 10s; two poles

 

· Average finish of 15.4

 

· Average Running Position of 15.4, 12th-best

 

· Driver Rating of 88.0, 12th-best

 

· 115 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

 

· 1,063 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 173.572 mph, 11th-fastest

 

· 1,565 Laps in the Top 15 (57.2%), 12th-most

 

· 527 Quality Passes, ninth-most

 

 

 

Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)

 

· Two wins, 11 top fives, 16 top 10s

 

· Average finish of 9.5

 

· Average Running Position of 10.7, fourth-best

 

· Driver Rating of 104.7, fourth-best

 

· 143 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

 

· 979 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 174.160 mph, fourth-fastest

 

· 2,183 Laps in the Top 15 (79.7%), third-most

 

· 621 Quality Passes, third-most

 

 

 

Mark Martin (No. 55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota)

 

· Five wins, 18 top fives, 31 top 10s

 

· Average finish of 13.3

 

· Average Running Position of 15.1, 11th-best

 

· Driver Rating of 85.8, 13th-best

 

· 77 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 173.409 mph, 13th-fastest

 

· 1,676 Laps in the Top 15 (61.2%), 11th-most

 

· 487 Quality Passes, 12th-most

 

 

 

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

 

· One win, 10 top fives, 18 top 10s

 

· Average finish of 11.5

 

· Average Running Position of 12.4, seventh-best

 

· Driver Rating of 96.8, sixth-best

 

· 80 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most

 

· 1,004 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

 

· Average Green Flag Speed of 173.874 mph, fifth-fastest

 

· 2,032 Laps in the Top 15 (74.2%), fifth-most

 

· 586 Quality Passes, fifth-most

 

 

 

Chase Contenders - The Top 12 following race 14 of 36

 

1. Matt Kenseth 523 1 0 2 105.1

 

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 513 0 0 3 100.7

 

3. Greg Biffle 507 1 2 1 105.4

 

4. Denny Hamlin 504 2 1 4 101.5

 

5. Jimmie Johnson 493 2 0 5 108.4

 

6. Kevin Harvick 470 0 0 7 95.9

 

7. Martin Truex Jr. 465 0 1 6 95.3

 

8. Tony Stewart 448 2 0 8 91.4

 

9. Clint Bowyer 443 0 0 10 87.7

 

10. Brad Keselowski 426 2 0 11 91.9

 

11. Carl Edwards 423 0 1 12 85.0

 

12. Kyle Busch 420 1 0 9 95.4

 

 

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.

 

At Michigan International Speedway:

History

· Michigan International Speedway sits on more than 1,400 acres in the “Irish Hills” of Southeastern Michigan. Ground-breaking took place on Sept. 28, 1967.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan was held June 15, 1969.

· The track was known as Michigan Speedway during the time Roger Penske was the primary owner (1996-99).

· The 2-mile speedway underwent a repave this season.

Notebook

· There have been 85 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Michigan International Speedway since the first race there in 1969. Other than 1973, which had just one race, there have been two races each season since 1969.

· The first race was 500 miles in length; the second was scheduled for 600. The track was re-measured to 2.04 miles for the last race in 1970 and both races in 1971 – with the race distance being 402 miles. All other races have been scheduled for 400 miles.

· Donnie Allison won the first pole.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was won by Cale Yarborough.

· There have been 41 different pole winners, led by David Pearson with 10. Mark Martin has five poles.

· 34 different drivers have won races, led by David Pearson (nine); 19 drivers have more than one victory at Michigan.

· The race winner has started from the pole 16 times, the most productive starting position. Brian Vickers (August, 2009) was the last driver to win from the pole.

· 66 of 85 races have been won from a top-10 starting position, including 46 from the first four spots.

· The deepest in the field a race winner has started was 32nd, by Mark Martin in the June race of 2009.

· The Wood Brothers and Roush Fenway Racing both have 11 wins, more than any other team.

· Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth are the only drivers to average a top-10 finish. Edwards, who has two Michigan wins, has an average finish of 8.2. Coincidentally, Edwards’ first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start came at Michigan. Kenseth, who also has two victories, has an average finish of 9.5.

· Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Michigan International Speedway winner: Kurt Busch (06/15/2003 – 24 years, 10 months, 11 days).

· Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Michigan International Speedway winner: Harry Gant (08/16/1992 – 52 years, 7 months, 6 days).

Michigan International Speedway Data

 

Race #: 15 of 36 (06-17-12)

 

Track Size: 2 miles

 

Race Length: 200 laps / 400 miles

 

· Banking in Corners: 18 degrees

 

· Banking Frontstretch: 12 degrees

 

· Banking Backstretch: 5 degrees

 

· Frontstretch: 3,600 feet

 

· Backstretch: 2,242 feet

 

 

 

Top 12 Driver Rating at Michigan

 

Greg Biffle................................ 106.5

 

Carl Edwards............................ 106.5

 

Jimmie Johnson........................ 105.6

 

Matt Kenseth............................. 104.7

 

Denny Hamlin............................. 97.1

 

Tony Stewart............................... 96.8

 

Jeff Gordon................................ 96.4

 

Kyle Busch................................. 95.6

 

Kurt Busch.................................. 95.3

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr........................ 94.2

 

Brian Vickers.............................. 91.5

 

Kasey Kahne.............................. 88.0

 

Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2011 races (seven total) at Michigan.

 

Qualifying/Race Data

 

2011 pole winner: Kurt Busch, (188.699 mph, 38.156 seconds)

 

2011 race winner: Denny Hamlin, (153.029 mph, 2:36:50, 06-19-11)

 

Track qualifying record: Ryan Newman, (194.232 mph, 37.069 seconds, 06-18-05)

 

Track race record: Dale Jarrett, (173.997 mph, 2:17:56, 06-13-99)

 

NASCAR in Michigan

 

· There have been 90 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Michigan.

· 96 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series (all-time) have their home state recorded as Michigan.

· There have been eight race winners from Michigan in NASCAR’s three national series