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Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Statistical Advance: Analyzing the KOBALT 400

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada going into the KOBALT 400 on March 12.
LAS VEGAS-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

Ryan Blaney (No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Fusion)
·        One top 10
·        Average finish of 12.500, sixth-best
·        Average Running Position of 15.935, 11th-best
·        Driver Rating of 83.0, 11th-best
·        12 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-best
·        Average Green Flag Speed of 171.010, 13th-fastest
·        263 Laps in the Top 15 (49.3), 12th-most
·        50 Quality Passes, 13th-most

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry)
·        One win, five top fives, six top 10s; two poles
·        Average finish of 11.000, third-best
·        Average Running Position of 9.602, second-best
·        Driver Rating of 103.4, second-best
·        135 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-best
·        Average Green Flag Speed of 171.995, fourth-fastest
·        2366 Laps in the Top 15 (80.0), second-most
·        426 Quality Passes, second-most
Austin Dillon (No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet SS)
·        One top five, one top 10
·        Average finish of 15.500, 10th-best
·        Average Running Position of 16.657, 13th-best
·        Driver Rating of 82.2, 12th-best
·        5 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-best
·        Average Green Flag Speed of 171.412, eighth-fastest
·        469 Laps in the Top 15 (43.9), 13th-most
·        78 Quality Passes, 11th-most

Dale Earnhardt Jr (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet SS)
·        Four top fives, ten top 10s
·        Average finish of 12.250, fourth-best
·        Average Running Position of 12.773, fifth-best
·        Driver Rating of 94.1, sixth-best
·        128 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-best
·        Average Green Flag Speed of 171.835, sixth-fastest
·        2371 Laps in the Top 15 (73.5), fifth-most
·        422 Quality Passes, third-most

Chase Elliott (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet SS)
·        Average finish of 38.000, 13th-best
·        Average Running Position of 13.203, sixth-best
·        Driver Rating of 82.2, 13th-best
·        6 Fastest Laps Run, series-best
·        Average Green Flag Speed of 172.530, series-fastest
·        218 Laps in the Top 15 (81.6), series-most
·        51 Quality Passes, 12th-most

Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford Fusion)
·        One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
·        Average finish of 12.250, fifth-best
·        Average Running Position of 10.419, third-best
·        Driver Rating of 99.6, third-best
·        189 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-best
·        Average Green Flag Speed of 171.916, fifth-fastest
·        2397 Laps in the Top 15 (74.3), fourth-most
·        403 Quality Passes, fourth-most

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet SS)
·        Four wins, six top fives, nine top 10s
·        Average finish of 10.917, second-best
·        Average Running Position of 9.543, series-best
·        Driver Rating of 113.4, series-best
·        414 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-best
·        Average Green Flag Speed of 172.366, second-fastest
·        2443 Laps in the Top 15 (75.8), third-most
·        434 Quality Passes, series-most

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet SS)
·        Three top fives, seven top 10s; three poles
·        Average finish of 14.417, ninth-best
·        Average Running Position of 13.326, seventh-best
·        Driver Rating of 89.1, seventh-best
·        115 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-best
·        Average Green Flag Speed of 171.401, ninth-fastest
·        2205 Laps in the Top 15 (68.4), eighth-most
·        380 Quality Passes, sixth-most

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry)
·        Three wins, six top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
·        Average finish of 14.333, eighth-best
·        Average Running Position of 13.801, eighth-best
·        Driver Rating of 96.9, fourth-best
·        219 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-best
·        Average Green Flag Speed of 172.157, third-fastest
·        2222 Laps in the Top 15 (68.9), seventh-most
·        380 Quality Passes, seventh-most
Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Team Penske Ford Fusion)
·        Two wins, three top fives, four top 10s
·        Average finish of 16.750, 12th-best
·        Average Running Position of 16.069, 12th-best
·        Driver Rating of 86.6, eighth-best
·        98 Fastest Laps Run, second-best
·        Average Green Flag Speed of 171.064, 11th-fastest
·        1211 Laps in the Top 15 (56.2), 11th-most
·        218 Quality Passes, 10th-most

Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford Fusion)
·        Two top fives, four top 10s; one pole
·        Average finish of 10.750, series-best
·        Average Running Position of 11.647, fourth-best
·        Driver Rating of 94.8, fifth-best
·        97 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-best
·        Average Green Flag Speed of 171.507, seventh-fastest
·        1508 Laps in the Top 15 (70.0), sixth-most
·        255 Quality Passes, ninth-most

Ryan Newman (No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet SS)
·        Four top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
·        Average finish of 15.583, 11th-best
·        Average Running Position of 15.000, 10th-best
·        Driver Rating of 83.2, 10th-best
·        49 Fastest Laps Run, third-best
·        Average Green Flag Speed of 171.043, 12th-fastest
·        2128 Laps in the Top 15 (66.0), ninth-most
·        397 Quality Passes, fifth-most

Martin Truex Jr (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota Camry)
·        One top five, three top 10s
·        Average finish of 14.273, seventh-best
·        Average Running Position of 13.985, ninth-best
·        Driver Rating of 85.7, ninth-best
·        27 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-best
·        Average Green Flag Speed of 171.223, 10th-fastest
·        1797 Laps in the Top 15 (60.8), 10th-most
·        357 Quality Passes, eighth-most
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2017 Top 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Driver
Races
Poles
Wins
Top Fives
Top 10s
DNFs
Average Finish
Driver Rating
1
Kevin Harvick
16
0
1
4
7
0
13.4
99.6
2
Kurt Busch
15
2
0
1
4
3
21.2
81.9
3
Brad Keselowski
8
0
2
3
4
0
16.8
86.6
4
Chase Elliott
1
0
0
0
0
1
38
82.2
5
Joey Logano
8
1
0
2
4
0
10.8
94.8
6
Kyle Larson
3
0
0
0
1
0
20.3
77.4
7
Martin Truex Jr
11
0
0
1
3
0
14.3
85.7
8
Ryan Blaney
2
0
0
0
1
0
12.5
83.0
9
Kasey Kahne
13
3
0
3
7
2
13.5
89.1
10
Trevor Bayne
6
0
0
0
1
0
19.5
65.1
11
AJ Allmendinger
7
0
0
0
1
0
21.7
67.1
12
Jamie McMurray
14
0
0
1
4
0
17.3
74.2
13
Aric Almirola
8
0
0
0
0
3
29.8
55.1
14
Clint Bowyer
11
0
0
1
3
0
18.5
71.0
15
Paul Menard
10
0
0
1
3
1
16.5
75.0
16
Matt Kenseth
17
1
3
6
9
2
12.9
96.9
* – Based on last 12 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (2005 – 2016).


2017 Stage Winners / Drivers with Playoff Points
Track
Stage 1 Winner
Stage 2 Winner
Race Winner
Playoff Points Following Race #2
Daytona
Kyle Busch
Kevin Harvick
Kurt Busch
Drivers
Playoff Points
Atlanta
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Brad Keselowski
Kurt Busch
5
Las Vegas
Brad Keselowski
5
Phoenix



Kevin Harvick
3
Auto Club
Kyle Busch
1
Martinsville





Texas
Bristol





Richmond
Talladega







At Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
History
·        The construction to build the superspeedway known today as Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) began in 1995. Speedway Motorsports Inc. acquired the property in 1998.
·        The first NASCAR race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race won by Ken Schrader on Nov. 2, 1996.
·        The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race was held on March 1, 1998, won by Mark Martin.
·        In 2006, the track was reconfigured to include progressive banking.
Starts
·        There have been 19 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
·        143 drivers have competed in at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas; 108 in more than one. 
·        Jeff Gordon leads the series in starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with 18. Matt Kenseth leads all active drivers with 17 starts.
·        Stanton Barrett (1999), Kyle Busch (2004), Timmy Hill (2012), Jon Wood and Aric Almirola (2007) made their first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
·        Joey Logano leads the series among active drivers in average starting position at LVMS with an 8.250.
Poles
·        Dale Jarrett won the inaugural pole at LVMS with a speed of 168.224 mph (32.773 secs.).
·        12 drivers have MENCS poles at LVMS, led by Kasey Kahne with three (2004, 2007 and 2012). 
·        Kyle Busch is the only driver to win consecutive poles at LVMS from (2008-‘09).
·        Youngest LVMS pole winner: Kyle Busch (3/2/2008 – 22 years, 10 months, 0 days). 
·        Oldest LVMS pole winner: Dale Jarrett (3/4/2001 – 44 years, 3 months, 6 days). 

Wins
·        11 different Monster Energy drivers have won at LVMS, led by Jimmie Johnson with four (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2010). 
·        Five drivers have multiple Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins at Las Vegas: Jimmie Johnson (four), Matt Kenseth (three), Brad Keselowski, Jeff Burton and Carl Edwards (each have two).
·        Roush Fenway Racing leads the series in wins at Las Vegas with seven, followed by Hendrick Motorsports with five, Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing (two each), Chip Ganassi Racing (one). 
·        Las Vegas-native Kyle Busch became the first and only driver to win from the pole, in 2009.
·        Only three of the 19 LVMS races (15.8%) have been won from the front row: Kyle Busch, 2009 (pole); Carl Edwards, 2008 (second-place); Brad Keselowski, 2014 (second-place).
·        Five of the 19 races (26.3%) have been won from a top-five starting position at Las Vegas.
·        Nine of the 19 (47.4%) races have been won from a top-10 starting position at Las Vegas.
·        Four of the 19 races (21.1%) at Las Vegas have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
·        The deepest in the field that a race winner has started was 25th, by Matt Kenseth in 2004.
·        Youngest LVMS winner: Kyle Busch (03/01/2009 – 23 years, 9 months, 27 days). 
·        Oldest LVMS winner: Sterling Marlin (03/03/2002 – 44 years, 7 months, 32 days). 
·        Three drivers have won consecutive races at Las Vegas: Jeff Burton (1999, 2000); Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004) and Jimmie Johnson is the only driver to win three consecutive races (2005, 2006 and 2007).
·        Eight of the 11 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have won 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. 
·        Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series (active drivers) with the most starts at Las Vegas without visiting Victory Lane with 17 races. 
·        No driver has won the first three races of the season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The five drivers that have won the first two events of the series season are: Matt Kenseth (2009), Jeff Gordon (1997), David Pearson (1976), Bob Welborn (1959) and Marvin Panch (1957).  
·        Four reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champions have gone on to win at Las Vegas the following season: Matt Kenseth (2004), Tony Stewart (2012), Kevin Harvick (2015) and Jimmie Johnson (2007, 2010) - Johnson is the only driver to do it multiple times.
·        Three drivers have won at Las Vegas and the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship in the same season: Jeff Gordon (2001), Matt Kenseth (2003) and Jimmie Johnson (2006, 2007 and 2010). 
·        Four manufacturers have visited Victory Lane in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at LVMS, led by Ford (Nine), Chevrolet (seven), Toyota (two) and Dodge (one). 
·        Only four car numbers have produced two or more Las Vegas MENCS wins:
Car Number – Drivers – (Years)
o   No. 48  – Jimmie Johnson (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2010)
o   No. 99 – Jeff Burton (1999, 2000) Carl Edwards (2008, 2011)
o   No17 –  Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004)
o   No. 2 – Brad Keselowski (2014, 2016)  

Additional Finishing Positions
·        Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series in runner-up finishes at Las Vegas with three; followed by Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart with two each. 
·        Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart lead the series in top-five finishes at Las Vegas with six each. 
·        Dale Earnhardt Jr and Mark Martin leads the series in top-10 finishes with 10 each. 
·        Joey Logano leads the series in average finish at LVMS with a 10.750.   

Female Competitors
·        Danica Patrick and Shawna Robinson are the only two female drivers to compete at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Driver
Season
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Driver Rating
Danica Patrick
2016
18
21
54.9
Danica Patrick
2015
21
27
60.4
Danica Patrick
2014
22
21
58.0
Danica Patrick
2013
37
33
40.5
Shawna Robinson
2002
36
42
N/A

·        Danica Patrick has an average finish of 28.8 at LVMS.
Track / Specific Event
·        There has been one resulting with a NASCAR Overtime finish at Las Vegas: 2006 (Scheduled Laps: 267; Actual Laps: 270).
·        Qualifying has only been cancelled once at LVMS - 2013.
·        The closest margin of victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the March 12, 2006 race won by Jimmie Johnson over Matt Kenseth by a MOV of 0.045 second. Below is a look at the MOVs at LVMS over the last 10 races:
Date
Margin of Victory
3/6/2016
0.675
3/8/2015
1.64
3/9/2014
1.53
3/10/2013
0.594
3/11/2012
0.461
3/6/2011
1.246
2/28/2010
1.874
3/1/2009
0.411
3/2/2008
0.504
3/11/2007
2.795
Average MOV
1.173

NASCAR in Nevada
·        There have been a total of 60 NASCAR national series races among two tracks in the state of Nevada.
Track Name
City
Total Races
Monster Energy
XFINITY
Camping World
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas
59
19
20
20
Las Vegas Park Speedway
Las Vegas
1
1
0
0
Totals

60
20
20
20

·        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 in a Chrysler. 
·        25 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Nevada. 
·        13 drivers from the state of Nevada have made at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start.

Drivers
Starts
Kurt Busch
577
Kyle Busch
427
Eddie Skinner
56
Brendan Gaughan
51
T.J. Bell
11
Doc Faustina
10
Bob Ruppert
3
Brownie Brown
2
Gus Newman
2
Britton Jones
1
Herb Hill
1
Romie Alderman
1
Wayne Jacks
1
·        Three drivers with their home state recorded as Nevada have won a NASCAR national series race.
Drivers
National Series Wins
Kyle Busch
170
Kurt Busch
38
Brendan Gaughan
10

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Milestones
Drivers
Has
Needs
Milestones
Clint Bowyer
399
1
400th MENCS start; Ties Denny Hamlin for 58th on all-time MENCS starts list
Jimmie Johnson
80
3
Tie Cale Yarborough for sixth on MENCS all-time wins list
Kyle Busch
38
1
Tie Tim Flock for 18th on all-time MENCS wins list
Matt Kenseth
38
1
Tie Tim Flock for 18th on all-time MENCS wins list
Kevin Harvick
35
2
Tie Bobby Isaac for 21st on MENCS all-time wins list
Kurt Busch
29
3
Tie Dale Jarrett for 24th on all-time MENCS wins list
Denny Hamlin
29
3
Tie Dale Jarrett for 24th on all-time MENCS wins list
Ryan Newman
51
3
To tie Bill Elliott for eighth on the all-time MENCS poles list
Jimmie Johnson
35
1
Tie Rusty Wallace and Rex White for 17th on all-time MENCS poles list
Kasey Kahne
27
1
Break the tie with Terry Labonte to become solely 25th on all-time MENCS poles list
Denny Hamlin
24
1
Break the tie with Alan Kulwicki to become solely 28th on all-time MENCS poles list
Kevin Harvick
48
1
Break the tie with Lee Petty and become solely 10th on all-time MENCS second-place finishes list
Jimmie Johnson
46
2
Tie Lee Petty and Kevin Harvick for 10th on all-time MENCS second-place finishes list
Kyle Busch
36
1
Tie Bobby Isaac and Ned Jarrett for 17th on all-time MENCS second-place finishes list
Matt Kenseth
29
1
Tie Ricky Rudd for 25th on all-time MENCS second-place finishes list
Matt Kenseth
172
3
Tie Bill Elliott for 19th on all-time MENCS top-five finishes list
Dale Earnhardt Jr
148
2
To become the 23rd driver to post 150th MENCS top-five finishes
Jimmie Johnson
330
2
Tie Lee Petty for 12th on the MENCS all-time top-10 finishes list
Matt Kenseth
310
1
Tie Buddy Baker for 16th on the MENCS all-time top-10 finishes list
Kurt Busch
8,862
138
To become 20th MENCS driver all-time to lead 9,000 or more laps
Brad Keselowski
4,855
145
To become 39th MENCS driver all-time to lead 5,000 or more laps
Ryan Newman
4,705
295
To become 39th MENCS driver all-time to lead 5,000 or more laps
Track Specific Milestones

Drivers
Has
Needs
Milestones
Matt Kenseth
3
1
Tie Jimmie Johnson for the series-most wins at LVMS
Brad Keselowski
2
1
Tie Matt Kenseth for the second-most wins at LVMS in the series
Kurt Busch
2
1
Tie Kasey Kahne for the series-most poles at LVMS
Kyle Busch
2
1
Tie Kasey Kahne for the series-most poles at LVMS
Jimmie Johnson
576
24
To become first driver to lead over 600 laps at LVMS in their MENCS career
Matt Kenseth
526
74
To become first driver to lead over 600 laps at LVMS in their MENCS career

DRIVERS OUTSIDE THE TOP 30 IN POINTS
30th
David Ragan
27 Pts
Pts. Pos.
Drivers
Points
Pts. Back from 30th Position
31
Daniel Suarez
25
-2
32
Jimmie Johnson
24
-3
33
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
20
-7
34
Corey LaJoie
16
-11
35
Chris Buescher
15
-12
36
Jeffrey Earnhardt
15
-12
37
Reed Sorenson
6
-21
38
D J Kennington
1
-26
39
Derrike Cope
1
-26
40
Gray Gaulding
1
-26
41
Cody Ware
1
-26

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Las Vegas Winners List Since 1998:

Date
Winners
Crew Chiefs
3/6/2016
Brad Keselowski
Paul Wolfe
3/8/2015
Kevin Harvick
Rodney Childers
3/9/2014
Brad Keselowski
Paul Wolfe
3/10/2013
Matt Kenseth
Jason Ratcliff
3/11/2012
Tony Stewart
Steve Addington
3/6/2011
Carl Edwards
Bob Osborne
2/28/2010
Jimmie Johnson
Chad Knaus
3/1/2009
Kyle Busch
Steve Addington
3/2/2008
Carl Edwards
Bob Osborne
3/11/2007
Jimmie Johnson
Chad Knaus
3/12/2006
Jimmie Johnson
Darian Grubb
3/13/2005
Jimmie Johnson
Chad Knaus
3/7/2004
Matt Kenseth
Robbie Reiser
3/2/2003
Matt Kenseth
Robbie Reiser
3/3/2002
Sterling Marlin
Lee McCall
3/4/2001
Jeff Gordon
Robbie Loomis
3/5/2000
Jeff Burton
Frank Stoddard Jr
3/7/1999
Jeff Burton
Frank Stoddard Jr
3/1/1998
Mark Martin
Jimmy Fennig

2017 Playoff Grid Outlook
Pos.
Drivers
Points
Wins
Playoff Points
1
Kurt Busch
86
1
5
2
Brad Keselowski
84
1
5
3
Kevin Harvick
90
0
3
4
Chase Elliott
82
0
0
5
Joey Logano
80
0
0
6
Kyle Larson
79
0
0
7
Martin Truex Jr.
67
0
0
8
Ryan Blaney
63
0
0
9
Kasey Kahne
63
0
0
10
Trevor Bayne
58
0
0
11
AJ Allmendinger
50
0
0
12
Jamie McMurray
49
0
0
13
Aric Almirola
47
0
0
14
Clint Bowyer
46
0
0
15
Paul Menard
44
0
0
16
Matt Kenseth
41
0
0
Outside Looking In 
17
Cole Whitt
38
0
0
18
Matt Dibenedetto
37
0
0
19
Denny Hamlin
37
0
0
20
Ryan Newman
37
0
0
21
Landon Cassill
36
0
0
22
Danica Patrick
36
0
0
23
Austin Dillon
35
0
0
24
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
34
0
0
25
Kyle Busch
32
0
1
26
Ty Dillon
31
0
0
27
Michael McDowell
30
0
0
28
Michael Waltrip
29
0
0
29
Erik Jones
27
0
0
30
David Ragan
27
0
0

Green = Locked into the Playoffs, provided they attempt to qualify for the remaining regular season races and are in the top 30 in points

Yellow = Have a win, inside the current Playoff Grid's top 16 - Currently in the Playoffs, not locked in

Orange = No wins, Inside the current Playoff Grid's top 16 - Currently in the Playoffs, not locked in

Red = Inside the current top 30 in points, outside of the Playoff cutoff

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