Statistical look at the Daytona 500

Kevin Harvick is on a roll at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway heading into Sunday’s official season opener, the Daytona 500. He’s already made two trips to victory lane, claiming a win in the Sprint Unlimited last Saturday and a victory in the Budweiser Duel at Daytona on Thursday. Below, is a statistical look at how some notable drivers have fared in the Daytona 500 over the years (stats provided by NASCAR):

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota)

·         Two top fives, six top 10s

·         Average finish of 15.8

·         Average Running Position of 16.5, 11th-best

·         Driver Rating of 85.3, eighth-best

·         65 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

·         2,949 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 188.144 mph, seventh-fastest

Jeff Burton (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)

·         One win, nine top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 17.1

·         Average Running Position of 16.0, eighth-best

·         Driver Rating of 85.5, seventh-best

·         63 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

·         3,400 Green Flag Passes, third-most

·         Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 188.312 mph

·         1,582 Laps in the Top 15 (55.0%), ninth-most

·         1,993 Quality Passes, seventh-most

Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet)

·         10 top fives, 12 top 10s

·         Average finish of 18.0

·         Average Running Position of 15.9, seventh-best

·         Driver Rating of 89.7, fourth-best

·         59 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most

·         2,973 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most

·         1,776 Laps in the Top 15 (61.8%), fifth-most

·         2,127 Quality Passes, fifth-most

Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)

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

·         Average finish of 18.0

·         Series-best Average Running Position of 12.1

·         Series-best Driver Rating of 97.6

·         72 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

·         3,058 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 188.184 mph, fourth-fastest

·         Series-high 2,081 Laps in the Top 15 (72.4%)

·         Series-high 2,300 Quality Passes

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet)

·         Two wins, nine top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 14.5

·         Average Running Position of 14.7, fourth-best

·         Driver Rating of 88.3, fifth-best

·         69 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

·         3,190 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 188.155 mph, fifth-fastest

·         1,798 Laps in the Top 15 (62.5%), fourth-most

·         2,142 Quality Passes, fourth-most

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford)

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

·         Average finish of 16.6

·         Average Running Position of 16.6, 12th-best

·         Driver Rating of 84.7, 10th-best

·         3,232 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 188.091 mph, 11th-fastest

·         1,641 Laps in the Top 15 (57.1%), eighth-most

·         2,201 Quality Passes, second-most

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)

·         Six wins, 12 top fives, 19 top 10s; three poles

·         Average finish of 16.1

·         Average Running Position of 14.9, fifth-best

·         Driver Rating of 88.1, sixth-best

·         1,648 Laps in the Top 15 (57.3%), seventh-most

·         1,807 Quality Passes, 11th-most

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota)

·         Two top fives, two top 10s

·         Average finish of 21.0

·         Average Running Position of 16.8, 13th-best

·         Driver Rating of 83.3, 11th-best

·         68 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 188.120 mph, eighth-fastest

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)

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

·         Average finish of 15.4

·         Driver Rating of 84.7, ninth-best

·         Series-high 80 Fastest Laps Run

·         3,056 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 188.195 mph, third-fastest

·         1,691 Quality Passes, 13th-most

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet)

·         Two top fives, seven top 10s

·         Average finish of 17.3

·         Average Running Position of 16.4, 10th-best

·         Driver Rating of 83.0, 13th-best

·         68 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

·         Series-high 3,520 Green Flag Passes

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 188.215 mph, second-fastest

·         1,489 Laps in the Top 15 (51.8%), 12th-most

·         1,997 Quality Passes, sixth-most

Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Dollar General Toyota)

·         Two wins, six top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 16.2

·         Average Running Position of 14.2, third-best

·         Driver Rating of 92.5, third-best

·         71 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

·         2,775 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most

·         1,809 Laps in the Top 15 (62.9%), third-most

·         1,907 Quality Passes, eighth-most

Ryan Newman (No. 39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet)

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

·         Average finish of 21.2

·         Driver Rating of 83.2, 12th-best

·         59 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most

·         2,978 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 188.047 mph, 13th-fastest

·         1,524 Laps in the Top 15 (53.0%), 10th-most

·         1,729 Quality Passes, 12th-most

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet)

·         Four wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 16.1

·         Average Running Position of 13.9, second-best

·         Driver Rating of 96.5, second-best

·         67 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 188.155 mph, sixth-fastest

·         1,825 Laps in the Top 15 (63.5%), second-most