Statistically speaking: a look at Texas Motor Speedway
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series goes night racing this weekend with Saturday night’s running of the NRA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. It’s the first night race of the season. In the past, Roush Fenway Racing has dominated victory lane at TMS, claiming nine wins, the most of any team in Sprint Cup competition. Hendrick Motorsports is second with four wins to its credit.
Current Roush Fenway drivers Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards have a combined five wins at the track — Edwards with three wins and Biffle with two victories. Hendrick driver and current series points leader Jimmie Johnson also has two Texas wins.
Here’s a rundown of how some of the top drivers have fared at Texas Motor Speedway (statistics provided by NASCAR Media Group):
Greg Biffle (No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 15.9
· Average Running Position of 12.2, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 103.4, third-best
· Series-high 455 Fastest Laps Run
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 173.056 mph
· 3,976 Laps in the Top 15 (74.2%), sixth-most
· 655 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), second-most
Clint Bowyer (No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· Three top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 12.8
· Average Running Position of 12.8, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 92.5, ninth-best
· 118 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.688 mph, seventh-fastest
Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet)
· One win, three top fives, 12 top 10s
· Average finish of 14.1
· Average Running Position of 14.2, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 89.0, 11th-best
· 182 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· 1,225 Green Flag Passes, third-most
· 3,206 Laps in the Top 15 (59.9%), 11th-most
· 546 Quality Passes, 11th-most
Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Five top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 14.9
· Average Running Position of 11.8, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 98.7, fifth-best
· 242 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.930 mph, third-fastest
· 3,529 Laps in the Top 15 (70.3%), seventh-most
· 557 Quality Passes, 10th-most
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· One win, three top fives, 12 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 13.6
· Average Running Position of 11.5, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 92.7, eighth-best
· 172 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
· 1,192 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.669 mph, eighth-fastest
· 4,106 Laps in the Top 15 (76.7%), second-most
· Series-high 677 Quality Passes
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Three wins, five top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 15.1
· Average Running Position of 11.8, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 98.3, sixth-best
· 342 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· 1,043 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.919 mph, fourth-fastest
· 4,043 Laps in the Top 15 (75.5%), third-most
· 652 Quality Passes, third-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· One win, eight top fives, 11 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 16.1
· Average Running Position of 13.7, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 91.9, 10th-best
· 273 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
· 1,056 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.542 mph, 10th-fastest
· 3,362 Laps in the Top 15 (62.8%), eighth-most
· 585 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Two wins, nine top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 9.3
· Average Running Position of 11.1, third-best
· Driver Rating of 103.5, second-best
· 370 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.787 mph, sixth-fastest
· 3,997 Laps in the Top 15 (74.6%), fourth-most
· 608 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Two wins, 12 top fives, 15 top 10s
· Average finish of 8.3
· Series-best Average Running Position of 9.4
· Series-best Driver Rating of 106.6
· 301 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 1,183 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 173.019 mph, second-fastest
· Series-high 4,174 Laps in the Top 15 (77.9%)
· 634 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Mark Martin (No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· One win, eight top fives, 13 top 10s
· Average finish of 13.9
· Average Running Position of 14.0, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 88.6, 12th-best
· 133 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
· 1,124 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.480 mph, 12th-fastest
· 3,253 Laps in the Top 15 (60.7%), 10th-most
· 521 Quality Passes, 13th-most
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· Two wins, six top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 12.7
· Average Running Position of 10.0, second-best
· Driver Rating of 101.4, fourth-best
· 344 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.917 mph, fifth-fastest
· 3,990 Laps in the Top 15 (74.5%), fifth-most
· 590 Quality Passes, seventh-most
Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· One top five, seven top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 15.9
· Driver Rating of 86.1, 13th-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 172.507 mph, 11th-fastest
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