Statistically speaking: a look at Charlotte
On Sunday, competitors in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the home track for most teams, Charlotte Motor Speedway, in the longest race of the season — the Coca-Cola 600. The circuit was at the track just last weekend for the Sprint All-Star Race. Five-time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson won that non-points-paying exhibition. Sunday, teams and drivers get back to business as the regular season resumes with the 600-mile race. Johnson also leads the way in wins at Charlotte when it comes to racest that count — points paying races — with six trips to victory lane. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon is next in line with five. Another HMS driver, Kasey Kahne, and Michael Waltrip Racing’s Mark Martin each have four. Here’s a statistical look at how some of the top Sprint Cup drivers have fared at Charlotte over the years (statistics courtesy of NASCAR Media Group):
Aric Almirola (No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford)
· One pole
· Average finish of 14.0
· Average Running Position of 12.5, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 84.8, 11th-best
Greg Biffle (No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Five top fives, eight top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.4
· Average Running Position of 13.9, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 94.1, fifth-best
· 300 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 1,174 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 175.906 mph, third-fastest
· 3,716 Laps in the Top 15 (65.1%), sixth-most
· 653 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Eight top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 15.3
· Average Running Position of 9.6, second-best
· Driver Rating of 107.7, second-best
· 418 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· 1,147 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 176.527 mph, second-fastest
· 4,565 Laps in the Top 15 (80.0%), second-most
· Series-high 833 Quality Passes
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Five top fives, 11 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 18.8
· Average Running Position of 20.2, 25th-best
· Driver Rating of 78.8, 18th-best
· 1,228 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
· 2,401 Laps in the Top 15 (44.7%), 17th-most
· 487 Quality Passes, 17th-most
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Five top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 12.0
· Average Running Position of 15.4, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 89.0, seventh-best
· 118 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
· 1,329 Green Flag Passes, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 175.543 mph, 12th-fastest
· 3,282 Laps in the Top 15 (57.5%), eighth-most
· 632 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Five wins, 16 top fives, 21 top 10s; eight poles
· Average finish of 15.7
· Average Running Position of 15.9, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 87.3, 10th-best
· 188 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· 1,124 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 175.723 mph, sixth-fastest
· 3,216 Laps in the Top 15 (56.4%), ninth-most
· 601 Quality Passes, ninth-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Three top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 14.1
· Average Running Position of 12.9, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 92.1, sixth-best
· 200 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 175.656 mph, ninth-fastest
· 3,780 Laps in the Top 15 (71.2%), fourth-most
· 616 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Six wins, 11 top fives, 15 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 11.4
· Series-best Average Running Position of 7.9
· Series-best Driver Rating of 111.7
· Series-high 544 Fastest Laps Run
· 1,167 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 176.653 mph
· Series-high 4,932 Laps in the Top 15 (86.4%)
· 825 Quality Passes, second-most
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Four wins, seven top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 12.4
· Average Running Position of 12.4, third-best
· Driver Rating of 98.0, third-best
· 474 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· 1,331 Green Flag Passes, second-most
· 3,729 Laps in the Top 15 (65.4%), fifth-most
· 729 Quality Passes, third-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Two wins, seven top fives, 14 top 10s
· Average finish of 14.2
· Average Running Position of 14.8, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 94.4, fourth-best
· 303 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· 1,259 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 175.786 mph, fifth-fastest
· 3,549 Laps in the Top 15 (62.2%), seventh-most
· 699 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Joey Logano (No. 22 Penske Racing Ford)
· Two top fives, five top 10s
· Average finish of 10.1
· Average Running Position of 14.5, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 88.4, eighth-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 175.561 mph, 11th-fastest
Mark Martin (No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· Four wins, 18 top fives, 24 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 16.6
· Average Running Position of 13.3, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 88.2, ninth-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 175.799 mph, fourth-fastest
· 3,862 Laps in the Top 15 (67.7%), third-most
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· One win, six top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 14.0
· Average Running Position of 15.9, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 83.4, 12th-best
· 187 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· 1,263 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 175.719 mph, seventh-fastest
· 2,998 Laps in the Top 15 (52.5%), 10th-most
· 567 Quality Passes, 10th-most
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