Statistically speaking: a look at Sonoma
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads west this weekend for road course racing in Sonoma, Calif. — Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350. When it comes to Sprint Cup racing at Sonoma Raceway, Jeff Gordon is tops with five wins at the track. Among active drivers, Tony Stewart is the other wheel man with multiple wins at the track with two trips to victory lane. Here’s a statistical look at how some of the top drivers have fared in the past when it comes to Sonoma Raceway (stats provided by NASCAR Media Group):
Marcos Ambrose (No. 9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford)
· Two top fives, four top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 12.8
· Average Running Position of 10.9, third-best
· Driver Rating of 106.8, third-best
· 49 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 89.807 mph, second-fastest
· 452 Laps in the Top 15 (81.1%), 11th-most
· 187 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fifth-most
Clint Bowyer (No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· One win, four top fives, five top 10s
· Average finish of 9.7
· Average Running Position of 14.6, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 93.3, seventh-best
· 476 Green Flag Passes, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 89.333 mph, seventh-fastest
Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet)
· One win, five top fives, five top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.0
· Series-best Average Running Position of 9.2
· Series-best Driver Rating of 107.8
· 35 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 89.684 mph, third-fastest
· 705 Laps in the Top 15 (79.5%), second-most
· 186 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· One win, one top five, two top 10s
· Average finish of 18.6
· Driver Rating of 92.8, eighth-best
· 48 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 89.540 mph, fifth-fastest
· 512 Laps in the Top 15 (57.7%), sixth-most
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· One top five, three top 10s
· Average finish of 17.1
· Average Running Position of 16.0, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 84.9, 10th-best
· 27 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
· Series-high 515 Green Flag Passes
· Average Green Flag Speed of 89.331 mph, ninth-fastest
· 471 Laps in the Top 15 (53.1%), ninth-most
· 181 Quality Passes, 10th-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Five wins, 12 top fives, 16 top 10s; five poles
· Average finish of 8.6
· Average Running Position of 12.5, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 101.1, fourth-best
· 56 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· 439 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 89.560 mph, fourth-fastest
· 593 Laps in the Top 15 (66.9%), fourth-most
· 206 Quality Passes, second-most
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
· Three top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 16.1
· Average Running Position of 15.4, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 82.2, 13th-best
· 20 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
· 455 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· 499 Laps in the Top 15 (56.3%), eighth-most
· 153 Quality Passes, 12th-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· One win, four top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 13.8
· Average Running Position of 12.7, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 96.6, sixth-best
· 52 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· 625 Laps in the Top 15 (70.5%), third-most
· 204 Quality Passes, third-most
Jamie McMurray (No. 1 Earnhardt Ganassi Chevrolet)
· One top five, one top 10; one pole
· Average finish of 17.1
· Driver Rating of 84.4, 12th-best
· 441 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 89.330 mph, 10th-fastest
Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Earnhardt Ganassi Chevrolet)
· One win, one top five, four top 10s
· Average finish of 13.2
· Average Running Position of 11.8, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 97.8, fifth-best
· 23 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 89.332 mph, eighth-fastest
· 509 Laps in the Top 15 (76.3%), seventh-most
· 195 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Ryan Newman (No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· Two top fives, five top 10s
· Average finish of 12.9
· Average Running Position of 13.6, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 89.9, ninth-best
· 448 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 89.375 mph, sixth-fastest
· 571 Laps in the Top 15 (64.4%), fifth-most
· 185 Quality Passes, seventh-most
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· Two wins, five top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 10.9
· Average Running Position of 10.0, second-best
· Driver Rating of 107.5, second-best
· Series-high 79 Fastest Laps Run
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 89.877 mph
· Series-high 706 Laps in the Top 15 (79.6%)
· Series-high 252 Quality Passes
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