Statistically speaking: a look at Pocono
This weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., for Sunday’s GoBowling.com 400. Jeff Gordon is the defending winner of this weekend’s race. That win is one of six victories for Gordon at Pocono, making him the track’s winningest driver. Series points leader Jimmie Johnson is the most recent Sprint Cup Series winner at Pocono, taking the victory the last time the circuit visited the track in June. Johnson has three Pocono wins to his credit. Sandwiched between Gordon and Johnson on the Pocono wins list is Denny Hamlin, a four-time Pocono winner. Here’s a statistical look at how some of the top drivers have fared at Pocono (statistics provided by NASCAR Media Group):
Greg Biffle (No. Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· One win, three top fives, five top 10s
· Average finish of 16.7
· Average Running Position of 14.4, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 87.8, 13th-best
· 97 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
· 1,347 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 160.563 mph, 11th-fastest
· 2,083 Laps in the Top 15 (66.5%), eighth-most
· 659 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), seventh-most
Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet)
· Two wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 15.8
· Average Running Position of 10.9, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 103.8, third-best
· 304 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.085 mph, third-fastest
· 2,219 Laps in the Top 15 (74.7%), sixth-most
· 618 Quality Passes, 10th-most
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Six top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.7
· Driver Rating of 88.0, 12th-best
· 60 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 13.5
· Average Running Position of 14.5, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 97.8, sixth-best
· 175 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 160.838 mph, fifth-fastest
· 2,002 Laps in the Top 15 (63.9%), ninth-most
· 620 Quality Passes, ninth-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Six wins, 18 top fives, 28 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 10.2
· Average Running Position of 10.5, third-best
· Driver Rating of 100.0, fourth-best
· 111 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
· 1,319 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 160.928 mph, fourth-fastest
· 2,337 Laps in the Top 15 (74.6%), third-most
· 721 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Four wins, eight top fives, 10 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 10.5
· Series-best Average Running Position of 9.1
· Series-best Driver Rating of 113.8
· Series-high 434 Fastest Laps Run
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 161.419 mph
· 2,244 Laps in the Top 15 (82.3%), fifth-most
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
· Five top fives, nine top 10s
· Average finish of 13.9
· Average Running Position of 14.0, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 90.2, 10th-best
· 1,440 Green Flag Passes, second-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 160.562 mph, 12th-fastest
· 1,955 Laps in the Top 15 (62.4%), 10th-most
· 671 Quality Passes, sixth-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Three wins, 10 top fives, 16 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 8.7
· Average Running Position of 9.3, second-best
· Driver Rating of 110.0, second-best
· 259 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.266 mph, second-fastest
· Series-high 2,536 Laps in the Top 15 (81.0%)
· 741 Quality Passes, second-most
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· One win, four top fives, six top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 17.8
· Driver Rating of 89.6, 11th-best
· 243 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 160.816 mph, seventh-fastest
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Three top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 14.7
· Average Running Position of 12.9, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 90.7, ninth-best
· 687 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Mark Martin (No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· 20 top fives, 34 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 11.2
· Average Running Position of 12.6, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 93.1, eighth-best
· 2,126 Laps in the Top 15 (67.9%), seventh-most
Ryan Newman (No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· One win, eight top fives, 11 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 12.0
· Average Running Position of 11.2, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 95.4, seventh-best
· 2,379 Laps in the Top 15 (76.0%), second-most
· Series-high 774 Quality Passes
Tony Stewart (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· Two wins, 12 top fives, 21 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 11.0
· Average Running Position of 12.0, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 98.8, fifth-best
· 1,418 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
· 2,291 Laps in the Top 15 (73.1%), fourth-most
· 737 Quality Passes, third-most
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