Statistically speaking: a look at Richmond
Saturday night’s Federated Auto Parts 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond (Va.) International Speedway is the 26th race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, making it the final race before the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup NASCAR post-season. Ten drivers are vying for the final five spots available in the 12-man Chase.
Kyle Busch, who is already locked into the Chase, is the winningest among active drivers at Richmond with four trips to victory lane. Several drivers have three Richmond wins to their credit, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of the 10 drivers fighting for one of those five remaining slots in the Chase. Other three-time Richmond winners include Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson, both of whom are already locked in.
Below, is a statistical look at how some of the sport’s top drivers have fared at Richmond (stats courtesy of NASCAR Media Group):
Clint Bowyer (No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· Two wins, three top fives, nine top 10s
· Average finish of 9.1
· Average Running Position of 9.8, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 100.4, fourth-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.451 mph, fifth-fastest
· 4,771 Laps in the Top 15 (79.3%), fifth-most
· 467 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fourth-most
Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet)
· One win, four top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 17.9
· Average Running Position of 15.1, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 90.0, 10th-best
· 331 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 772 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most
· 405 Quality Passes, seventh-most
Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Four wins, 12 top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 6.5
· Average Running Position of 7.7, third-best
· Driver Rating of 113.0, second-best
· 519 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.818 mph, second-fastest
· 5,934 Laps in the Top 15 (87.1%), second-most
· 509 Quality Passes, third-most
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Three wins, nine top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 13.8
· Average Running Position of 15.2, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 85.6, 13th-best
· 320 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
· 885 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
· 380 Quality Passes, 13th-most
Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Three top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 14.4
· Average Running Position of 15.1, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 88.9, 11th-best
· 268 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· 875 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.319 mph, 12th-fastest
· 4,010 Laps in the Top 15 (58.8%), 10th-most
· 399 Quality Passes, 10th-most
Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Two wins, 16 top fives, 25 top 10s; five poles
· Average finish of 14.3
· Average Running Position of 13.9, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 95.7, sixth-best
· 319 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.416 mph, sixth-fastest
· 4,227 Laps in the Top 15 (62.0%), ninth-most
· 400 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Two wins, seven top fives, nine top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 8.1
· Series-best Average Running Position of 5.9
· Series-best Driver Rating of 117.8
· Series-high 582 Fastest Laps Run
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 116.882 mph
· 5,221 Laps in the Top 15 (93.1%), third-most
· 400 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
· Three wins, seven top fives, 16 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 11.3
· Average Running Position of 7.6, second-best
· Driver Rating of 111.1, third-best
· 445 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.721 mph, third-fastest
· Series-high 6,310 Laps in the Top 15 (92.6%)
· Series-high 575 Quality Passes
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Three wins, five top fives, eight top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 16.3
· Average Running Position of 15.0, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 90.9, ninth-best
· 252 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
· 763 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.328 mph, 10th-fastest
· 3,990 Laps in the Top 15 (58.5%), 11th-most
· 398 Quality Passes, 11th-most
Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· One win, four top fives, seven top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 18.2
· Driver Rating of 87.3, 12th-best
· 336 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· 817 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 116.330 mph, ninth-fastest
· 397 Quality Passes, 12th-most
Ryan Newman (No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· One win, five top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 11.8
· Average Running Position of 11.7, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 91.1, eighth-best
· 821 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most
· 5,165 Laps in the Top 15 (75.8%), fourth-most
· 510 Quality Passes, second-most
Martin Truex Jr (No. 56 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· One top five, two top 10s
· Average finish of 23.7
· Average Running Position of 16.8, 17th-best
· Driver Rating of 80.3, 18th-best
· 324 Quality Passes, 17th-best
· 3,306 Laps in the Top 15 (55.0%), 16th-most
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