Statistically speaking: a look at Kansas
Next up for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is a Sunday date with Kansas Speedway in Kansas City for the Hollywood Casino 400. It’s the fourth race in the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup. So far, Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson are the only two race winners since the Chase began a few weeks ago, with Kenseth winning the first two races at Chicagoland Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Johnson visiting victory lane for an historic eighth time at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Kenseth and Johnson also head into Kansas as the top-two drivers in the championship points standings.
Both Johnson and Busch are two-time winners at Kansas. They aren’t the only two-time winners at the track, though. Jeff Gordon (fifth in points) and Greg Biffle (sixth in the standings) also have two Kansas Speedway wins apiece. No other Chase driver has more.
Here’s a look at how the 13 Chase for the Sprint Cup participants have fared at Kansas Speedway throughout their careers (stats provided by NASCAR Media Group):
1 – Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 111.0
2013 Rundown
· Seven wins, eight top fives, 16 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 12.8
· Led 20 races for 1,380 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, six top fives, nine top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 14.8 in 15 races
· Average Running Position of 9.5, third-best
· Driver Rating of 110.0, third-best
· 217 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· 2,366 Laps in the Top 15 (82.0%), fourth-most
2 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 106.8
2013 Rundown
· Five wins, 12 top fives, 18 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 11.9
· Led 17 races for 1,423 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, six top fives, 12 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 7.6 in 14 races
· Series-best Average Running Position of 7.4
· Series-best Driver Rating of 119.1
· Series-high 439 Fastest Laps Run
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 165.518 mph
· Series-high 2,556 Laps in the Top 15 (88.6%)
· Series-high 496 Quality Passes
3 – Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 103.9
2013 Rundown
· Four wins, 14 top fives, 18 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 12.8
· Led 15 races for 1,199 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two top 10s
· Average finish of 22.4 in 12 races
· Average Running Position of 18.4, 19th-best
· Driver Rating of 79.0, 18th-best
· 59 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
· 762 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
· 391 Quality Passes, seventh-most
4 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.6
2013 Rundown
· Two wins, seven top fives, 15 top 10s
· Average finish of 12.4
· Led 9 races for 53 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, six top 10s
· Average finish of 12.8 in 15 races
· Average Running Position of 12.7, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 92.0, ninth-best
· 91 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
· Series-high 859 Green Flag Passes
· Average Green Flag Speed of 164.513 mph, 11th-fastest
· 2,009 Laps in the Top 15 (69.6%), fifth-most
· 410 Quality Passes, fifth-most
5 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.9
2013 Rundown
· Six top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 14.8
· Led 13 races for 278 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, eight top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 11.1 in 15 races
· Average Running Position of 9.7, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 99.0, fifth-best
· 102 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 164.876 mph, fifth-fastest
· 2,462 Laps in the Top 15 (85.3%), third-most
· 443 Quality Passes, third-most
6 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 83.6
2013 Rundown
· One win, four top fives, 12 top 10s
· Average finish of 14.5
· Led 4 races for 117 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, seven top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 10.1 in 14 races
· Average Running Position of 8.2, second-best
· Driver Rating of 110.1, second-best
· 205 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· 710 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 165.043 mph, third-fastest
· 2,501 Laps in the Top 15 (86.7%), second-most
· 465 Quality Passes, second-most
7 – Ryan Newman (No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 82.4
2013 Rundown
· One win, six top fives, 14 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 15.5
· Led 13 races for 93 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· One win, three top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 18.1 in 15 races
· Average Running Position of 20.9, 24th-best
· Driver Rating of 68.7, 25th-best
· 805 Green Flag Passes, second-most
8 – Clint Bowyer (No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.7
2013 Rundown
· Eight top fives, 15 top 10s
· Average finish of 12.3
· Led 8 races for 291 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Two top fives, five top 10s
· Average finish of 13.1 in 10 races
· Average Running Position of 15.2, 15th-best
· Driver Rating of 91.0, 12th-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 164.508 mph, 12th-fastest
· 1,553 Laps in the Top 15 (59.3%), 13th-most
9 – Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.2
2013 Rundown
· Nine top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 15.0
· Led 13 races for 441 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Three top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.9 in 15 races
· Average Running Position of 14.8, 14th-best
· Driver Rating of 87.8, 16th-best
· 116 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· 805 Green Flag Passes, second-most
10 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 94.9
2013 Rundown
· Six top fives, 16 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 14.2
· Led 10 races for 245 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, six top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 16.4 in 14 races
· Average Running Position of 16.1, 17th-best
· Driver Rating of 86.8, 17th-best
· 78 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most
· 743 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
· 337 Quality Passes, 12th-most
11 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.3
2013 Rundown
· Two wins, eight top fives, 14 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 12.9
· Led 12 races for 448 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Four top fives, eight top 10s
· Average finish of 11.3 in 12 races
· Average Running Position of 12.5, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 96.1, seventh-best
· 123 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
· 762 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 164.626 mph, eighth-fastest
· 1,950 Laps in the Top 15 (67.6%), eighth-most
· 427 Quality Passes, fourth-most
12 – Joey Logano (No. 22 Penske Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.3
2013 Rundown
· One win, nine top fives, 15 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 15.0
· Led 11 races for 249 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Average finish of 26.1 in eight races
· Average Running Position of 24.2, 32nd-best
· Driver Rating of 60.6, 32nd-best
13 – Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.5
2013 Rundown
· Two wins, eight top fives, 11 top 10s
· Average finish of 16.6
· Led 7 races for 497 laps
Kansas Speedway Outlook:
· Three top fives, six top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 13.9 in 12 races
· Average Running Position of 13.9, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 91.9, 10th-best
· 133 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 795 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
· 1,863 Laps in the Top 15 (64.6%), ninth-most
· 378 Quality Passes, eighth-most
Chase Contenders
The Top 13 (driver — points)
1. Matt Kenseth — 2,149
2. Jimmie Johnson — 2,141
3. Kyle Busch — 2,137
4. Kevin Harvick — 2,110
4. Jeff Gordon — 2,110
6. Greg Biffle — 2,108
7. Ryan Newman — 2,101
8. Clint Bowyer — 2,098
9. Kurt Busch — 2,094
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. — 2,092
11. Carl Edwards, — 2,084
12. Joey Logano — 2,083
13. Kasey Kahne — 2,071
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