Statistically speaking: a look at Phoenix
The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, as well as the Chase for the Sprint Cup, are winding down with only two races to go, beginning with Sunday’s Advocare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jimmie Johnson heads to Phoenix with a seven-point lead over second-place driver Matt Kenseth. Johnson also leads the way among active drivers when it comes to PIR wins with four. Here’s a statistical look at how the 2013 Chase drivers have fared this season, as well as at Phoenix throughout their careers (stats provided by NASCAR Media Group):
1 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 110.0
2013 Rundown
· Six wins, 15 top fives, 22 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 11.0
· Led 22 races for 1,984 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
· Four wins, 13 top fives, 16 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 6.5 in 20 races
· Series-best Average Running Position of 7.0
· Series-best Driver Rating of 116.4
· Series-high 538 Fastest Laps Run
· 665 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 125.519 mph
· Series-high 4,749 Laps in the Top 15 (88.2%)
· Series-high 466 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green)
2 – Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 111.2
2013 Rundown
· Seven wins, 11 top fives, 19 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 12.1
· Led 25 races for 1,639 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
· One win, five top fives, nine top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.2 in 22 races
· Average Running Position of 16.0, 15th-best
· Driver Rating of 87.0, 11th-best
· 717 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· 3,210 Laps in the Top 15 (59.6%), 12th-most
3 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.7
2013 Rundown
· Three wins, eight top fives, 19 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 11.5
· Led 10 races for 191 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
· Three wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 12.9 in 21 races
· Average Running Position of 11.0, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 99.0, fifth-best
· 245 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
· 678 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 125.133 mph, fifth-fastest
· 4,035 Laps in the Top 15 (75.0%), fifth-most
· 365 Quality Passes, ninth-most
4 – Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.8
2013 Rundown
· Four wins, 16 top fives, 20 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 13.0
· Led 20 races for 1,227 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
· One win, three top fives, 10 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 13.9 in 17 races
· Average Running Position of 12.0, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 97.5, eighth-best
· 247 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most
· 717 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 125.076 mph, sixth-fastest
· 4,224 Laps in the Top 15 (78.5%), third-most
· Series-high 466 Quality Passes
5 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.5
2013 Rundown
· Eight top fives, 20 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 13.2
· Led 13 races for 312 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
· Two wins, five top fives, nine top 10s
· Average finish of 17.6 in 22 races
· Average Running Position of 17.2, 21st-best
· Driver Rating of 82.6, 16th-best
· 130 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
· 723 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
6 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.7
2013 Rundown
· One win, eight top fives, 17 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 14.5
· Led 16 races for 385 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
· Two wins, 10 top fives, 20 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 11.4 in 29 races
· Average Running Position of 10.7, third-best
· Driver Rating of 98.8, sixth-best
· 197 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 125.014 mph, ninth-fastest
· 4,292 Laps in the Top 15 (79.7%), second-most
· 379 Quality Passes, seventh-most
7 – Clint Bowyer (No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.9
2013 Rundown
· Nine top fives, 18 top 10s
· Average finish of 11.9
· Led 11 races for 354 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
· Two top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 16.9 in 16 races
· Average Running Position of 16.7, 16th-best
· Driver Rating of 81.3, 18th-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 124.786 mph, 13th-fastest
8 – Greg Biffle (No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 83.3
2013 Rundown
· One win, four top fives, 13 top 10s
· Average finish of 14.1
· Led 6 races for 123 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
· Five top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 13.9 in 19 races
· Average Running Position of 14.8, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 92.0, 10th-best
· 283 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 711 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 124.957 mph, 10th-fastest
· 3,090 Laps in the Top 15 (57.4%), 13th-most
· 356 Quality Passes, 11th-most
9 – Joey Logano (No. 22 Penske Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.6
2013 Rundown
· One win, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 14.4
· Led 14 races for 290 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
· One top five, three top 10s
· Average finish of 18.0 in nine races
· Average Running Position of 17.0, 18th-best
· Driver Rating of 76.6, 22nd-best
10 – Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.2
2013 Rundown
· 10 top fives, 15 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 14.8
· Led 14 races for 444 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
· One win, four top fives, 11 top 10s
· Average finish of 13.9 in 21 races
· Average Running Position of 10.7, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 97.7, seventh-best
· 285 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 125.052 mph, eighth-fastest
· 3,707 Laps in the Top 15 (73.1%), seventh-most
· 343 Quality Passes, 12th-most
11 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.7
2013 Rundown
· Two wins, nine top fives, 16 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 13.4
· Led 15 races for 488 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
· Two wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 11.8 in 18 races
· Average Running Position of 12.8, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 100.6, second-best
· 332 Fastest Laps Run, second-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 125.160 mph, fourth-fastest
· 3,645 Laps in the Top 15 (67.7%), eighth-most
· 365 Quality Passes, ninth-most
12 – Ryan Newman (No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.6
2013 Rundown
· One win, six top fives, 17 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 16.1
· Led 15 races for 97 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
· One win, eight top fives, eight top 10s; four poles
· Average finish of 19.0 in 22 races
· Average Running Position of 15.5, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 86.8, 12th-best
· 3,516 Laps in the Top 15 (65.3%), 10th-most
· 450 Quality Passes, fourth-most
13 – Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.0
2013 Rundown
· Two wins, 10 top fives, 13 top 10s
· Average finish of 16.7
· Led 9 races for 636 laps
Phoenix International Raceway Outlook:
· One win, three top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 19.1 in 18 races
· Average Running Position of 19.5, 24th-best
· Driver Rating of 77.5, 20th-best
· 130 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
Chase Contenders
The Top 13
1. Jimmie Johnson 2,342
2. Matt Kenseth 2,335
3. Kevin Harvick 2,302
4. Kyle Busch 2,290
5. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2,280
6. Jeff Gordon 2,273
7. Clint Bowyer 2,273
8. Greg Biffle 2,269
9. Joey Logano 2,251
10. Kurt Busch 2,246
11. Carl Edwards 2,226
12. Ryan Newman 2,224
13. Kasey Kahne 2,209
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