Statistically speaking: a look at Homestead-Miami
The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season is almost wrapped up, with one race remaining — Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Three drivers — Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick — are still in the running to be the 2013 Sprint Cup Series champion, with Johnson holding a sizable 28-point lead over his closest competitor, Kenseth. Of the three, Kenseth is the only previous Homestead race winner. But Johnson only needs to finish 23rd or better to claim his sixth Sprint Cup, even if Kenseth wins after leading the most laps.
Here’s a statistical look at how all 13 Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers have fared throughout their careers at Homestead-Miami (stats provided by NASCAR Media Group):
1 – Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 110.3
2013 Rundown
· Six wins, 16 top fives, 23 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 10.7
· Led 23 races for 1,985 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
· Four top fives, seven top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 15.3 in 12 races
· Average Running Position of 13.8, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 95.1, sixth-best
· 62 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-most
· 1,533 Laps in the Top 15 (71.7%), fifth-most
· 339 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), fifth-most
2 – Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 110.0
2013 Rundown
· Seven wins, 11 top fives, 19 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 12.4
· Led 25 races for 1,639 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
· One win, three top fives, five top 10s
· Average finish of 17.6 in 13 races
· Average Running Position of 9.3, third-best
· Driver Rating of 106.0, third-best
· 84 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.167 mph, third-fastest
· 1,717 Laps in the Top 15 (80.3%), second-most
· 328 Quality Passes, ninth-most
3 – Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 95.0
2013 Rundown
· Four wins, nine top fives, 20 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 11.2
· Led 11 races for 261 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
· Five top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 7.9 in 12 races
· Average Running Position of 10.6, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 100.1, fourth-best
· 68 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most
· 561 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.022 mph, fourth-fastest
· 1,607 Laps in the Top 15 (75.2%), third-most
· 339 Quality Passes, fifth-most
4 – Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 101.7
2013 Rundown
· Four wins, 16 top fives, 21 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 12.9
· Led 20 races for 1,227 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, two top 10s
· Average finish of 23.1 in eight races
· Average Running Position of 15.8, 15th-best
· Driver Rating of 91.5, eighth-best
· 104 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.869 mph, eighth-fastest
· 1,321 Laps in the Top 15 (61.8%), ninth-most
· 329 Quality Passes, eighth-most
5 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 97.8
2013 Rundown
· Nine top fives, 21 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 12.9
· Led 14 races for 314 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
· One top 10
· Average finish of 22.1 in 13 races
· Average Running Position of 20.8, 22nd-best
· Driver Rating of 71.2, 22nd-best
· 93 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most
· 742 Green Flag Passes, second-most
6 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.2
2013 Rundown
· One win, eight top fives, 17 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 14.5
· Led 17 races for 434 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
· One win, seven top fives, 11 top 10s
· Average finish of 10.6 in 14 races
· Average Running Position of 13.0, seventh-best
· Driver Rating of 95.8, fifth-best
· 85 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most
· 573 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.880 mph, sixth-fastest
· 1,499 Laps in the Top 15 (70.1%), sixth-most
· 390 Quality Passes, second-most
7 – 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 7 races for 124 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
· Three wins, four top fives, five top 10s
· Average finish of 14.4 in 11 races
· Average Running Position of 15.2, 13th-best
· Driver Rating of 91.0, ninth-best
· 101 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most
· 680 Green Flag Passes, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.879 mph, seventh-fastest
· 1,223 Laps in the Top 15 (57.2%), 12th-most
8 – Clint Bowyer (No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.5
2013 Rundown
· Nine top fives, 18 top 10s
· Average finish of 12.1
· Led 11 races for 354 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
· Two top fives, four top 10s
· Average finish of 12.1 in seven races
· Average Running Position of 12.0, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 92.2, seventh-best
· 605 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
· 1,346 Laps in the Top 15 (72.0%), eighth-most
· 365 Quality Passes, fourth-most
9 – Joey Logano (No. 22 Penske Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 92.1
2013 Rundown
· One win, 11 top fives, 18 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 14.3
· Led 15 races for 323 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
· One pole
· Average finish of 24.0 in four races
· Average Running Position of 22.2, 24th-best
· Driver Rating of 64.3, 27th-best
10 – Kurt Busch (No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 93.5
2013 Rundown
· 11 top fives, 16 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 14.5
· Led 14 races for 444 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
· One win, four top fives, five top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 19.8 in 12 races
· Average Running Position of 23.8, 29th-best
· Driver Rating of 71.7, 21st-best
· 78 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most
11 – Ryan Newman (No. 39 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.9
2013 Rundown
· One win, six top fives, 18 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 16.0
· Led 16 races for 128 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, four top 10s
· Average finish of 17.0 in 11 races
· Average Running Position of 13.6, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 85.7, 13th-best
· 581 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most
· 1,381 Laps in the Top 15 (64.6%), seventh-most
· 373 Quality Passes, third-most
12 – Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 96.7
2013 Rundown
· Two wins, 11 top fives, 14 top 10s
· Average finish of 16.3
· Led 10 races for 677 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, four top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 15.4 in nine races
· Average Running Position of 12.5, sixth-best
· Driver Rating of 90.2, 10th-best
13 – 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 13.6
· Led 16 races for 524 laps
Homestead-Miami Speedway Outlook:
· Two wins, five top fives, seven top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 6.0 in nine races
· Series-best Average Running Position of 7.1
· Series-best Driver Rating of 119.0
· Series-high 264 Fastest Laps Run
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 162.674 mph
· Series-high 1,881 Laps in the Top 15 (88.0%)
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