Statistically speaking: a look at Talladega Superspeedway
Next up on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule is Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. It’s the 10th race of the 2014 season, and Kevin Harvick in Joey Logano head into Talladega as the only two drivers, so far, each with two trips to victory lane to their credit. Logano is the circuit’s most recent winner, winning last weekend at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.
David Ragan pulled off the surprising win a year ago at Talladega when he was pushed to the finish by Front Row Motorsports teammate David Gilliland.
Jeff Gordon, who is still searching for his first victory of the year but is the series points leader, leads all active drivers with six wins at Talladega, followed by his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Dale Earnhardt Jr., with five.
Here’s a look at how some drivers have fared throughout their careers at Talladega (stats provided by NASCAR Media Group):
Aric Almirola (No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford)
· One top 10
· Average finish of 19.9
· Average Running Position of 17.8, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 83.7, 10th-best
Kurt Busch (No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· Six top fives, 13 top 10s
· Average finish of 16.7
· Average Running Position of 14.9, fifth-best
· Driver Rating of 87.4, fifth-best
· 6,599 Green Flag Passes, third-most
· 2,144 Laps in the Top 15 (62.6%), second-most
· 4,529 Quality Passes, second-most
Austin Dillon (No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
· Average finish of 26.0
· Series-best Average Running Position of 11.5
· Driver Rating of 81.5, 12th-best
· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 193.265 mph
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Five wins, 10 top fives, 14 top 10s
· Average finish of 14.6
· Average Running Position of 14.6, fourth-best
· Driver Rating of 91.5, third-best
· 75 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most
· 6,044 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 193.083 mph, third-fastest
· 2,078 Laps in the Top 15 (60.7%), third-most
· 4,009 Quality Passes, fourth-most
Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Two wins, six top fives, 10 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 17.0
· Average Running Position of 16.9, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 85.1, seventh-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 192.872 mph, 12th-fastest
· 1,757 Laps in the Top 15 (51.3%), fifth-most
· 3,436 Quality Passes, fifth-most
Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· One win, five top fives, nine top 10s
· Average finish of 17.7
· Average Running Position of 13.9, third-best
· Driver Rating of 91.6, second-best
· 63 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
· 5,791 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most
· Series-high 2,239 Laps in the Top 15 (65.4%)
· 4,275 Quality Passes, third-most
Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Team Penske Ford)
· Two wins, three top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 14.2
· Driver Rating of 84.4, eighth-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 192.936 mph, ninth-fastest
Jamie McMurray (No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet)
· Two wins, six top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 19.3
· Driver Rating of 83.3, 11th-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 193.035 mph, seventh-fastest
· 1,692 Laps in the Top 15 (49.4%), sixth-most
· 3,307 Quality Passes, eighth-most
David Ragan (No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford)
· One win, four top fives, seven top 10s
· Average finish of 14.2
· Driver Rating of 84.2, ninth-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 193.080 mph, fourth-fastest
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· One top five, one top 10
· Average finish of 8.0
· Average Running Position of 12.5, second-best
· Series-best Driver Rating of 94.7
· Average Green Flag Speed of 193.253 mph, second-fastest
Brian Vickers (No. 55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)
· One win, four top fives, six top 10s
· Average finish of 20.1
· Average Running Position of 17.0, ninth-best
· Driver Rating of 87.3, sixth-best
Talladega Superspeedway Data
Season Race #: 10 of 36 (05-04-14)
Track Size: 2.66-miles
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 33 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 33 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 16.5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 4,300 feet
Backstretch Length: 4,000 feet
Race Length: 188 laps / 500 miles
Top 10 Driver Ratings at Talladega
Ricky Stenhouse Jr………………… 94.7
Matt Kenseth………………………… 91.6
Dale Earnhardt Jr…………………… 91.5
Kurt Busch……………………………. 87.4
Brian Vickers………………………… 87.3
Jimmie Johnson…………………….. 85.1
Brad Keselowski……………………. 84.4
David Ragan…………………………. 84.2
Aric Almirola…………………………. 87.3
Jamie McMurray…………………….. 83.3
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2013 races (18 total) among active drivers at Talladega Superspeedway.
Qualifying/Race Data
2013 pole winner:
None – due to inclement weather
2013 race winner:
David Ragan, Ford
148.729 mph, (03:26:02), 05-05-13
Track qualifying record:
Bill Elliott, Ford
212.809 mph, 44.998 secs. 04-30-87
Track race record:
Mark Martin, Ford
188.354 mph, (02:39:18), 05-10-97
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