Statistically speaking: a look at New Hampshire Motor Speedway

This weekend, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Loudon, N.H., for Sunday’s running of the Camping World RV Sales 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Semi-retired-driver-turned-future-broadcaster Jeff Burton returns to the driver’s seat for the New Hampshire race, his second race of the season and his first since the Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March.

Burton will be behind the wheel of the No. 66 Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing. It’s easy to understand why MWR would field a car for Burton for NHMS, because Burton’s the all-time wins leader at the track with four trips to victory lane. He even led an entire 300-lap Cup race there in 2000. He won one of the two yearly races at the track for four-consecutive years between 1997 and 2000. His wins in 1997, 1998 and 1999 all came in the July event.

Of the current roster of full-time drivers, several have three Loudon wins to their credit, including Kurt Busch, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman and Tony Stewart. Of those, Newman and Stewart are looking for their first wins of the 2014 season. Newman is the track’s all-time pole winner with seven.

Also worth noting, Gordon and Burton are among a a handful of drivers expected to compete this weekend who have been among the race fields in all 38 previous Cup races at the track.

Here’s a statistical look at how some of the sport’s top drivers have fared at NHMS:

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota)

· Two wins, four top fives, six top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 15.1

· Average Running Position of 12.4, sixth-best

· Driver Rating of 95.0, sixth-best

· 233 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 124.704 mph, sixth-fastest

· 3,352 Laps in the Top 15 (70.3%), 12th-most

· 452 Quality Passes (passes of cars in the top 15 under green), 11th-most

Kurt Busch (No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet)

· Three wins, seven top fives, 11 top 10s

· Average finish of 15.3

· Average Running Position of 13.7, 10th-best

· Driver Rating of 90.4, 12th-best

· 187 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-most

· 920 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 124.559 mph, 10th-fastest

· 3,380 Laps in the Top 15 (62.9%), 11th-most

· 516 Quality Passes, sixth-most

Kyle Busch (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

· One win, six top fives, eight top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 15.1

· Average Running Position of 14.0, 12th-best

· Driver Rating of 93.1, seventh-best

· 206 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 124.532 mph, 12th-fastest

· 3,465 Laps in the Top 15 (64.5%), eighth-most

· 480 Quality Passes, eighth-most

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

· Seven top fives, 12 top 10s

· Average finish of 15.7

· Average Running Position of 11.7, fifth-best

· Driver Rating of 97.3, fifth-best

· 236 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-most

· 1,002 Green Flag Passes, third-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 124.860 mph, fourth-fastest

· 3,976 Laps in the Top 15 (74.0%), fourth-most

· 568 Quality Passes, third-most

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

· Three wins, 16 top fives, 22 top 10s; four poles

· Average finish of 10.6

· Series-best Average Running Position of 7.4

· Driver Rating of 109.2, second-best

· Series-high 433 Fastest Laps Run

· 893 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most

· Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 125.062 mph

· Series-high 4,804 Laps in the Top 15 (89.5%)

· Series-high 618 Quality Passes

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)

· Two wins, seven top fives, 10 top 10s

· Average finish of 9.0

· Average Running Position of 10.8, fourth-best

· Driver Rating of 102.9, fourth-best

· 284 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 124.821 mph, fifth-fastest

· 3,547 Laps in the Top 15 (74.4%), seventh-most

· 526 Quality Passes, fifth-most

Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)

· One win, five top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 13.7

· Average Running Position of 13.0, eighth-best

· Driver Rating of 91.1, 11th-best

· 156 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most

· 904 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 124.568 mph, ninth-fastest

· 3,430 Laps in the Top 15 (63.9%), ninth-most

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

· Three wins, nine top fives, 17 top 10s

· Average finish of 9.2

· Average Running Position of 9.7, third-best

· Driver Rating of 105.8, third-best

· 430 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

· 938 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 124.866 mph, third-fastest

· 4,453 Laps in the Top 15 (82.9%), second-most

· 602 Quality Passes, second-most

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)

· One win, three top fives, eight top 10s

· Average finish of 17.0

· Driver Rating of 92.4, 10th-best

· 331 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-most

· 948 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 124.697 mph, seventh-fastest

· 3,411 Laps in the Top 15 (63.5%), 10th-most

· 487 Quality Passes, seventh-most

Ryan Newman (No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)

· Three wins, six top fives, 15 top 10s; seven poles

· Average finish of 14.0

· Average Running Position of 13.0, ninth-best

· Driver Rating of 92.5, ninth-best

· 158 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 124.537 mph, 11th-fastest

· 3,935 Laps in the Top 15 (73.3%), fifth-most

· 456 Quality Passes, 10th-most

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)

· Three wins, 14 top fives, 17 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 11.9

· Average Running Position of 9.1, second-best

· Series-best Driver Rating of 111.0

· 408 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

· Average Green Flag Speed of 124.972 mph, second-fastest

· 4,182 Laps in the Top 15 (82.5%), third-most

· 535 Quality Passes, fourth-most

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