Statistically speaking: a look at Martinsville Speedway
The 2014 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup rolls into Martsinville (Va.) Speedway this weekend for Sunday’s Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500. It’s the seventh race, overall, of the 10-race Chase and the opening race for the three-race Eliminator round.
The Team Penske duo of Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano lead the series in 2014 competition, Keselowski with six trip to victory lane and Logano with five. As far as racing at Martinsville goes, though, both are winless at the “paperclip.” When it comes to career-wins at Martinsville, Jeff Gordon is tied with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson for most career wins at the track with eight, but Johnson was cut from Chase contention after last weekend’s race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Denny Hamlin is second among Chase drivers with a tally of four career-victories at Martinsville.
Here’s a statistical look at how the eight remaining Chase drivers have fared throughout 2014, so far, and throughout their careers at Martinsville:
1 – Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 106.6
2014 Rundown
· Five wins, 15 top fives, 20 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 11.5
· Led 20 races for 916 laps
Martinsville Speedway Outlook:
· Two top fives, three top 10s
· Average finish of 14.8 in 11 races
· Average Running Position of 16.0, 13th-best
· Driver Rating of 82.3, 14th-best
2 – Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 109.7
2014 Rundown
· Three wins, 11 top fives, 17 top 10s; eight poles
· Average finish of 13.4
· Led 24 races for 1,817 laps
Martinsville Speedway Outlook:
· One win, three top fives, 12 top 10s
· Average finish of 15.8 in 26 races
· Average Running Position of 13.7, eighth-best
· Driver Rating of 93.2, eighth-best
· 956 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 91.163 mph, eighth-fastest
· 6,348 Laps in the Top 15 (66.6%), sixth-most
· 578 Quality Passes, sixth-most
3 – Ryan Newman (No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 85.1
2014 Rundown
· Three top fives, 14 top 10s
· Average finish of 13.3
· Led 7 races for 41 laps
Martinsville Speedway Outlook:
· One win, seven top fives, 11 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 15.5 in 25 races
· Average Running Position of 15.1, 10th-best
· Driver Rating of 86.9, 10th-best
· 1,008 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most
· 5,419 Laps in the Top 15 (56.8%), ninth-most
· 528 Quality Passes, ninth-most
4 – Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 90.0
2014 Rundown
· One win, six top fives, 14 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 15.1
· Led 14 races for 218 laps
Martinsville Speedway Outlook:
· Four wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s; three poles
· Average finish of 8.8 in 17 races
· Average Running Position of 9.0, third-best
· Driver Rating of 109.6, third-best
· 580 Fastest Laps Run, third-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 91.467 mph, third-fastest
· 7,007 Laps in the Top 15 (82.1%), fourth-most
· 609 Quality Passes, fifth-most
5 – Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 91.6
2014 Rundown
· 12 top fives, 19 top 10s; one pole
· Average finish of 13.6
· Led 18 races for 468 laps
Martinsville Speedway Outlook:
· Four top fives, 10 top 10s
· Average finish of 15.0 in 29 races
· Average Running Position of 16.0, 12th-best
· Driver Rating of 84.2, 12th-best
· 173 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most
· 1,023 Green Flag Passes, fourth-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 91.042 mph, 11th-fastest
6 – Carl Edwards (No. 99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 81.7
2014 Rundown
· Two wins, seven top fives, 13 top 10s
· Average finish of 14.5
· Led 11 races for 135 laps
Martinsville Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, five top 10s
· Average finish of 15.7 in 20 races
· Average Running Position of 15.9, 11th-best
· Driver Rating of 81.4, 15th-best
· 1,036 Green Flag Passes, third-most
· 5,181 Laps in the Top 15 (54.3%), 11th-most
· 555 Quality Passes, eighth-most
7 – Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 108.4
2014 Rundown
· Four wins, 12 top fives, 20 top 10s; two poles
· Average finish of 10.3
· Led 23 races for 743 laps
Martinsville Speedway Outlook:
· Eight wins, 27 top fives, 34 top 10s; seven poles
· Average finish of 7.0 in 43 races
· Average Running Position of 6.7, second-best
· Driver Rating of 119.0, second-best
· Series-high 1,034 Fastest Laps Run
· 933 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most
· Average Green Flag Speed of 91.684 mph, second-fastest
· 8,375 Laps in the Top 15 (87.8%), second-most
· Series-high 691 Quality Passes
8 – Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Team Penske Ford)
· Season-to-Date Driver Rating: 104.3
2014 Rundown
· Six wins, 14 top fives, 17 top 10s; five poles
· Average finish of 12.9
· Led 26 races for 1,518 laps
Martinsville Speedway Outlook:
· One top five, five top 10s
· Average finish of 13.4 in nine races
· Average Running Position of 16.2, 14th-best
· Driver Rating of 84.5, 11th-best
· Average Green Flag Speed of 91.102 mph, 10th-fastest
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