Thursday, October 12, 2017

Talladega SuperSpeedway Track Facts: 2017 Alabama 500

Can Ricky Stenhouse Jr. win his third plate race of the year. History says he can.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Fast Facts: Talladega Superspeedway
·        This is the first year the fifth race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs will be held at Talladega Superspeedway (2017). Talladega was the third race of the Playoffs from 2004 – 2005; it then moved to the fourth race of the Playoffs from 2006 – 2008; it then moved to the seventh race of the Playoffs from 2009 – 2010; then moved to the sixth Playoff race in 2011; then back to the fourth race of the Playoffs in 2012 and then from 2013 to 2016, Talladega was the sixth race of the Playoffs.
·        Eight tracks have hosted Playoff races all 13 previous years (2004-2016) – New Hampshire, Charlotte, Dover, Homestead, Kansas, Martinsville, Phoenix, & Talladega

·        
10 different drivers have won the Talladega Playoff races, led by Clint Bowyer, Jamie McMurray and Joey Logano with two each. 
·        The winner of the Talladega Superspeedway Playoff race has never gone on to win the title in the same season. 
·        The worst finish in a Playoff race at Talladega by a driver that went on to win the title was 24th by Jimmie Johnson (2006).
·        Five times a non-Playoff driver has won the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway:
o   2005 – Dale Jarrett won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 14th in points at the time of his win.
o   2006 – Brian Vickers won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 16th in points at the time of his win.
o   2009 – Jamie McMurray won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 22nd in points at the time of his win.
o   2011 – Clint Bowyer won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 13th in points at the time of his win.
o   2013 – Jamie McMurray won the Playoff race at Talladega; he was 14th in points at the time of his win.
·        11 different drivers have won the pole for Talladega’s Playoff races; Qualifying has only been cancelled twice (2013 and 2009):  Pole Winners – Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Gordon, Brian Vickers, Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, Juan Pablo Montoya, Travis Kvapil, Michael Waltrip, David Gilliland, Elliott Sadler and Joe Nemechek (each have one). 
·        Three different manufacturers have won a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Talladega - Chevrolet (six wins), Ford (six) and Toyota (one). 
·        Three different manufacturers have won poles for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff races Talladega - Chevrolet (five poles), Toyota and Ford (three each).
Talladega Playoff Race Winners

Winners
Wins
Clint Bowyer
2
Jamie McMurray
2
Joey Logano
2
Brad Keselowski
1
Brian Vickers
1
Dale Earnhardt Jr
1
Dale Jarrett
1
Jeff Gordon
1
Matt Kenseth
1
Tony Stewart
1

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2017 Top 12 at Talladega Superspeedway
Rank
Driver
Races
Poles
Wins
Top Fives
Top 10s
DNFs
Average Finish
Driver Rating*
 
 
1
Martin Truex Jr
25
1
0
2
8
11
21
78.2
 
2
Kyle Larson
7
0
0
0
2
1
19.9
81.0
 
3
Kevin Harvick
33
1
1
6
14
2
15.3
81.5
 
4
Chase Elliott
3
1
0
1
1
1
15.7
91.4
 
5
Denny Hamlin
23
0
1
5
8
4
18.8
84.2
 
6
Kyle Busch
24
0
1
6
7
5
20.5
80.9
 
7
Jimmie Johnson
31
1
2
7
12
8
17
88.1
 
8
Jamie McMurray
30
0
2
8
9
5
19.5
80.8
 
9
Matt Kenseth
35
0
1
6
10
5
18.9
87.1
 
10
Brad Keselowski
17
0
4
6
10
2
14.9
88.7
 
11
Ryan Blaney
6
0
0
1
2
2
21.3
84.3
 
12
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
8
1
1
3
5
0
10.4
81.2
 
* – Driver rating based on last 25 races at Talladega Superspeedway (2005 – 2017).

2017 Monster Energy Stage Winners / Drivers with Playoff Points
Track
Stage 1 Winner
Stage 2 Winner
Race Winner
 
Following Playoff Race #4
Round of 16


 
Drivers
Pts
Chicago
Kyle Busch
Chase Elliott
Martin Truex Jr.
 
Martin Truex Jr
64
New Hampshire
Martin Truex Jr 
Kyle Busch 
Kyle Busch 
 
Kyle Busch
41
Dover
Brad Keselowski
Kyle Larson
Kyle Busch 
 
Kyle Larson
34
Round of 12


 
Brad Keselowski
20
Charlotte
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Martin Truex Jr.
 
Kevin Harvick
17
Talladega



 
Jimmie Johnson
17
Kansas
    
Denny Hamlin
13
Round of 8


 
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
10
Martinsville
    
Ryan Blaney
8
Texas



 
Chase Elliott
6
Phoenix
    
Matt Kenseth
5
Championship 4



 
Jamie McMurray
3
Homestead-Miami



   


Talladega Superspeedway Data
Season Race #: 10 of 36 (05-07-17)
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
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 55 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 78 laps

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Talladega
Chase Elliott .............................. 91.4
Dale Earnhardt Jr........................ 91.0
Brad Keselowski......................... 88.7
Kurt Busch................................. 88.4
Jimmie Johnson.......................... 88.1
Matt Kenseth.............................. 87.1
Joey Logano............................... 84.6
Ryan Blaney............................... 84.3
Denny Hamlin............................. 84.2
Kevin Harvick............................. 81.5
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2017 races (25 total) among active drivers at Talladega Superspeedway.

Qualifying / Race Data
2016 pole winner:
Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
193.423 mph, 49.508 secs. 10-22-16

2016 race winner:
Joey Logano, Ford
159.905 mph, (03:11:38), 10-23-16

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


Talladega Superspeedway:

History
·        Construction began on what was then known as the Alabama International Motor Speedway on May 23, 1968.
·        The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega was held on Sept. 14, 1969 – won by Richard Brickhouse (Dodge).
·        The name changed to Talladega Superspeedway in 1989.
·        Fourth repaving completed on Sept. 19, 2006.
·        There have been 96 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway, one MENCS event in 1969, and two races per year since 1970.

Starts
·        450 drivers have competed in at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega; 309 in more than one.
·        Dave Marcis and Terry Labonte lead the series in starts at Talladega with 61 each.
·        Matt Kenseth leads all active drivers in starts at Talladega with 35; followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 34.
·        Bobby Isaac (eight starts) leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Talladega with a 3.625.
·        Jimmie Johnson (31 starts) leads all active drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Talladega with a 10.484.
·        A total of 69 drivers have made their first series start at Talladega; Ryan Reed (10/23/2016) and Jamie McMurray (10/06/2002) are the only two active drivers to make their series debut at Talladega Superspeedway.

Poles
·        Bobby Isaac won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Talladega in 1969 with a speed of 199.466 mph.  In fact, Isaac won the first three poles at the 2.66-mile superspeedway.
·        41 drivers have won at least one Coors Light pole at Talladega, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott with eight (1985 sweep, 1986 sweep, 1987 sweep, spring 1990 and fall 1993).
·        Elliott Sadler leads all active drivers in Coors Light poles at Talladega with three (2003, 2005, 2006).
·        Five active drivers are tied for the second-most poles at Talladega with one each – Martin Truex Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Kasey Kahne, Chase Elliott and Ricky Stenhouse Jr..
·        11 drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Talladega. Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive poles at Talladega with six straight from 1985 - 1987.
·        Youngest Talladega pole winner: Chase Elliott (05/01/2016 – 20 years, 5 months, 3 days).
·        Oldest Talladega pole winner: Mark Martin (10/23/2011 – 52 years, 9 months, 14 days).
·        Six drivers have posted their first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light pole at Talladega - Brian Scott (05/04/2014); Juan Pablo Montoya (04/26/2009), Travis Kvapil (10/5/2008), David Gilliland (10/8/2006), Stacy Compton (04/22/2001) and Jeremy Mayfield (07/28/1996).   

Wins
·        46 different MENCS drivers have won at Talladega Superspeedway, led by Dale Earnhardt with 10 victories.
·        Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers with six wins; followed by Brad Keselowski with four.
·        Richard Childress Racing and Hendrick Motorsports are tied for the most wins at Talladega in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with 12 each.  
·        Nine different manufacturers have won in the MENCS at Talladega; led by Chevrolet with 40 victories; followed by Ford with 25 and Toyota with three.
·        14 of the 96 (14.6%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the Coors Light pole – Most recent: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. earlier this season.
·        The outside front row (second-place) starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (20) than any other starting position at Talladega. 
·        34 of the 96 (35.4%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from the front row: 14 from the pole and 20 from the second starting position.
·        68 of the 96 (70.8%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from a top-10 starting position.
·        Eight of the 96 (8.3%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
·        The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Talladega is 36th, by Jeff Gordon in the 2000 spring race.
·        The deepest in the field that an active race winner has started at Talladega is 34th, by Denny Hamlin in the 2014 spring race.

·        Youngest Talladega winner: Bobby Hillin Jr. (07/27/1986 – 22 years, 1 month, 22 days).
·        Oldest Talladega winner: Harry Gant (05/06/1991 – 51 years, 3 months, 26 days).
·        Nine drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Talladega; Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series in consecutive wins at Talladega after posting four-straight from the fall of 2001 – 2003.  
·        A total of 11 drivers have won their first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (5/7/2017), Brad Keselowski (04/26/2009), Brian Vickers (10/08/2006), Ken Schrader (07/31/1988), Phil Parsons (05/01/1988), Davey Allison (04/30/1987), Bobby Hillin Jr. (07/27/1986), Ron Bouchard (08021981), Lennie Pond (08/06/1978), Dick Brooks (08/12/1973) and Richard Brickhouse (09/14/1969).   
·        Matt Kenseth competed at Talladega Superspeedway 25 times before winning the 2012 Playoff race; the longest span before a win of any the 12 active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Talladega winners.
·        Matt Kenseth (25), Kevin Harvick (18), and David Ragan (12) all made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Talladega.
·        Kurt Busch leads the series among active drivers with the most Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega without visiting Victory Lane at 33; followed by Ryan Newman with 31.

Additional Finishing Positions
·        Buddy Baker and Tony Stewart are tied for the series-most runner-up finishes at Talladega with six each. Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers with five.
·        NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-five finishes at Talladega with 23. Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers with 12. 
·        Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-10 finishes at Talladega with 27. Kurt Busch leads all active drivers with 18.
·        Pete Hamilton (five starts) leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Talladega with a 5.600.
·        Ricky Stenhouse Jr. leads all active drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Talladega with a 10.375.


Track / Event Specific Stats
·        There have been 13 MENCS races resulting in NASCAR Overtime at Talladega:
Date
Scheduled No. Of Laps
Actual No. Of Laps
NASCAR Overtime
Race Winners
5/7/2017
188
191
3
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
10/23/2016
188
192
4
Joey Logano
10/25/2015
188
196
8
Joey Logano
10/19/2014
188
194
6
Brad Keselowski
5/5/2013
188
192
4
David Ragan
10/7/2012
188
189
1
Matt Kenseth
5/6/2012
188
194
6
Brad Keselowski
4/25/2010
188
200
12
Kevin Harvick
11/1/2009
188
191
3
Jamie McMurray
10/5/2008
188
190
2
Tony Stewart
4/29/2007
188
192
4
Jeff Gordon
10/2/2005
188
190
2
Dale Jarrett
5/1/2005
188
194
6
Jeff Gordon

·        Only two of the 96 series races at Talladega Superspeedway have been shortened due to weather conditions:
Date
Scheduled No. Of Laps
Actual No. Of Laps
Fewer Laps
Race Winners
7/28/1996
188
129
-59
Jeff Gordon
4/30/1987
188
178
-10
Davey Allison

·        Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway five times: fall of 2002, fall of 2009, spring of 2010, spring and fall of 2013.   
·        Only one MENCS race held at Talladega Superspeedway was not run on its scheduled date. The April 27, 1997 race was postponed due to inclement weather to May 10, 1997 – Mark Martin won the event.
·        Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway is the April 17, 2011 race won by Jimmie Johnson over second-place Clint Bowyer with a MOV of 0.002 second – the MOV is tied with the 2003 Darlington race as the closest finishes in the MENCS using electronic scoring. 
·        Below are top five closest finishes at Talladega:
Race Winner
Runner-Up
Margin of Victory
Date
Jimmie Johnson
Clint Bowyer
0.002
4/17/2011
Dale Earnhardt
Ernie Irvan
0.005
7/25/1993
Kevin Harvick
Jamie McMurray
0.011
4/25/2010
Clint Bowyer
Jeff Burton
0.018
10/23/2011
Jimmy Spencer
Bill Elliott
0.025
7/24/1994

  
·        A total of 191 different drivers in series history have led at least one lap at Talladega Superspeedway. Dale Earnhardt leads the series in laps led at Talladega with 1,377.
·        Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Talladega with 960 laps led; followed by Matt Kenseth with 517.

Female Competitor Stats
·        Three female drivers have competed at Talladega in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Patty Moise and Danica Patrick.

Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
Driver Rating
Danica Patrick
31
38
5/7/2017
70.8
Danica Patrick
30
20
10/23/2016
71.3
Danica Patrick
37
24
5/1/2016
61.0
Danica Patrick
20
27
10/25/2015
66.7
Danica Patrick
25
21
5/3/2015
67.1
Danica Patrick
27
19
10/19/2014
79.9
Danica Patrick
7
22
5/4/2014
74.9
Danica Patrick
23
33
10/20/2013
64.6
Danica Patrick
23
33
5/5/2013
67.4
Averages
24.8
26.3
 
69.3
     
Inactive Female Competitors
 
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
 
Patty Moise
36
33
7/30/1989
 
Janet Guthrie
12
29
8/6/1978
 
Janet Guthrie
9
34
8/7/1977
 
Janet Guthrie
13
32
5/1/1977
 


NASCAR in Alabama
·        There have been 152 NASCAR national series races held in the state of Alabama among seven different tracks:
Track Name
City
MENCS
NXS
NCWTS
Total Races
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega
96
26
11
133
Birmingham International Raceway
Birmingham
8
0
0
8
Montgomery Motor Speedway
Montgomery
6
0
0
6
Lakeview Speedway
Mobile
2
0
0
2
Chisholm Speedway
Montgomery
1
0
0
1
Dixie Speedway
Birmingham
1
0
0
1
Huntsville Speedway
Huntsville
1
0
0
1
Total

115
26
11
152



·        The very first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Alabama was a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event held at Lakeview Speedway (Mobile) in 1951 – the race was won by Tim Flock (Oldsmobile).
·        The first race held at Talladega Superspeedway was in 1969 – the event was won by Richard Brickhouse(Dodge).

Alabama Drivers In NASCAR
·        72 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Alabama.
·        11 drivers from Alabama have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series; six have won in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Driver
Monster Energy
XFINITY
Camping World
Bobby Allison
84
2
0
Tim Flock
39
0
0
Davey Allison
19
0
0
Neil Bonnett
18
1
0
Donnie Allison
10
0
0
Red Byron
2
0
0
Steve Grissom
0
11
0
Rick Crawford
0
0
5
Darrell Wallace Jr
0
0
5
Grant Enfinger
0
0
1
Cale Gale
0
0
1
Total
172
14
12



Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Superspeedway Top 10 Winners
·        The top 10 all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series superspeedway wins (Daytona and Talladega):
 
Winners
Wins
1
Dale Earnhardt
13
2
Cale Yarborough
12
 
Jeff Gordon
12
 
Richard Petty
12
5
David Pearson
11
6
Bobby Allison
10
 
Dale Earnhardt Jr
10
8
Fireball Roberts
7
9
Bill Elliott
6
 
Buddy Baker
6
 
Dale Jarrett
6



Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Milestones
Drivers
Has
Needs
Milestones
STARTS
Jimmie Johnson
573
2
To become the 31st driver in series history to start 575 or more races
Kasey Kahne
498
2
To become the 40th driver in series history to start 500 or more races
Brad Keselowski
299
1
To become the 91st driver in series history to start 300 or more races
Matt DiBenedetto
98
2
To become the 198th driver in series history to start 100 or more races
Ty Dillon
48
2
To become the 285th driver in series history to start 50 or more races
WINS
Jimmie Johnson
83
1
Tie Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip (84) for fourth on MENCS wins list
Kyle Busch
42
2
Tie Bill Elliott (44) for 16th on all-time MENCS wins list
Matt Kenseth
38
1
Tie Tim Flock (39) for 18th on all-time MENCS wins list
Kevin Harvick
36
1
Tie Bobby Isaac (37) for 21st on MENCS all-time wins list
Denny Hamlin
31
1
Tie Dale Jarrett (32) for 24th on all-time MENCS wins list
Kurt Busch
29
1
Tie Denny Hamlin (30) for 25th on all-time MENCS wins list
Dale Earnhardt Jr
26
2
Tie Rex White (28) for 28th on all-time MENCS wins list
Brad Keselowski
23
2
Tie Joe Weatherly, Jim Paschal (25) for 31st on all-time MENCS wins list
POLES
Ryan Newman
51
3
Tie Bill Elliott for eighth on the all-time MENCS poles list
Jimmie Johnson
35
1
Tie Rusty Wallace and Rex White for 17th on all-time MENCS poles list
Kasey Kahne
27
2
Tie Ricky Rudd (29) for 24th on the all-time MENCS poles list
Kyle Busch
27
2
Tie Ricky Rudd (29) for 24th on the all-time MENCS poles list
ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
Jimmie Johnson
46
2
Tie Lee Petty for 11th on all-time MENCS second-place finishes list
Dale Earnhardt Jr
149
1
To become the 24th driver to post 150 or more MENCS top-five finishes
Matt Kenseth
223
2
To become the 14th driver in series history to post 325 top 10s or more
Kasey Kahne
174
1
To become the 42nd driver in series history to post 175 top 10s or more
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
24
1
To post his 25th career MENCS top-10 finish
LAPS LED
Jimmie Johnson
18,639
361
To become the ninth driver in series history to lead 19,000 or more laps
Matt Kenseth
11,653
347
To become the 15th MENCS driver all-time to lead 12,000 or more laps
Kurt Busch
8,874
126
To become 20th MENCS driver all-time to lead 9,000 or more laps
Denny Hamlin
8,569
431
To become 20th MENCS driver all-time to lead 9,000 or more laps

No comments: