Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Talladega SuperSpeedway Track Facts: 2018 Geico 500

Expect some more edge of your seat racing at Talladega on Sunday.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2018 Top 16 at Talladega Superspeedway
Rank
Driver
Races
Poles
Wins
Top Fives
Top 10s
DNFs
Average Finish
Driver Rating
 
 
1
Kyle Busch
25
0
1
6
7
6
20.8
81.0
 
2
Joey Logano
18
0
2
5
7
6
18.6
85.6
 
3
Clint Bowyer
24
0
2
6
12
4
15.5
76.9
 
4
Kevin Harvick
34
1
1
6
14
3
15.4
81.0
 
5
Brad Keselowski
18
0
5
7
11
2
14.1
89.0
 
6
Denny Hamlin
24
0
1
5
9
4
18.3
84.3
 
7
Martin Truex Jr
26
1
0
2
8
12
21.1
78.9
 
8
Ryan Blaney
7
0
0
1
2
3
20.9
86.3
 
9
Kurt Busch
34
0
0
7
18
8
15.9
88.4
 
10
Kyle Larson
8
0
0
0
2
1
19.0
80.3
 
11
Aric Almirola
16
0
0
2
4
2
17.9
75.9
 
12
Erik Jones
2
0
0
0
0
2
34.5
56.2
 
13
Alex Bowman
5
0
0
0
0
3
31.2
58.0
 
14
Austin Dillon
9
0
0
1
2
4
20.0
72.1
 
15
Jimmie Johnson
32
1
2
7
12
9
17.2
88.5
 
16
William Byron
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0.0
 
* – Based on last 26 races at Talladega Superspeedway (2005 – 2017).


The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2018 Top Loop Data Leaders

Talladega Superspeedway
Statistical Categories:
Leaders
Loop Data
Driver Rating
Chase Elliott
93.4
Average Running Position
Chase Elliott
10.122
Laps Led
Jimmie Johnson
322 laps (6.5%)
Laps in the Top 15
Kurt Busch
65.3% (3,233 laps)
Fastest Laps Run
Clint Bowyer
139 laps (3.0%)
Green Flag Passes
Kurt Busch
10,630
Quality Passes
Kurt Busch
7,176
Green Flag Speed
Ryan Blaney
194.123 mph
* The above stats are based on Loop Data from 2005 - 2017

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 97 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway, one MENCS event in 1969, and two races per year since 1970.

Starts
·        453 drivers have competed in at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega; 314 in more than one.
·        Dave Marcis and Terry Labonte lead the series in starts at Talladega with 61 starts each.
·        Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch lead all active drivers in starts at Talladega with 34 each; followed by Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman with 32 each.
·        Bobby Isaac (eight starts) leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Talladega with a 3.625.
·        Chase Elliott (four starts) leads all active drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Talladega with a 3.750.
·        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 Busch Pole Award 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.
·        42 different drivers have won at least one Busch Pole Award at Talladega Superspeedway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott with eight poles (1985 sweep, 1986 sweep, 1987 sweep, spring 1990 and fall 1993).
·        Elliott Sadler leads all active drivers in Busch Pole Awards at Talladega with three (2003, 2005, 2006).
·        Six 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 Busch Pole Awards 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 Busch 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 Monster Energy Series drivers have won at Talladega Superspeedway, led by Dale Earnhardt with 10 victories.
·        Brad Keselowski leads all active Monster Energy Series drivers with five wins; followed by Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray, Clint Bowyer and Jimmie Johnson with two wins each.
·        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 26 and Toyota with three.

·        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.   
·        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).
·        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).   
·        Kevin Harvick (18), and David Ragan (12) both 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 34; followed by Ryan Newman with 32.

Additional Finishing Positions
·        Buddy Baker and Tony Stewart are tied for the series-most runner-up finishes at Talladega with six each.
·        Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick lead all active drivers with three runner-ups each.
·        NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-five finishes at Talladega with 23.
·        Jamie McMurray leads all active drivers in top fives at Talladega with eight. 
·        Dale Earnhardt leads the series in top-10
·         finishes at Talladega with 27.
·        Kurt Busch leads all active drivers in top 10s at Talladega 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. (nine starts) 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

·        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 in 44 starts.
·        Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in laps led at Talladega with 470 in 32 starts.
·        There have been 13 Monster Energy Series 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 97 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 Monster Energy Series 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
Brad Keselowski
Ryan Newman
0.021
10/15/2017

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
Danica Patrick
13
21
10/15/2017
Danica Patrick
31
38
5/7/2017
Danica Patrick
30
20
10/23/2016
Danica Patrick
37
24
5/1/2016
Danica Patrick
20
27
10/25/2015
Danica Patrick
25
21
5/3/2015
Danica Patrick
27
19
10/19/2014
Danica Patrick
7
22
5/4/2014
Danica Patrick
23
33
10/20/2013
Danica Patrick
23
33
5/5/2013
    
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
Patty Moise
36
33
7/30/1989
    
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
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
Monster Energy
Xfinity
Camping World
Total Races
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega
97
26
12
135
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

116
26
12
154
 NASCAR in Alabama
·        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
·        73 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.

Rk.
Driver
MENCS
NXS
NCWTS
National Series Combined
1
Bobby Allison
84
2
0
86
2
Tim Flock
39
0
0
39
3
Davey Allison
19
0
0
19
4
Neil Bonnett
18
1
0
19
5
Donnie Allison
10
0
0
10
6
Red Byron
2
0
0
2
7
Steve Grissom
0
11
0
11
8
Darrell Wallace Jr
0
0
6
6
9
Rick Crawford
0
0
5
5
10
Grant Enfinger
0
0
1
1
11
Cale Gale
0
0
1
1
 
Total by Series
172
14
13
199



Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Superspeedway All-Time Stats
·        Below is a statistical look at the top 10 most successful drivers in key categories on the superspeedways (Daytona and Talladega) in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series:

Drivers
Wins
Drivers
Runner-Ups
Drivers
Top Fives
 
Dale Earnhardt
13
Buddy Baker
14
Dale Earnhardt
45
 
Cale Yarborough
12
Cale Yarborough
10
Richard Petty
39
 
Jeff Gordon
12
Dale Earnhardt
9
Buddy Baker
37
 
Richard Petty
12
Dale Earnhardt Jr
9
Cale Yarborough
34
 
David Pearson
11
Richard Petty
9
David Pearson
33
 
Bobby Allison
10
Terry Labonte
8
Bobby Allison
30
 
Dale Earnhardt Jr
10
Tony Stewart
8
Jeff Gordon
29
 
Fireball Roberts
7
Bill Elliott
7
Darrell Waltrip
27
 
Bill Elliott
6
Darrell Waltrip
7
Benny Parsons
25
 
Brad Keselowski
6
Bobby Isaac
6
Bill Elliott
25
 
Buddy Baker
6
Dale Jarrett
6
Dale Earnhardt Jr
25
 
Dale Jarrett
6
David Pearson
6
Terry Labonte
25
 
  
Jimmie Johnson
6
   
  
Sterling Marlin
6
   
       
Drivers
Top 10s
Drivers
Poles
Drivers
Laps Led
Laps Comp.
Dale Earnhardt
61
Cale Yarborough
18
Dale Earnhardt
2,663
14,684
Richard Petty
55
Bill Elliott
13
Buddy Baker
2,262
13,479
Buddy Baker
51
Jeff Gordon
9
Cale Yarborough
1,845
11,015
Terry Labonte
49
Buddy Baker
8
Jeff Gordon
1,612
15,657
Bill Elliott
46
Bobby Isaac
7
Dale Earnhardt Jr
1,569
12,144
Cale Yarborough
46
Sterling Marlin
7
Bobby Allison
1,551
12,361
David Pearson
45
Dale Earnhardt
6
Richard Petty
1,549
16,320
Mark Martin
44
Donnie Allison
6
Bill Elliott
1,143
19,507
Bobby Allison
41
Ernie Irvan
6
David Pearson
1,081
10,157
Jeff Gordon
41
Fireball Roberts
6
Sterling Marlin
1,043
16,307
  
Mark Martin
6
   



Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series - Milestones
STARTS
Driver: Ryan Blaney
Has
Needs
Milestone:
99
1
Blaney will become the 199th driver to make 100 or more Monster Energy Series starts.
Driver: Erik Jones
Has
Needs
Milestone:
48
2
Jones will become the 286th driver to make 50 or more Monster Energy Series starts.
WINS
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
83
1
Tie Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip for fourth on the all-time series wins list.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
46
2
Tie Herb Thomas (48) for 14th on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins list.
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
40
4
Tie Bill Elliott (44) for 16th on the all-time MENCS wins list.
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Has
Needs
Milestone:
31
1
To tie Dale Jarrett for 24th on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins list.
Driver: Kurt Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
29
2
Tie Denny Hamlin for 25th on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins list.
POLES
Driver: Ryan Newman
Has
Needs
Milestone:
51
3
Tie Bill Elliott for eighth on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series poles list.
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
35
1
To tie Rusty Wallace for 18th on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series poles list.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
29
2
To tie Fonty Flock for 23rd on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series poles list.
Driver: Kasey Kahne
Has
Needs
Milestone:
27
2
To tie Kyle Busch and Ricky Rudd for 25th on the all-time Monster Energy Series poles list.


Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series - Milestones
Second-Place Finishes
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
46
2
Tie Lee Petty for 11th on the all-time series second-place finishes list.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
43
1
Tie Tony Stewart for 13th on the all-time series second-place finishes list.
Top Fives
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
174
1
Tie Bill Elliott (175) for 20th on the all-time Monster Energy Series top fives list.
Top 10s
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
249
1
To become the 26th series driver all-time to post 250 or more top 10s
Laps Led
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
18,663
337
Needs 337 laps led to become the ninth driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 19,000 laps.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
14,878
122
Needs 122 laps led to become the 10th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 15,000 laps.
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
11,619
381
Needs 381 laps led to become the 15th driver all-time in the MENCS to lead 12,000 laps.
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Has
Needs
Milestone:
6,783
217
Needs 217 laps led to become the 29th driver all-time in the MENCS to lead 7,000 laps.


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