Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Watkins Glen Track Facts: 2018 Go Bowling at The Glen

Martin Truex Jr has won the past two races on road courses.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2018 Top 16 at Watkins Glen International
Rank
Driver
Races
Poles
Wins
Top Fives
Top 10s
DNFs
Average Finish
Driver Rating
 
 
1
Kyle Busch
13
2
2
5
11
0
9.8
110.7
 
2
Kevin Harvick
17
0
1
3
8
1
13.5
89.7
 
3
Martin Truex Jr
12
0
1
4
7
0
12.1
95.8
 
4
Joey Logano
9
0
1
3
5
0
14.0
85.1
 
5
Clint Bowyer
12
0
0
2
5
0
14.2
83.0
 
6
Kurt Busch
17
1
0
3
8
3
16.6
93.4
 
7
Brad Keselowski
8
0
0
4
5
0
10.8
102.8
 
8
Kyle Larson
4
0
0
1
1
0
17.0
82.0
 
9
Denny Hamlin
12
0
1
3
6
3
17.7
87.4
 
10
Ryan Blaney
2
0
0
0
1
0
13.5
79.9
 
11
Aric Almirola
7
0
0
0
0
1
24.6
57.2
 
12
Chase Elliott
2
0
0
0
0
0
13.0
91.5
 
13
Jimmie Johnson
16
1
0
4
8
2
16.2
93.0
 
14
Erik Jones
1
0
0
0
1
0
10.0
92.2
 
15
Alex Bowman
2
0
0
0
0
0
32.5
35.9
 
16
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
5
0
0
0
0
1
26.0
54.4
 
* – Based on last 13 races at Watkins Glen International (2005 – 2017).

Loop Data Leaders: Watkins Glen International
Monster Energy Series - Top 3 In Key Loop Data Statistics
Driver Rating

Avg. Running Position
Laps Led

Daniel Suárez
113.1
Daniel Suárez
5.967
Kyle Busch
216
Kyle Busch
110.7
Erik Jones
10.578
Brad Keselowski
114
Brad Keselowski
102.8
Kyle Busch
11.226
Kevin Harvick
65
      
Fastest Laps Run
% of Laps in the Top 15

Quality Passes

Kyle Busch
125
Daniel Suárez
95.6%
Kyle Busch
270
Brad Keselowski
66
Erik Jones
75.6%
Kurt Busch
253
Kurt Busch
53
Kyle Busch
75.3%
Kevin Harvick
247
Loop Data stats are from 2005 - Present

Watkins Glen International Data
Season Race #: 22 of 36 (08-05-18)
Track Size: 2.45-miles
Number of Turns: 7
Race Length: 90 laps / 220.5 miles
Stage 1 & 2 Lengths: 20 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 50 laps

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Watkins Glen
Daniel Suarez........................... 113.1
Kyle Busch............................... 110.7
Brad Keselowski....................... 102.8
AJ Allmendinger......................... 97.1
Martin Truex Jr........................... 95.8
Kurt Busch................................. 93.4
Jimmie Johnson.......................... 93.0
Erik Jones.................................. 92.2
Chase Elliott............................... 91.5
Kevin Harvick............................. 89.7
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2017 races (13 total) among active drivers at Watkins Glen International.

Qualifying/Race Data
2017 pole winner:
Kyle Busch, Toyota
126.925 mph, 69.490 secs. 08-04-17

2017 race winner:
Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
104.132 mph, (02:07:03), 08-06-17

Track qualifying record:
Marcos Ambrose, Ford
129.491 mph, 68.113 secs. 08-09-14
(Set in Round 1 of 3)

Track race record:
Martin Truex Jr., Toyota
104.132 mph, (02:07:03), 08-06-17


At Watkins Glen International:

History
·        After several events were held on the streets of Watkins Glen, a permanent facility was opened in 1956.
·        The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen was in 1957, won by Buck Baker (83.064 mph, 08/04/1957).
·        After a six-year absence, NASCAR returned to The Glen in 1964 and 1965.
·        Then after a 21-year absence, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series returned to The Glen, and has run one race a year there since 1986.
·        The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen was scheduled for 101.2-miles in 1957, the second race was 161.7-miles (1964) and the third race was 151.8-miles (1965). Every race since has been scheduled for 220.5-miles.
·        The famous road course underwent a repave in 2015.
·        There have been 35 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Watkins Glen International, one race per season.

Starts
·        274 drivers have competed in at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen; 167 in more than one.
·        Jeff Gordon leads the series all-time in starts at Watkins Glen with 24.
·        Matt Kenseth leads all active series drivers in starts at WGI with 18; followed by Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick with 17 each.
·        Tony Stewart (16 starts) leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Watkins Glen with a 5.875.
·        Kyle Busch (13 starts) leads the series among active drivers in average starting position at WGI with a 7.462.

Poles
·        Driver/owner Buck Baker won the inaugural Busch Pole Award at Watkins Glen in 1957 with a speed of 87.071 mph. He went on to win the inaugural race from the pole.
·        A total of 20 Monster Energy Series drivers have won Busch poles at Watkins Glen, led by NASCAR Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon with three each.
·        Five drivers have won multiple poles in the Monster Energy Series at WGI –Kyle Busch is the only active driver with multiple WGI poles (two).
·        Mark Martin is the only Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver to post consecutive Busch poles at Watkins Glen (three) – 1993, 1994, and 1995.
·        Youngest Watkins Glen pole winner: Kyle Busch (08/15/2011 – 26 years, 3 months, 13 days).
·        Oldest Watkins Glen pole winner: Morgan Shepherd (08/13/1989 – 47 years, 10 months, 1 day).
·        Seven different manufacturers have won at least one Monster Energy Series Busch Pole Award at Watkins Glen; led by Chevrolet with 14 poles, followed by Ford (8), Toyota (three), Dodge, Mercury, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac (one each).

Wins
·        A total of 21 different Monster Energy Series drivers have won at Watkins Glen International, led by Tony Stewart with five victories; followed by Jeff Gordon with four.
·        Kyle Busch leads all active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers in wins at WGI with two (2008, 2013).
·        Jeff Gordon leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in overall road course wins with nine (Sonoma, five; Watkins Glen, four); Tony Stewart has the second most road course wins all-time with eight (Watkins Glen, five; Sonoma, three).
·        Kyle Busch leads the MENCS in road course wins among active drivers with four (two at Sonoma – 2008, 2015, and two at Watkins Glen – 2008, 2013).
·        NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison holds the series record for the most wins at a single road course track with six at Riverside International Raceway.
·        Four series drivers have posted consecutive wins at Watkins Glen, including three consecutive by Mark Martin (1993, ’94, ‘95) and Jeff Gordon (1997, ’98, ‘99).
·        The other two drivers to win consecutive races at Watkins Glen are Tony Stewart (2004, ’05) and Marcos Ambrose (2011, ’12).
·        Youngest Watkins Glen winner: Kyle Busch (08/10/2008 – 23 years, 3 months, 8 days).
·        Oldest Watkins Glen winner: Geoff Bodine (08/11/1996 – 47 years, 3 months, 24 days).
·        Joe Gibbs Racing leads the series in wins at Watkins Glen International with seven victories - Tony Stewart (four: 2002, ’04, ’05, ‘07), Kyle Busch (two: 2008, ‘13) and Denny Hamlin (one: 2016).
·        Nine of the 35 (26.5%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Watkins Glen have been won from the Busch Pole; the most recent was Kyle Busch in 2008.
·        The Busch Pole position (1st) is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (nine) than any other starting position at Watkins Glen.    
·        None of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Watkins Glen have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
·        The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Watkins Glen is 18th, by Steve Park in 2000.
·        Six different manufacturers have won in the MENCS at Watkins Glen; led by Chevrolet with 17 victories; followed by Ford with eight, Pontiac and Toyota with four and Buick and Mercury each have one.
·        Three Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers posted their first career win at Watkins Glen: Steve Park (08/13/2000), Marcos Ambrose (08/15/11) and AJ Allmendinger (08/11/14).
·        All six of the active series winners at Watkins Glen participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane.
·        Martin Truex Jr. (2017) competed at Watkins Glen 11 times before winning; the longest span of any the six active series winners.
·        Matt Kenseth lead the series among active drivers with the most Monster Energy Series starts at Watkins Glen without visiting Victory Lane at 18 starts.


Additional Finishing Position Stats
·        A total of 25 different drivers have finished runner-up in the Monster Energy Series at Watkins Glen, led byBrad Keselowski and Mark Martin with three runner-up finishes each.
·        A total of 74 different Monster Energy Series drivers have finished inside the top-five at Watkins Glen, led byMark Martin with 12 top-five finishes at The Glen; followed by Ricky Rudd and Tony Stewart with eight each. Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in top-five finishes at WGI with five.   
·        A total of 112 different drivers have finished in the top-10 in the Monster Energy Series at Watkins glen, led by Mark Martin with 16 top-10 finishes at The Glen; followed by Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch with 11 each.
·        Scott Pruett leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Watkins Glen with a 5.800.
·        AJ Allmendinger leads all active series drivers in average finishing position at WGI with a 9.333.

Track/Event Specific Stats
·        Since the advent of electronic scoring (1993) the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen is the 2001 race won by Jeff Gordon over Jeff Burton with a MOV of 0.172 second. Last season’s race was third-closest margin of victory in track history.
·        Top five closest Margins of Victory in the MENCS at WGI:
Rank
Margin of Victory
Date
Winner
Runner-Up
1
0.172
8/12/2001
Jeff Gordon
Jeff Burton
2
0.384
8/13/2000
Steve Park
Mark Martin
3
0.414
8/6/2017
Martin Truex Jr.
Matt Kenseth
4
0.440
8/11/1996
Geoff Bodine
Terry Labonte
5
0.486
8/11/2013
Brad Keselowski
Kyle Busch

·        There have been two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races resulting with NASCAR Overtime at Watkins Glen:
Date
Scheduled No. of Laps
Actual No. of Laps
NASCAR Overtime Laps
Winner
8/15/2011
90
92
2
Marcos Ambrose
8/14/2005
90
92
2
Tony Stewart

·        Only one of the 35 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Watkins Glen has been shortened due to weather conditions - the 1992 race – only 51 of the scheduled 90 laps were completed.
·        The 8/14/2011 race was the only MENCS race at Watkins Glen that has been postponed to another date due to weather (8/15/2011).     
·        Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen six times: 1965, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008.
·        Jeff Gordon leads the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Watkins Glen with 262 laps led in 24 starts; Kyle Busch leads the series in laps led at WGI among active drivers with 216 in 13 starts.  


Female Competitor Stats
·        Danica Patrick and Patty Moise are the only two female Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers to compete at Watkins Glen International.
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
Danica Patrick
25
22
8/6/2017
Danica Patrick
31
21
8/7/2016
Danica Patrick
22
17
8/9/2015
Danica Patrick
43
21
8/10/2014
Danica Patrick
35
20
8/11/2013
Averages
31.2
20.2
 
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
Patty Moise
33
30
8/14/1988
Patty Moise
30
33
8/10/1987
Averages
31.5
31.5
 


NASCAR in New York
·        There has been a total of 100 NASCAR national series races among 15 tracks held in the state of New York.
Track Name
City
MENCS
NXS
NCWTS
Total Races
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen
35
24
5
64
Monroe County Fairgrounds
Rochester
8
0
0
8
Islip Speedway
Islip
6
0
0
6
Bridgehampton Race Circuit
Bridgehampton
4
0
0
4
Fonda Speedway
Fonda
4
0
0
4
New York State Fairgrounds
Syracuse
3
0
0
3
Albany Saratoga Speedway
Malta
2
0
0
2
Altamont-Schenectady Fairgrounds
Altamont
2
0
0
2
Hamburg Speedway
Hamburg
2
0
0
2
Vernon Fairgrounds
Vernon
2
0
0
2
Airborne Speedway
Plattsburg
1
0
0
1
Buffalo Civic Stadium
Buffalo
1
0
0
1
Montgomery Air Base
Montgomery
1
0
0
1
State Line Speedway
Busti
1
0
0
1
Wine Creek Race Track
Owego
1
0
0
1
TOTALS

73
24
5
102

·        The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race held in the state of New York was at Monroe County Fairgrounds on 07/02/1950 – Curtis Turner won from the pole.

NASCAR In New York
·        189 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as New York.  
·        14 of the 189 (7.4%) have posted at least one victory in NASCAR’s national series.
·        11 of 14 winners have won in the Monster Energy Series; led by Geoff Bodine with 18 wins.
·        Only two of the New York natives have won at Watkins Glen International in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series – Geoff Bodine (1996) and Steve Park (2000).

Drivers From New York
 
Rank
Driver
MENCS
NXS
NCWTS
TOTAL
1
Geoff Bodine
18
6
0
24
2
Jim Reed
7
0
0
7
3
Al Keller
2
0
0
2
4
Steve Park
2
3
1
6
5
Brett Bodine
1
5
0
6
6
Jim Hurtubise
1
0
0
1
7
Lloyd Moore
1
0
0
1
8
Bill Rexford
1
0
0
1
9
Greg Sacks
1
1
0
2
10
Regan Smith
1
6
0
7
11
Jack White
1
0
0
1
12
Todd Bodine
0
15
22
37
13
Mike McLaughlin
0
6
0
6
14
Donny Lia
0
0
1
1

TOTAL
36
42
24
102



2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Results
Date
Track
Busch Pole
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Race Winner
OEM
2/18/2018
Daytona
Alex Bowman
Kurt Busch
Ryan Blaney
N/A
Austin Dillon
Chevrolet
2/25/2018
Atlanta
Kyle Busch
Kevin Harvick
Brad Keselowski
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
3/4/2018
Las Vegas
Ryan Blaney
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
3/11/2018
ISM
Martin Truex Jr
Kyle Busch
Kurt Busch
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
3/18/2018
Auto Club
Martin Truex Jr
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.
N/A
Martin Truex Jr
Toyota
3/26/2018
Martinsville
None-Weather
Denny Hamlin
Ryan Blaney 
N/A
Clint Bowyer 
Ford 
4/8/2018
Texas
Kurt Busch
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Busch
N/A
Kyle Busch
Toyota
4/15/2018
Bristol
Kyle Busch
Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski
N/A
Kyle Busch
Toyota
4/21/2018
Richmond
Martin Truex Jr.
Joey Logano
Joey Logano
N/A
Kyle Busch
Toyota
4/29/2018
Talladega
Kevin Harvick
Brad Keselowski
Paul Menard
N/A
Joey Logano
Ford
5/6/2018
Dover
Kyle Larson
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
5/12/2018
Kansas
Kevin Harvick
Ryan Blaney
Kyle Larson
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
5/19/2018
All-Star Open
N/A
Alex Bowman
Daniel Suarez
N/A
AJ Allmendinger
Chevrolet
5/19/2018
All-Star Race
Matt Kenseth
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Busch
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Ford
5/27/2018
Charlotte
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
Toyota
6/3/2018
Pocono
Ryan Blaney
Martin Truex Jr
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Martin Truex Jr
Toyota
6/10/2018
Michigan
Kurt Busch
Ryan Blaney
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Clint Bowyer 
Ford
6/24/2018
Sonoma
Kyle Larson
AJ Allmendinger
Denny Hamlin
N/A
Martin Truex Jr
Toyota
7/1/2018
Chicagoland
Paul Menard
Aric Almirola
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Kyle Busch
Toyota
7/7/2018
Daytona
Chase Elliott
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
N/A
Erik Jones
Toyota
7/14/2018
Kentucky
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.
N/A
Martin Truex Jr.
Toyota
7/22/2018
New Hampshire
Kurt Busch
Martin Truex Jr.
Chase Elliott
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
7/29/2018
Pocono
Daniel Suarez
Chase Elliott
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Kyle Busch
Toyota
        
2018 Top Five Performers In Each Statistical Category
 
Rank
Drivers
Wins
 
Rank
Drivers
Runner-Ups
 
1
Kevin Harvick
6
 
1
Kyle Larson
4
 
2
Kyle Busch
6
  
Kyle Busch
4
 
3
Martin Truex Jr
4
 
3
Kevin Harvick
3
 
4
Clint Bowyer
2
  
Martin Truex Jr
3
 
5
Austin Dillon
1
 
4
Brad Keselowski
1
 
 
Joey Logano
1
  
Bubba Wallace
1
 
 
Erik Jones
1
  
Chase Elliott
1
 
     
Clint Bowyer
1
 
Rank
Drivers
Top Fives
  
Kurt Busch
1
 
1
Kevin Harvick
16
  
Ryan Blaney
1
 
2
Kyle Busch
15
  
Daniel Suarez
1
 
 
Martin Truex Jr
14
     
4
Clint Bowyer
6
 
Rank
Drivers
Top 10s
 
 
Denny Hamlin
6
 
1
Kevin Harvick
17
 
 
Kyle Larson
6
  
Kyle Busch
17
 
    
3
Joey Logano
15
 
Rank
Drivers
Poles
 
4
Martin Truex Jr
14
 
1
Martin Truex Jr
4
 
5
Brad Keselowski
12
 
2
Kyle Busch
3
     
3
Kurt Busch
3
 
Rank
Drivers
Laps Led
 
4
Kevin Harvick
2
 
1
Kevin Harvick
1,082
 
 
Ryan Blaney
2
 
2
Kyle Busch
1,036
 
 
Kyle Larson
2
 
3
Martin Truex Jr
647
 
    
4
Ryan Blaney
464
 
    
5
Kurt Busch
434
 


Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series - Milestones
STARTS
Driver: Joey Logano
Has
Needs
Milestone:
348
2
Will become the 74th driver to make 350 or more Monster Energy Series starts.
Driver: Chris Buescher
Has
Needs
Milestone:
99
1
Will become the 201st driver to make 100 or more Monster Energy Series starts.
Driver: Chase Elliott
Has
Needs
Milestone:
98
2
Will become the 202nd driver to make 100 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:
49
1
Tie Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson for 11th on the all-time Monster Energy Series wins list.
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
43
1
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.
BUSCH 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 and Rex White for 18th on the all-time series poles list.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
30
1
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: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
53
3
Tie Buck Baker for ninth on the all-time series second-place finishes list.
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:
44
2
Tie Jimmie Johnson for 12th on the all-time series second-place finishes list.
Top Fives
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
224
1
To become the 11th series driver all-time to post 225 or more top fives
Top 10s
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
348
1
Tie Rusty Wallace for 11th on the series all-time top-10 finishes list
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
324
1
Will beomce the 15th series driver to post 325 or more top-10 finishes in the MENCS.
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Has
Needs
Milestone:
174
1
Tie Greg Biffle for 42nd on the series all-time top-10 finishes list
Laps Led
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
18,678
322
To become the ninth driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 19,000 laps.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
15,416
584
To become the 10th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 16,000 laps.
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
12,173
827
To become the 12th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 13,000 laps.
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Has
Needs
Milestone:
11,751
249
To become the 16th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 12,000 laps.
Driver: Kurt Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
9,311
689
To become the 18th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 10,000 laps.
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Has
Needs
Milestone:
9,087
913
To become the 18th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 10,000 laps.


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