Thursday, September 13, 2018

Las Vegas Motor Speedway Track Facts: 2018 South Points 400

Kevin Harvick won at Las Vegas in March.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Fast Facts: Race #1 (Las Vegas)
·         This is the first year the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs has opened at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. New Hampshire was the first race of the Playoffs from 2004 – 2010, and Chicago was the first race from 2011 - 2017.
·         Of the 10 tracks on the Playoff schedule in 2018, the three tracks in the Round of 16 (Las Vegas, Richmond and the Charlotte Road Course) have all hosted the fewest Playoff races with their first coming this season.
·         Four times the winner of the opening race of the postseason has went on to win the title – 2018, 2012, 2011, and 2004:
o    In 2004 (inaugural MENCS Playoffs), Kurt Busch won the opening race of the Playoff at New Hampshire and went on to win the title.
o    In 2011 (race was delayed until Monday due to rain), Tony Stewart won his first race of the season at Chicago to open the Playoffs. Stewart went on to set the record for the most wins in a Playoff run with five victories and the title.
o    In 2012, Brad Keselowski won the Playoff race at Chicago and went on to win the title.
o    In 2018, Martin Truex Jr. won the Playoff race at Chicago and went on to win the title.
·         The worst finish in the opening race of the Playoffs by a driver that went on to win the title was Jimmie Johnson’s 39th-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the 2006 postseason.
·         The worst finish in the opening Playoff race at Chicago for a driver that went on to win the title was Jimmie Johnson’s 12th-place finish in 2016. Eventual champions and their finish at Chicago: 2015 Kyle Busch – ninth; 2014 Kevin Harvick – fifth; 2013 Jimmie Johnson – fifth; 2012 Brad Keselowski – first; 2011 Tony Stewart – first.    
·         No non-Playoff driver has ever won the opening race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.



8-8-8-8
STATISTICAL ADVANCE

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Fast Facts: Race #1 (Las Vegas)
·         Since the inception of the elimination-style format in the Playoffs in 2014, the deepest seeded driver entering the Playoffs to go on and win the title was Kevin Harvick, 2014 (seventh seed); the remaining champions all started within the top five: Kyle Busch, 2015 (No. 1 seed); Jimmie Johnson, 2016 (fifth seed); Martin Truex Jr. (No. 1 seed).


The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2018 Top 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Driver
Races
Poles
Wins
Top Fives
Top 10s
DNFs
Average Finish
Driver Rating
 
 
1
Kyle Busch
14
2
1
6
7
2
13.3
103.4
 
2
Kevin Harvick
18
0
2
5
8
1
14.1
100.6
 
3
Martin Truex Jr
13
0
1
3
5
0
12.5
92.6
 
4
Brad Keselowski
10
1
2
4
6
0
14.5
92.4
 
5
Clint Bowyer
13
0
0
1
4
0
17.8
71.6
 
6
Joey Logano
10
1
0
3
6
0
9.7
97.3
 
7
Kurt Busch
17
2
0
1
4
4
22.5
80.5
 
8
Chase Elliott
3
0
0
1
1
2
25.0
91.7
 
9
Ryan Blaney
4
1
0
1
3
0
9.2
95.3
 
10
Erik Jones
2
0
0
0
1
0
11.5
90.6
 
11
Austin Dillon
6
0
0
1
1
0
16.7
77.7
 
12
Kyle Larson
5
0
0
2
3
0
13.2
92.5
 
13
Denny Hamlin
13
0
0
2
6
0
12.6
81.9
 
14
Aric Almirola
10
0
0
0
1
3
26.2
58.9
 
15
Jimmie Johnson
17
0
4
6
9
0
11.0
108.9
 
16
Alex Bowman
3
0
0
0
0
1
32.0
44.4
 
* – Based on last 14 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (2005 – 2018).






Las Vegas Motor Speedway Data
Season Race #: 27 of 36 (09-16-18)
Track Size: 1.5-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 20 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 20 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 9 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 9 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  2,275 feet
Backstretch Length:  1,572 feet
Race Length: 267 laps / 400.5 Kilometers
Stage 1 & 2 Length: 80 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 107 laps


Top 10 Driver Ratings at Las Vegas
Jimmie Johnson........................ 108.9
Kyle Busch............................... 103.4
Kevin Harvick............................ 100.6
Joey Logano............................... 97.3
Matt Kenseth.............................. 96.3
Ryan Blaney............................... 95.3
Martin Truex Jr........................... 92.6
Kyle Larson................................ 92.5
Brad Keselowski......................... 92.4
Chase Elliott............................... 91.7
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2018 races (14 total) among active drivers at Las Vegas Motor Speedway


Track Records:
Track qualifying record:
Kurt Busch, Chevrolet
196.328 mph. 27.505 secs. 03-04-16

Track race record:
Brad Keselowski, Ford
154.633 mph, (2:35:24), 03-09-14

9-9-9-9

STATISTICAL ADVANCE

At Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
History
·         The construction to build the superspeedway known today as Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) began in 1995. Speedway Motorsports Inc. acquired the property in 1998.
·         The first NASCAR race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race won by Ken Schrader on Nov. 2, 1996.
·         The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race was held on March 1, 1998, won by Mark Martin.
·         In 2006, the track was reconfigured to include progressive banking.
·         There have been 21 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. LVMS has hosted one race per season from 1998 to 2017; this season marks the first time Las Vegas will host two MENCS events in a single season.

Starts
·         A total of 153 drivers have competed in at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway; 116 in more than one.
·         Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth lead the series in starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with 18 each.
·         A total of six drivers have made their Monster Energy Series career debut at Las Vegas - Stanton Barrett (1999), Kyle Busch (2004), Timmy Hill (2012), Jon Wood, Aric Almirola (2007) and Cole Custer (2018).
·         Joey Logano leads the series among active drivers in average starting position at Las Vegas with an 8.2 in 10 starts.
·         Six active drivers have average starting positions inside the top 10 at Las Vegas: Joey Logano (8.2), Erik Jones (8.5), Kurt Busch (9.1), Brad Keselowski (9.6), Kyle Busch (9.7) and Kyle Larson (9.8).



10-10-10-10
STATISTICAL ADVANCE

Poles
·         A total of 14 drivers have won Monster Energy Series Busch poles at Las Vegas, led by Kasey Kahne with three (2004, 2007 and 2012).
·         NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett won the inaugural pole at Las Vegas with a speed of 168.224 mph (32.773 secs.).
·         Kyle Busch is the only driver to win consecutive poles at LVMS; from (2008-2009).
·         Youngest LVMS pole winner: Kyle Busch (3/2/2008 – 22 years, 10 months, 0 days).
·         Oldest LVMS pole winner: Dale Jarrett (3/4/2001 – 44 years, 3 months, 6 days).
·         Only one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver has posted his first career pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Kasey Kahne (03/07/2004).  


Wins
·         A total of 12 different Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, led by Jimmie Johnson with four victories (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2010).
·         Of the 12 series winners at LVMS, six are active this weekend: Jimmie Johnson (4), Matt Kenseth (3), Brad Keselowski (2), Kevin Harvick (2), Martin Truex Jr. (1) and Kyle Busch (1).  
·         Six drivers (all-time) have multiple Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins at Las Vegas: Jimmie Johnson (four), Matt Kenseth (three), Brad Keselowski, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick (each have two).
·         Roush Fenway Racing leads the series in wins at Las Vegas with seven victories, followed by Hendrick Motorsports with five, Stewart-Haas Racing (three), Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske (two each), Chip Ganassi Racing and Furniture Row Racing (each have one).
·         Youngest LVMS winner: Kyle Busch (03/01/2009 – 23 years, 9 months, 27 days).
·         Oldest LVMS winner: Sterling Marlin (03/03/2002 – 44 years, 7 months, 32 days).
·         Three drivers have won consecutive races at Las Vegas: Jeff Burton (1999, 2000); Matt Kenseth (2003, 2004) and Jimmie Johnson, who is the only driver to win three consecutive races (2005, 2006 and 2007).
·         Las Vegas-native Kyle Busch became the first and only driver to win from the pole, in 2009.
·         Only five of the 21 Monster Energy Series Las Vegas races (23.8%) have been won from the front row: Kyle Busch, 2009 (pole); Carl Edwards, 2008 (second starting position); Brad Keselowski, 2014 (second starting position); Martin Truex Jr. (second starting position); Kevin Harvick, 2018 (second starting position).
·         The deepest in the field that a race winner has started is 25th, by Matt Kenseth in 2004.




11-11-11-11
STATISTICAL ADVANCE

Wins
·         Eight of the 12 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers who have won at Las Vegas participated in at least two or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Mark Martin (1998; inaugural event) is the only driver to win at Las Vegas in his first appearance.
·         Ryan Newman leads the series among active drivers with the most starts at Las Vegas without visiting Victory Lane at 17 races.
·         Four manufacturers have visited Victory Lane in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at LVMS, led by Ford (10), Chevrolet (seven), Toyota (three) and Dodge (one).

Additional Finishing Positions
·         A total of 16 different Monster Energy Series drivers have finished runner-up at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
·         Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the series in runner-up finishes at Las Vegas with three; followed by Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne and Tony Stewart with two each.
·         A total of 39 different Monster Energy Series drivers have finished in the top-five at Las Vegas.
·         Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart lead the series in top-five finishes at Las Vegas with six each.
·         A total of 57 different Monster Energy Series drivers have finished in the top-10 at Las Vegas.
·         Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth and Mark Martin lead the series in top-10 finishes at LVMS with 10 each.
·         NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt leads the series in average finishing position at Las Vegas with a 7.7.
·         Ryan Blaney leads all active drivers in the series in average finish at LVMS with a 9.25; followed by Joey Logano with a 9.7.    


12-12-12-12
STATISTICAL ADVANCE


Female Competitors
·         Danica Patrick and Shawna Robinson are the only two female drivers to compete at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
Driver
Season
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Driver Rating
Danica Patrick
2017
28
36
40.8
Danica Patrick
2016
18
21
54.9
Danica Patrick
2015
21
27
60.4
Danica Patrick
2014
22
21
58.0
Danica Patrick
2013
37
33
40.5
Averages

25.2
27.6
50.9
     
Driver
Season
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Driver Rating
Shawna Robinson
2002
36
42
N/A


Track Specific Stats
·         NASCAR Overtime: Only one race has resulted with a NASCAR Overtime finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway:
Date
Scheduled No. of Laps
Actual No. of Laps
NASCAR Overtime Laps
Winner
Runner-Up
3/12/2006
267
270
3
Jimmie Johnson
Matt Kenseth

·         Only one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas has ended early due to weather:
Date
Scheduled No. of Laps
Actual No. of Laps
No. of Fewer Laps
Winner
Runner-Up
3/5/2000
267
148
119
Jeff Burton
Tony Stewart

·         Qualifying has only been cancelled once at LVMS - 2013.
·         The closest margin of victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was the March 12, 2006 race won by Jimmie Johnson over Matt Kenseth by a MOV of 0.045 second.







13-13-13-13
STATISTICAL ADVANCE

NASCAR in Nevada
·         There has been a total of 63 NASCAR national series races among two tracks in the state of Nevada.
Track Name
City
Monster Energy
Xfinity
Camping World
Total Races
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas
21
22
22
65
Las Vegas Park Speedway
Las Vegas
1
0
0
1
Totals
 
22
22
22
66

·         The first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Nevada was at Las Vegas Park Speedway on October 16, 1955. Las Vegas Park Speedway was a 1-mile dirt track, and the event was 200 laps. Norm Nelson won the race in a Chrysler.

Nevada in NASCAR
·         A total of 28 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Nevada.
·         Only two are currently active in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series – Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing) and Kurt Busch (Stewart-Haas Racing) both from Las Vegas.
·         Five drivers with their home state recorded as Nevada have won a NASCAR national series race.

Drivers From Nevada
    
Driver
MENCS
NXS
NCWTS
Totals
Kyle Busch
49
92
51
192
Kurt Busch
30
5
4
39
Brendan Gaughan
0
2
8
10
Spencer Gallagher
0
1
0
1
Noah Gragson
0
0
2
2
Totals
79
100
65
244















14-14-14-14
STATISTICAL ADVANCE

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
8/5/2018
Watkins Glen
Denny Hamlin
Martin Truex Jr.
Chase Elliott
N/A
Chase Elliott
Chevrolet
8/12/2018
Michigan
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Ford
8/18/2018
Bristol
Kyle Larson
Ryan Blaney
Joey Logano
N/A
Kurt Busch
Ford
9/2/2018
Darlington
Denny Hamlin
Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson
N/A
Brad Keselowski
Ford
9/9/2018
Indianapolis
N/A
Clint Bowyer
Matt Kenseth
N/A
Brad Keselowski
Ford
9/16/2018
Las Vegas
      
9/22/2018
Richmond






9/30/2018
Charlotte
      
10/7/2018
Dover






10/14/2018
Talladega
      
10/21/2018
Kansas






10/28/2018
Martinsville
      
11/4/2018
Texas






11/11/2018
ISM
      
11/18/2018
Homestead
















15-15-15-15
STATISTICAL ADVANCE

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series - Milestones
STARTS
Driver: David Ragan
Has
Needs
Milestone:
424
1
Will become the 58th driver to make 425 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:
44
2
Tie Buck Baker (46) 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
2
To tie Fonty Flock for 23rd on the all-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series poles list.
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.






16-16-16-16
STATISTICAL ADVANCE

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series - Milestones
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:
349
1
To become the 11th driver all-time to post 350 top-10 finishes in the series.
Laps Led
Driver: Jimmie Johnson
Has
Needs
Milestone:
18,692
308
To become the ninth driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 19,000 laps.
Driver: Kyle Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
15,496
504
To become the 10th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 16,000 laps.
Driver: Kevin Harvick
Has
Needs
Milestone:
12,311
689
To become the 12th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 13,000 laps.
Driver: Matt Kenseth
Has
Needs
Milestone:
11,756
244
To become the 16th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 12,000 laps.
Driver: Kurt Busch
Has
Needs
Milestone:
9,354
646
To become the 18th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 10,000 laps.
Driver: Denny Hamlin
Has
Needs
Milestone:
9,150
850
To become the 18th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 10,000 laps.
Driver: Martin Truex Jr.
Has
Needs
Milestone:
7,225
775
To become the 26th driver in the MENCS all-time to lead 8,000 laps.



No comments: