Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Jimmie Johnson goes for fourth Kansas win

Jimmie Johnson is now the 5/2 favorite to win Sprint Cup.
Jimmie Johnson on his win at Charlotte and moving forward in the Chase
“Heading into Kansas, the win in Charlotte certainly opens up the possibility for whatever opportunities may present themselves. We can go there to race and to win without pressure. This win at Charlotte also allows me go to Talladega and not worry about anything, which is fantastic. I can just get up in the race and mix it up, and race hard. We’ve also been very competitive at Texas, Martinsville, so good things ahead for us.”

MOVING ON: Last weekend in Charlotte, Johnson advanced to the Round of 8 by winning his fourth fall race at Charlotte Motor Speedway and eighth overall at the 1.5-mile track. It’s the first time since NASCAR began this format of the Chase in 2014 that the No. 48 has made it through to the final eight contenders.

FOLLOW THE LEADER: So far in the four Chase races, Johnson and team have turned up the wick and have led a total of 363 laps – 118 at Chicago, 90 at Dover and 155 at Charlotte. Prior to that, in the 26-race regular season, Johnson led a total of 266 laps.

SERIES BEST: Johnson has the series-best driver rating at Kansas Speedway with a score of 110.4. He has an average finish of 7.882 and an average running position of 9.513, both of which are series-best.

78 WINS AND COUNTING: Johnson’s win at Charlotte was his 78th win of his career. Earlier this season he passed the late Dale Earnhardt for seventh most wins of all time with 77. The next record in line for all-time wins is 83, currently occupied by NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough.

TIED WITH GORDON FOR MOST WINS: Johnson has three wins at Kansas Speedway and is tied for the most all-time wins at the track with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon.

1.5-MILE TRACK MILESTONES: Johnson currently holds the record for all-time wins on 1.5-mile tracks. He has earned 26 victories, which include eight at Charlotte Motor Speedway, six at Texas Motor Speedway, five at Atlanta Motor Speedway, four at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and three at Kansas Speedway.

JIMMIE JOHNSON WELLNESS VIRTUAL TRIATHLON: Being a part of #TeamJJF means staying involved and being up-to-date with the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and its events not only by participating, but also by following through social media. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation is launching its first “virtual triathlon." Joining #TeamJJF is a perfect way to support the Jimmie Johnson Foundation’s mission of assisting children, families and communities in need while taking on a personal athletic challenge. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation Virtual Triathlon takes place during the month of October. The challenge is to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles. Learn more here.
 
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2016 Season

  • 1st in standings
  • 30 starts
  • 3 wins
  • 1 pole position
  • 8 top-five finishes
  • 13 top-10 finishes
  • 629 laps led
 
 

Career

  • 537 starts
  • 78 wins
  • 35 pole positions
  • 215 top-five finishes
  • 327 top-10 finishes
  • 18,338 laps led
 
 

Track Career 

  • 20 starts
  • 3 wins
  • 3 pole positions
  • 8 top-five finishes
  • 16 top-10 finishes
  • 601 laps led
 
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Kansas Speedway Chase Facts

Jimmie Johnson is trending upward on 1.5-mile tracks. 
Chase Fast Facts: Kansas Speedway
·        
Kansas Chase Race Winners
Winners
Chase Race Wins
Jimmie Johnson
2
Joey Logano
2
Greg Biffle
2
Tony Stewart
2
Kevin Harvick
1
Matt Kenseth
1
Joe Nemechek
1
Mark Martin
1

This is the second year in a row the fifth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup has been held at Kansas Speedway (2015 – 2016). Kansas has occupied five different positions on the Chase schedule in the past 12 seasons: from 2004 – 2005 it was the fourth race of the Chase; from 2006 – 2010 it was the third race of the Chase; in 2011 it was moved back to the fourth race in the Chase; in 2012 it was moved to the sixth race in the Chase; from 2013 – 2014 it was again moved back to the fourth race in the Chase.  
·         Eight tracks have hosted Chase races all 12 previous years – New Hampshire, Dover, Charlotte, Kansas, Talladega, Martinsville, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami.
·         Eight different drivers have won the Kansas Chase races, but only two active Chase drivers have multiple winsJoey Logano (2014 and 2015) and Jimmie Johnson (2008 and 2011).   
·         Only once has the winner of the Kansas Speedway Chase race gone on to win the title: 
o    In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won from the pole at Kansas, and went on to win his third consecutive NSCS title.
·         The worst finish in a Chase race at Kansas by a driver that went on to win the title was 15th by Tony Stewart(2011).
·         Last season’s champion, Kyle Busch, finished fifth in the Chase race at Kansas after starting third.


Kansas Chase Race Lap Leaders
Lap Leaders
Laps Led
Jimmie Johnson
321
Joey Logano
164
Mark Martin
139
Kevin Harvick
138
Greg Biffle
97
Matt Kenseth
78
Tony Stewart
42
Joe Nemechek
41

Chase Fast Facts: Kansas Speedway
·         Three non-Chase drivers have won the Chase race at Kansas Speedway – Joe Nemechek (2004) he was ranked 21st in the points at the time of the win; Tony Stewart (2006) he was 11th in points at the time of the win; Greg Biffle (2007) he was 14th in the points at the time of the win.  
·         Eight drivers have won the pole for the Chase races at Kansas – Kasey Kahne (three), Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick (two each), Brad Keselowski, Greg Biffle, Joe Nemechek, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth (each have one). 

Kansas Speedway Track Facts: 2016 Hollywood Casino 400

Joey Logano took out Matt Kenseth late in last years Kansas Chase race.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2016 Round of 12 at Kansas Speedway
Rank
Driver
Races
Poles
Wins
Top Fives
Top 10s
DNFs
Average Finish
Driver Rating
 
 
1
Jimmie Johnson
20
3
3
8
16
1
9.2
110.4
 
2
Matt Kenseth
21
2
2
7
12
2
13.3
107.4
 
3
Kyle Busch
17
0
1
3
5
4
19.2
83.8
 
4
Brad Keselowski
13
1
1
2
7
0
12.1
91.6
 
5
Kurt Busch
21
1
0
2
7
2
17.1
88.5
 
6
Carl Edwards
18
0
0
6
12
1
10.6
95.4
 
7
Martin Truex Jr
16
1
0
4
5
1
17.1
95.5
 
8
Denny Hamlin
16
0
1
4
5
2
16.8
86.6
 
9
Austin Dillon
6
0
0
0
2
1
20.3
71.0
 
10
Chase Elliott
1
0
0
0
1
0
9.0
79.3
 
11
Joey Logano
14
1
2
5
5
2
18.7
85.6
 
12
Kevin Harvick
21
3
1
5
10
1
10.8
103.4
 
* – Based on last 17 races at Kansas Speedway (2005 – 2016).



Kansas Speedway Data
Season Race #: 31 of 36 (05-02-16)
Track Size: 1.5-miles
Banking/Turn 1 & 2: 17 to 20 degrees
Banking/Turn 3 & 4: 17 to 20 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 10 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  2,685 feet
Backstretch Length:  2,207 feet
Race Length: 267 laps / 400 miles

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Kansas
Jimmie Johnson........................ 110.4
Matt Kenseth............................ 107.4
Kevin Harvick............................ 103.4
Greg Biffle.................................. 96.8
Martin Truex Jr............................ 95.5
Carl Edwards.............................. 95.4
Kasey Kahne.............................. 91.8
Kyle Larson................................ 91.8
Brad Keselowski......................... 91.8
Tony Stewart.............................. 89.1
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2016 races (17 total) among active drivers at Kansas Speedway.

Qualifying/Race Data
2015 pole winner:
Brad Keselowski, Ford
195.503 mph, 27.621 secs. 10-16-15

2015 race winner:
Joey Logano, Ford
135.732 mph, (02:58:22), 10-18-15

Track qualifying record:
Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet
197.773 mph, 27.304 secs. 10-03-14

Track race record:
Denny Hamlin, Toyota
144.122 mph, (02:46:44), 04-22-12

Kansas Speedway:
History
·         Groundbreaking was held on May 25, 1999.
·         The official opening of Kansas Speedway was in 2001, with the first events being an ARCA race and a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race on the same day – June 2.
·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was on Sept. 30, 2001 – won by Jeff Gordon (110.576 mph, 3:37:19).
·         During the 2012 season, between the April and October events the 1.5-mile track underwent a repave adding variable banking in the corners.
Starts
·         There have been 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, one NSCS event from 2001 - 2010 and two races per year since 2011.
·         126 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Kansas; 96 in more than one.
·         Four drivers have started all 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway – Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman.
·         Joey Logano leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Kansas Speedway with a 10.571.
·         Four drivers all-time have made their first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career start at Kansas Speedway: Erik Jones (5/09/2015), Ryan Blaney (5/10/2014), Austin Dillon (10/09/2011) and Denny Hamlin (10/09/2005).
Poles
·         14 drivers have Coors Light poles at Kansas, led by Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne with three each.
·         Jason Leffler won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Kansas Speedway in 2001 with a speed of 176.499 mph.
·         Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick are the only two drivers to win consecutive Coors Light poles at Kansas Speedway (Johnson – 2007, 2008 and Harvick – fall 2013, spring 2014 and fall 2014).
·         Youngest Kansas pole winner: Joey Logano (05/09/2015 – 24 years, 11 months, 15 days).
·         Oldest Kansas pole winner: Mark Martin (10/04/2009 – 50 years, 8 months, 25 days).
Wins
·         13 different drivers have won at Kansas Speedway, led by Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson with three each.
·         Hendrick Motorsports leads the series in wins at Kansas with six: Jeff Gordon (three: 2001, 2002 and 2014) and Jimmie Johnson (three: 2008, 2011 and 2015).
·         Four manufacturers have won at Kansas Speedway in the NSCS; led by Chevrolet with 10 victories, Ford with six, Toyota has three and Dodge has two.
·         Four of the 21 (19%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from the Coors Light pole; Joe Nemechek (2004), Jimmie Johnson (2008), Matt Kenseth (spring 2013) and Kevin Harvick(fall 2013). 
·         Five of the 21 (23.8%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from the front row: four from the pole and one from second-place.
·         12 of the 21 (57.1%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
·         18 of the 21 (85.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a top-20 starting position.
·         Two of the 21 (9.5%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20. – 21st (Tony Stewart, 2006) and 25th (Brad Keselowski, 2011).
·         The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kansas Speedway is 25th, by Brad Keselowski in the spring of 2011.
·         Youngest Kansas winner: Joey Logano (10/05/2014 – 24 years, 4 months, 11 days).
·         Oldest Kansas winner: Mark Martin (10/09/2005 – 46 years, 9 months, 0 days).
·         Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth are the only two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers that have posted consecutive wins at Kansas Speedway: Gordon (2001 and 2002 – the first two NSCS events at Kansas) and Kenseth (fall of 2012, spring of 2013). 
·         Jeff Gordon is the only driver to win at Kansas in his first appearance.  
·         Kyle Busch competed at Kansas Speedway 16 times before winning in the earlier this season; the longest span of any the 10 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winners at Kansas.
·         Kyle Busch (16), Kevin Harvick (15) and Matt Kenseth (13) have made 10 or more attempts before their first win at Kansas Speedway.
·         Kurt Busch leads the series with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway without visiting Victory Lane at 21.

Additional Finishing Positions
·         Kevin Harvick has the series most runner-up finishes at Kansas Speedway with three.  
·         Jeff Gordon leads the series in top-five finishes at Kansas Speedway with 11; followed by Jimmie Johnsonwith eight, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle each have seven.
·         Jimmie Johnson leads the series in top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway with 16; followed by Jeff Gordon(14), Carl Edwards (12) and Matt Kenseth (12).
·         Jimmie Johnson (9.150) is the only active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver with more than one start at Kansas Speedway with an average finishing position inside the top 10.
Track / Event Specific Stats
·         There has been two NSCS races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Kansas Speedway: fall of 2011 (267/272) and fall of 2015 (267/269).
·         Only one of the 21 races at Kansas Speedway has been shortened due to weather conditions: fall of 2007 - Completed 210 of the scheduled 267 laps.   
·         Qualifying has never been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway. 
·         Brad Keselowski has participated in the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway without posting a DNF (13).
·         Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas Speedway was the (10/10/2004) race won by Joe Nemechek with a MOV of 0.081 second.
·         Matt Kenseth leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Kansas Speedway with 658 laps led in 21 starts.
Female Competitor Stats
·         Danica Patrick is the only female driver that has competed at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series:
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Driver Rating
Date
Danica Patrick
23
20
53.9
5/7/2016
Danica Patrick
29
22
54.7
10/18/2015
Danica Patrick
27
27
54.4
5/9/2015
Danica Patrick
29
16
67.9
10/5/2014
Danica Patrick
9
7
101.4
5/10/2014
Danica Patrick
29
43
29.3
10/6/2013
Danica Patrick
25
25
55.8
4/21/2013
Danica Patrick
40
32
40.4
10/21/2012
Averages
26.4
24.0
57.2
 
·         Danica Patrick’s seventh-place finish (2014) at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the third highest finish by a female driver in the series. Patrick’s series career-best finish is sixth and the best finish by a female driver in the NSCS is Sarah Christian’s fifth-place finish in 1949. 


NASCAR in Kansas
·         There have been 21 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in the state of Kansas - all at Kansas Speedway.
Track Name
City
NSCS
Kansas Speedway
Kansas City
21

Kansas Drivers In NASCAR
·         17 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Kansas.
·         Of the 17 Kansas drivers only 10 have competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. 
·         Two drivers from Kansas have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series; both have won in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Driver
NSCS
NXS
NCWTS
Clint Bowyer
8
8
3
Jim Roper
1
0
0

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Milestones
Drivers
Has
Needs
Milestones
Martin Truex Jr.
399
1
Become the 57th driver to make 400 or more NSCS starts
Tony Stewart
49
1
Tie Ned Jarrett and Junior Johnson for 11th on all-time NSCS wins list
Kyle Busch
38
1
Tie Tim Flock for 18th on all-time NSCS wins list
Matt Kenseth
38
1
Tie Tim Flock for 18th on all-time NSCS wins list
Kurt Busch
28
1
Tie Denny Hamlin for 25th on all-time NSCS wins list
Carl Edwards
27
1
Tie Rex White and Kurt Busch for 26th on all-time NSCS wins list
Ryan Newman
51
3
To tie Bill Elliott for eighth on the all-time NSCS poles list
Jimmie Johnson
35
1
Tie Rusty Wallace and Rex White for 17th on all-time NSCS poles list
Kasey Kahne
27
1
Break the tie with Terry Labonte to become solely 25th on all-time NSCS poles list
Denny Hamlin
24
1
Break the tie with Alan Kulwicki to become solely 28th on all-time NSCS poles list
Kevin Harvick
48
1
Break the tie with Lee Petty and become solely 10th on all-time NSCS second-place finishes list
Kyle Busch
35
1
Break the tie with Harry Gant and become solely 20th on all-time NSCS second-place finishes list
Brad Keselowski
74
1
Tie Fred Lorenzen (75) for 52nd on the all-time NSCS top-five finishes list. 
Jimmie Johnson
363
623
Tie his own record ('09 - 986 laps led) for the most all-time laps led during a single 10-race Chase (2004-16)
Martin Truex Jr.
360
626
Tie Jimmie Johnson ('09 - 986 laps led) for the most all-time laps led during a single 10-race Chase (2004-16)
Jeff Gordon
24,936
64
To become sixth NSCS driver all-time to lead 25,000 or more laps
Tony Stewart
12,818
182
To become 11th NSCS driver all-time to lead 13,000 or more laps
Matt Kenseth
10,982
18
To become 16th NSCS driver all-time to lead 11,000 or more laps
Kurt Busch
8,860
140
To become 20th NSCS driver all-time to lead 9,000 or more laps
Carl Edwards
5,991
9
To become 33rd NSCS driver all-time to lead 6,000 or more laps



Track Specific Milestones

Drivers
Has
Needs
Milestones
Jimmie Johnson
3
1
Break the tie with Jeff Gordon to become solely the series leader in wins at Kansas Speedway
Matt Kenseth
2
1
Tie Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon for the series most wins at Kansas
Tony Stewart
2
1
Tie Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon for the series most wins at Kansas
Greg Biffle
2
1
Tie Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon for the series most wins at Kansas
Joey Logano
2
1
Tie Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon for the series most wins at Kansas
Jimmie Johnson
3
1
Break the tie with Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne to become solely the series leader in poles at Kansas
Kevin Harvick
3
1
Break the tie with Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne to become solely the series leader in poles at Kansas
Kasey Kahne
3
1
Break the tie with Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick to become solely the series leader in poles at Kansas
Matt Kenseth
2
1
Tie Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne for the series most poles at Kansas
Joe Gibbs Racing
4
1
To break the tie with Roush Fenway Racing to become solely second in series wins at Kansas
Roush Fenway Racing
4
1
To break the tie with Joe Gibbs Racing to become solely second in series wins at Kansas
Team Penske
3
1
To tie Roush Fenway Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing for second most series wins at Kansas