Thursday, July 2, 2015

Daytona International Speedway Track Facts: 2015 Coke Zero 400

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 2015 Top 10 at Daytona International Speedway

Driver
Races
Poles
Wins
Top Fives
Top 10s
DNFs
Average Finish
Driver Rating
 
 
1
Kevin Harvick
28
1
2
7
12
3
16.2
81.6
 
2
Martin Truex Jr.
20
1
0
0
2
4
22.5
76.7
 
3
Joey Logano
13
0
1
3
4
2
18.3
85.8
 
4
Jimmie Johnson
27
2
3
10
13
6
17.5
87.9
 
5
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
31
1
3
12
18
3
13.1
91.9
 
6
Brad Keselowski
12
0
0
2
3
4
21.8
75.5
 
7
Jamie McMurray
25
0
2
3
5
8
23.7
79.5
 
8
Kasey Kahne
23
0
0
2
8
5
19.4
83.3
 
9
Matt Kenseth
31
1
2
6
14
5
17.8
89.9
 
10
Kurt Busch
28
0
0
11
14
1
17.5
90.5
 
* – Based on last 21 races at Daytona International Speedway.


Daytona International Speedway Data

Season Race #: 17 of 36 (07-05-15)
Track Size: 2.5-mile
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 31 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 31 degrees
Banking/Straights: 3 degrees
Banking/Tri-Oval: 18 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  3,800 feet
Backstretch Length:  3,000 feet
Race Length: 160 laps / 400 miles

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Daytona
Kyle Busch................................. 96.2
Dale Earnhardt Jr........................ 91.9
Kurt Busch.................................. 90.5
Matt Kenseth.............................. 89.9
Jeff Gordon................................ 88.0
Jimmie Johnson.......................... 87.9
Denny Hamlin............................. 87.7
Tony Stewart............................... 86.6
Joey Logano.............................. 85.8
Clint Bowyer............................... 84.0
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2015 races (21 total) among active drivers at Daytona International Speedway.

Qualifying/Race Data
2014 pole winner:
David Gilliland, Ford
199.322 mph, 45.153 secs 07-04-14

2014 race winner:
Aric Almirola, Ford
130.014 mph, (02:09:13), 07-06-14

Track qualifying record (July race):
Cale Yarborough, Ford
203.519 mph, 44.222 secs 07-02-86

Track race record (July race):
Bobby Allison, Mercury
173.473 mph, (02:18:21), 07-04-80


AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY:
History
·         Groundbreaking for Daytona International Speedway was Nov. 25, 1957. The soil underneath the banked corners was dug from the infield of the track and the hole filled with water. It is now known as Lake Lloyd.
·         The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona was a 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 1959 – won by Bob Welborn.
·         The first summer race at Daytona International Speedway was held on July 4, 1959 – won by Fireball Roberts(140.581 mph).
·         NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty won his 200th career race on July 4, 1984 at Daytona.
·         Lights were installed in the spring of 1998. However, the July race was delayed until October that year due to thick smoke from wildfires. The second Daytona race has been held under the lights ever since.
·         The track underwent a repave in 2010.

Starts
·         There have been 136 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Daytona International Speedway since the track hosted its first race in 1959:  57 have been 500 miles, 52 were 400 miles and four 250 miles. There were also 23 qualifier races that were point races.
·         445 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series July race at Daytona International Speedway; 277 in more than one.
·         Richard Petty leads the series in July race starts at Daytona with 32. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 22 starts – this weekend will be Gordon’s final start at Daytona.
·         Four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series active drivers have made their first career start at Daytona International Speedway, though none were during the July race: Tony Stewart (2/14/99), Casey Mears (2/16/03), Kasey Kahne (2/15/04), Brendan Gaughan (2/15/04) Danica Patrick (2/27/12), Alex Bowman (2/23/14), Michael Annett (2/23/14).

Poles

·         Fireball Roberts won the inaugural Coors Light pole for the July race at Daytona in 1959 with a speed of 144.997 mph.  
·         38 drivers have Coors Light poles at Daytona for the July event, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarboroughwith eight.
·         Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in Daytona July race poles, with two. Gordon started first in 2007 due to qualifying being cancelled as well.
·         Three drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles for the July race at Daytona: Cale Yarborough (1970-’71; 1980-’81, 1983-’84), Sterling Marlin (1991-’92) and Dale Earnhardt (1994-’95).
·         Youngest Daytona July race pole winner: Jeff Gordon (07/06/1996 - 24 years, 11 months, 2 days); all-time track record belongs to Austin Dillon (02/23/2014 – 23 years, 9 months, 27 days).
·         Oldest Daytona pole winner: Mark Martin (07/02/2011 – 52 years, 5 months, 23 days).
·         Six active drivers have posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light pole at Daytona International Speedway: Greg Biffle (2/15/04), Kevin Harvick (7/6/02), Jimmie Johnson (2/17/02), Paul Menard (7/5/08), Danica Patrick (2/24/13) and Austin Dillon (2/23/2014).       

Wins
·        
Drivers who have swept both races (Daytona 500 and the July race) at Daytona:
Fireball Roberts – 1962 (Daytona 500, Firecracker 250)
Cale Yarborough – 1968 (Daytona 500, Firecracker 400)
LeeRoy Yarborough – 1969 (Daytona 500, Firecracker 400)
Bobbie Allison – 1982 (Daytona 500, Firecracker 400)
Jimmie Johnson – 2013 (Daytona 500, Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola)
35 different drivers have won the July race at Daytona International Speedway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson with five wins. Tony Stewart leads all active drivers with four; followed by Jeff Gordon with three.   
·         Five drivers have posted consecutive wins in the July race at Daytona International Speedway, including three consecutive by David Pearson (1972 - 1974).
·         Tony Stewart (2005-’06) is the only active driver to win consecutive July races at Daytona.
·         Youngest Daytona July race winner: Kyle Busch (07/01/2008 – 23 years, 2 months, 3 days); all-time track record - Trevor Bayne (02/20/2011 – 20 years, 0 months, 1 day).
·         Oldest Daytona July race winner: Bobby Allison (07/04/1987 – 49 years, 7 months, 1 day); all-time track record - Bobby Allison (02/14/1988 – 50 years, 5 months, 23 days).
·         The Wood Brothers have the most wins at Daytona in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 15; followed by Hendrick Motorsports with 13.
·        
Seven different manufacturers have won the July NSCS race at Daytona:
Manufacturer
Daytona July Race Wins
Chevrolet
18
Ford
17
Mercury
7
Dodge
5
Pontiac
5
Buick
3
Toyota
1

Eight of the 56 (14.2%) July NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Daytona have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Kevin Harvick in 2010.
·         The Coors Light pole is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (eight) than any other starting position in the July race at Daytona International Speedway.    
·         15 of the 56 (26.7%) July NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Daytona have been won from the front row: eight from the pole and seven from second-place.
·         41 of the 56 (73.2%) July NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Daytona have been won from a top-10 starting position.
·         Four of the 56 (7.1%) July NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Daytona have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.
·         The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Daytona is 42nd, by Tony Stewart in the 2012 July race.
·         Four active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers have posted their first career win at Daytona International Speedway; two were during the July race: Trevor Bayne (2/20/11), Greg Biffle (7/5/03), David Ragan (7/2/11) and Michael Waltrip (2/18/01).
·         Greg Biffle won the July race at Daytona in his first appearance.     
·         Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Daytona with 710 laps led in 45 starts. 
·         Tony Stewart leads the series among active drivers in laps led in the July race at Daytona with 369; followed byJeff Gordon with 318 and Dale Earnhardt Jr. with 243.
·         Fewest laps led by a July race winner at Daytona are one lap led by Jimmy Spencer in 1994. The fewest laps led by an active July race winner at Daytona are three laps led by Jamie McMurray in 2007.

Additional Finishing Position Stats
·         Buddy Baker leads the series in runner-up finishes in the July race at Daytona with five; followed by Richard Petty and Sterling Marlin with four. Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch lead all active drivers with two each.
·         NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson leads the series in top-five finishes in the July race at Daytona with 13; followed by Richard Petty with 12. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with seven.   

Additional Finishing Position Stats
·         David Pearson leads the series in top-10 finishes in the July race at Daytona with 19; followed by Dale Earnhardt with 18. Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 11.
·         Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Daytona with a 9.926.
·         Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Daytona with a 13.065.
·         Kurt Busch leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Daytona without visiting Victory Lane at 28.

Female Competitor Stats
·         Five female drivers have competed in the July event at Daytona International Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie, Christine Beckers, Lella Lombardi, Patty Moise and Shawna Robinson. Below they are ordered by best finish:
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
Danica Patrick
29
8
7/6/2014
Danica Patrick
11
14
7/6/2013
Shawna Robinson
27
40
7/6/2002
Patty Moise
35
39
7/1/1989
Patty Moise
33
26
7/2/1988
Janet Guthrie
36
11
7/4/1978
Christine Beckers
37
37
7/4/1977
Janet Guthrie
20
40
7/4/1977
Lella Lombardi
29
31
7/4/1977
Janet Guthrie
33
15
7/4/1976

Track Event Stats
·         Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway for the July race was the July 7, 2007 race won by Jamie McMurray over Kyle Busch with a MOV of 0.005 second.
·         Four of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series July races have resulted with a green-white-checkered finish at Daytona International Speedway (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): 2008 (160/162), 2010 (160/166), 2011 (160/170) and 2013 (160/161).
·         Only two of the 56 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series July races at Daytona International Speedway has been shortened due to weather conditions: 1) July 6, 1996 – the race was called on Lap 117, 43 circuits shy of the 160 scheduled laps and 2) July 6, 2014 – the race was called on Lap 112.     
·         Qualifying for the July race has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway three times: 2007, 2009, and 2010.    

NASCAR in Florida

·         There have been 178 NASCAR Sprint Cup races among eight tracks in the state of Florida.
·         The first NASCAR premiere series race in the state of Florida was held at the Daytona Beach & Road Course in 7/10/1949. The 40 lap event was by won Red Byron (Oldsmobile, 80.883 mph).
Track Name
City
NSCS
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach
136
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead
16
Daytona Beach & Road Course
Daytona Beach
10
Palm Beach Speedway
W. Palm Beach
7
Speedway Park
Jacksonville
6
Five Flags Speedway
Pensacola
1
Golden Gate Speedway
Tampa
1
Titusville-Cocoa Speedway
Titusville
1

·         174 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Florida; 10 of the 174 (6.3%) have recorded at least one victory in NASCAR national series competition.
·         Of the eight Florida native drivers who have won in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, only Fireball Roberts,LeeRoy Yarborough and Aric Almirola have won the July race at Daytona International Speedway.
Driver
NSCS
NXS
NCWTS
Fireball Roberts
33
0
0
LeeRoy Yarbrough
14
0
0
Marshall Teague
7
0
0
Joe Nemechek
4
16
0
Bobby Johns
2
0
0
David Reutimann
2
1
1
Aric Almirola
1
1
2
Shorty Rollins
1
0
0
Rick Wilson
0
2
0
Joey Coulter
0
0
1

MILESTONES – Daytona International Speedway



DRIVER
HAS
NEEDS
MILESTONE
DESCRIPTION
Aric Almirola
124
1
125th Consecutive NSCS Start 
Almirola is 18th on the active consecutive NSCS starts list. 
Landon Cassill
49
1
50th Consecutive NSCS Start 
Cassill is 25th on the active consecutive NSCS starts list.
Martin Truex Jr.
349
1
350th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Career Start
Truex is tied with NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett for 67th on the all-time NSCS career starts list, eight starts behind Dick Brooks (357) in 66th.
Trevor Bayne
74
1
75th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Career Start
Bayne is tied with Mike Alexander for 224th on the all-time NSCS career starts list, one start behind Casey Atwood (75) in 223rd.
Brendan Gaughan
49
1
50th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Career Start
Gaughan is ranked 277th on the all-time NSCS career starts list.
Jimmie Johnson
74
2
76th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win
Jimmie Johnson is eighth on the all-time NSCS wins list, two wins behind NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt in seventh (76 wins).
Tony Stewart
48
2
50th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win
Stewart is 13th on the all-time NSCS wins list, two wins behind NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett in 12th (50 wins).
Matt Kenseth
32
1
33rd NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win
Kenseth is tied with Dale Jarrett for 22nd on the all-time NSCS wins list, one win behind Fireball Roberts in 21st (33 wins).
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
24
1
25th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win
Earnhardt Jr. is tied with Carl Edwards for 30th on the all-time NSCS wins list, one win behind Joe Weatherly and Denny Hamlin in 29th (25 wins).
Carl Edwards
24
1
25th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win
Edwards is tied with Dale Earnhardt Jr. for 30th on the all-time NSCS wins list, one win behind Joe Weatherly and Denny Hamlin in 29th (25 wins).
Jeff Gordon
24,826
174
25,000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Laps Led
Gordon can become the sixth driver in NSCS history to lead 25,000 laps.
Matt Kenseth
9,597
403
10,000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Laps Led
Kenseth can become the 16th driver in series history to lead 10,000 or more laps. 
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
7,954
46
8,000 NSCS Laps Led
Earnhardt can become the 23rd driver in series history to lead 8,000 or more laps. 
#43 car
199
1
200 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Wins
The No. 43 car is second on the all-time NSCS wins list, five wins behind the No. 11 car in first (204). The last win for the No. 43 car came at Daytona last season.

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