Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Richmond Raceway Track Facts: 2017 Federated Auto Parts 400

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 2017 Top 16 at Richmond International Raceway
Rank
Driver
Races
Poles
Wins
Top Fives
Top 10s
DNFs
Average Finish
Driver Rating
1
Martin Truex Jr
23
0
0
2
8
3
20.0
83.5
2
Kyle Busch
24
1
4
15
17
0
7.3
109.8
3
Kyle Larson
7
0
0
1
1
0
11.7
88.3
4
Kevin Harvick
33
1
3
12
21
0
10.3
110.4
5
Denny Hamlin
22
3
3
9
13
0
9.8
110.3
6
Brad Keselowski
16
1
1
4
7
1
14.2
96.9
7
Chase Elliott
4
0
0
0
0
0
17.8
73.2
8
Matt Kenseth
35
2
2
6
16
2
16.1
90.5
9
Jamie McMurray
29
0
0
3
8
4
19.2
79.9
10
Jimmie Johnson
31
2
3
7
12
1
15.9
90.3
11
Clint Bowyer
23
0
2
4
12
1
12.9
93.5
12
Ryan Blaney
3
0
0
0
0
1
34.3
48.3
13
Kurt Busch
33
0
2
6
14
1
15.8
94.3
14
Erik Jones
1
0
0
0
0
1
38.0
24.2
15
Joey Logano
17
2
2
6
9
1
12.5
87.4
16
Ryan Newman
31
1
1
6
17
0
12.1
89.7
* – Based on last 25 races at Richmond International Raceway (2005 – 2017).

2017 Stage Winners / Drivers with Playoff Points
Track
Stage 1 Winner
Stage 2 Winner
Stage 3 Winner
Race Winner
Following Race #25
Daytona
Kyle Busch
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Kurt Busch
Drivers
Pts
Atlanta
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
N/A
Brad Keselowski
Martin Truex Jr.
37
Las Vegas
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.
N/A
Martin Truex Jr.
Kyle Busch
20
Phoenix
Joey Logano
Chase Elliott
N/A
Ryan Newman
Kyle Larson
18
Auto Club
Kyle Larson
Martin Truex Jr.
N/A
Kyle Larson
Jimmie Johnson
16
Martinsville
Martin Truex Jr.
Chase Elliott
N/A
Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski
14
Texas
Ryan Blaney
Ryan Blaney
N/A
Jimmie Johnson
Denny Hamlin
12
Bristol
Kyle Larson
Martin Truex Jr.
N/A
Jimmie Johnson
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
10
Richmond
Matt Kenseth
Brad Keselowski
N/A
Joey Logano
Kevin Harvick
8
Talladega
Brad Keselowski
Denny Hamlin
N/A
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Ryan Blaney
8
Kansas
Kyle Busch
Ryan Blaney
N/A
Martin Truex Jr.
Kurt Busch
5
Charlotte
Kyle Busch
Martin Truex Jr.
Denny Hamlin
Austin Dillon
Ryan Newman
5
Dover
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.
N/A
Jimmie Johnson
Kasey Kahne
5
Pocono
Kyle Busch 
Kyle Larson 
N/A 
Ryan Blaney 
Austin Dillon
5
Michigan
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.
N/A
Kyle Larson
Matt Kenseth
3
Sonoma
Martin Truex Jr.
Jimmie Johnson
N/A
Kevin Harvick
Chase Elliott
2
Daytona
Brad Keselowski
Matt Kenseth
N/A
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Clint Bowyer
1
Kentucky
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.
N/A
Martin Truex Jr.
Joey Logano
1
New Hampshire
Martin Truex Jr.
Kyle Busch
N/A
Denny Hamlin
Daniel Suarez
1
Indianapolis
Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch
N/A
Kasey Kahne
Pocono
Kyle Busch
Clint Bowyer
N/A
Kyle Busch
Watkins Glen
Kyle Busch
Daniel Suarez
N/A
Martin Truex Jr.
Michigan
Brad Keselowski
Martin Truex Jr.
N/A
Kyle Larson
Bristol
Kyle Busch
Matt Kenseth
N/A
Kyle Busch
Darlington
Martin Truex Jr.
Martin Truex Jr.
N/A
Denny Hamlin
Richmond


N/A



Richmond International Raceway Data
Season Race #: 26 of 36 (09-09-17)
Track Size: 0.75-miles
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 14 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 14 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 8 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 2 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  1,290 feet
Backstretch Length:  860 feet
Race Length: 400 laps / 300 miles
Stage 1 and 2 Length: 100 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 200 laps

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Richmond
Kevin Harvick........................... 110.4
Denny Hamlin........................... 110.3
Kyle Busch............................... 109.8
Brad Keselowski......................... 96.9
Kurt Busch................................. 94.3
Clint Bowyer............................... 93.5
Matt Kenseth.............................. 90.5
Jimmie Johnson.......................... 90.3
Ryan Newman............................ 89.7
Kyle Larson................................ 88.3
Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2017 races (25 total) among active drivers at Richmond International Raceway.

Qualifying/Race Data
2016 pole winner:
Denny Hamlin, Toyota
122.344 mph, 22.069 secs. 09-08-16
2016 race winner:
Denny Hamlin, Toyota
85.778 mph, (03:33:31), 09-10-16

Track qualifying record:
Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
130.599 mph, 20.674 secs. 09-04-13

Track race record:
Dale Jarrett, Ford
109.047 mph, (02:45:04), 09-06-97


At Richmond International Raceway:
History
·        Originally known as the Atlantic Rural Exposition Fairgrounds, Richmond International Raceway held its first race in 1946 as a half-mile dirt track.
·        The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race was held on April 19, 1953 and won by Lee Petty.
·        The spring 1964 race was run on a Tuesday night under temporary lighting.
·        The track name changed to Virginia State Fairgrounds in 1967.
·        The track surface was changed from dirt to asphalt between races in 1968.
·        The track name changed to Richmond Fairgrounds Raceway in 1969.
·        The track was re-measured to .542-mile in 1970.
·        The track was rebuilt as a three-quarters-mile D-shaped oval following the Feb. 21, 1988 race.
·        The first race under permanent lights was Sept. 7, 1991.
·        The first season with both races as night races was 1999.
·        Earlier this season, the spring event moved back to the Sunday afternoon time slot and the track name changed to Richmond Raceway.
Starts
·        There have been 122 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond International Raceway, one event from 1953 - 1958 and two races per year since 1959.
·        495 drivers have competed in at least one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond; 323 in more than one.
·        NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the series in starts at Richmond with 63. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth lead all active drivers with 35 starts each; followed by Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch with 33 each.
·        Brad Keselowski leads all active drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Richmond International Raceway with an 9.500.

Poles
·        54 drivers have won Coors Light poles at Richmond, led by Richard Petty and Bobby Allison with eight each.
·        Denny Hamlin leads all active drivers in poles at Richmond with three (2006, 2008 and 2016).
·        Buck Baker won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Richmond in 1953 with a speed of 48.465 mph.
·        Eight drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Richmond. Bobby Allison holds the record for most consecutive Coors Light poles at Richmond with five (1972 - 1974).
·        Youngest Richmond pole winner: Brian Vickers (05/15/2004 – 20 years, 6 months, 21 days).
·        Oldest Richmond pole winner: Mark Martin (04/28/2012 – 53 years, 3 months, 19 days).
·        Nine Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers posted their first career Coors Light pole at Richmond Raceway – Brian Vickers (2004), Ted Musgrave (1994), Bobby Labonte (1993), Alan Kulwicki (1987), Morgan Shepherd (1981), Bill Dennis (1971), Dave Marcis (1971), Ned Jarrett (1960) and Russ Hepler (1957).

Wins
·        50 different drivers have won at Richmond International Raceway, led by Richard Petty with 13.
·        Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in wins at Richmond with four; all of which were spring races.
·        Petty Enterprises has the most wins at Richmond in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with 15; followed by Joe Gibbs Racing with 12, Hendrick Motorsports, with 10 and Richard Childress Racing with nine.
·        Nine different manufacturers have won at Richmond. Chevrolet leads the series in wins at Richmond with 37 victories; followed by Ford with 32 and Toyota with 10.
·        Youngest Richmond winner: Richard Petty (04/23/1961 – 23 years, 9 months, 21 days).
·        Oldest Richmond winner: Harry Gant (09/07/1991 – 51 years, 7 months, 28 days).

·        24 of the 122 (19.7%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond Raceway have been won from the Coors Light pole.
·        Only five active MENCS drivers have been able to win from the pole: Kasey Kahne (2005), Jimmie Johnson (2007), Kyle Busch (2010), Brad Keselowski (2014) and Denny Hamlin (2016). 
·        The pole starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners than any other starting position at Richmond (24).  
·        38 of the 122 (31.1%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond have been won from the front row: 24 from the pole and 14 from second-place.
·        96 of the 122 (78.7%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup races at Richmond Raceway have been won from a top-10 starting position.
·        13 of the 122 (10.7%) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond Raceway have been won from a starting position outside the top 20; most recent was Carl Edwards (2013; started 26th).
·        The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Richmond Raceway is 31st, by Clint Bowyer in the spring of 2008.
·        Five drivers have posted their first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win at Richmond – Kasey Kahne (2005), Tony Stewart (1999), Kyle Petty (1986), Neil Bonnett (1977) and James Hylton (1970)
·        Eight drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series have posted consecutive wins at Richmond International Raceway.
·        Richard Petty leads the series in consecutive wins at Richmond after posting seven consecutive wins from the fall of 1970 – 1973.
·        Jimmie Johnson is the only active driver with consecutive wins at Richmond (2007 sweep). 
·        All 12 of the active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series winners at Richmond International Raceway participated in at least one or more races before visiting Victory Lane. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won at Richmond in his second appearance – the fewest among active drivers.   
·        Jamie McMurray leads the series among active drivers with the most Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Richmond without visiting Victory Lane at 29.

Additional Finishing Position Stats
·        Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position at Richmond International Raceway with a 7.333.
·        Bobby Allison and Richard Petty are tied for the series-most runner-up finishes at Richmond with nine each. Kyle Busch leads all active drivers with six; followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick and Ryan Newman with two each.    
·        Richard Petty leads the series in top-five finishes at Richmond with 34; Kyle Busch leads all active drivers with 15; followed by Kevin Harvick (12) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (10).
·        Richard Petty leads the series in top-10 finishes at Richmond with 41. Kevin Harvick leads all active drivers with 21; followed by Kyle Busch and Ryan Newman (17 each).

Track / Event Specific Stats
·        Three MENCS races have resulted in NASCAR Overtime at Richmond International Raceway:
Scheduled No. of Laps
Actual No. of Laps
NASCAR Overtime Laps
Date
Race Winner
400
407
7
9/10/2016
Denny Hamlin
400
406
6
4/27/2013
Kevin Harvick
400
410
10
5/3/2008
Clint Bowyer

·        Four of the 122 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races at Richmond International Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions:
Scheduled No. of Laps
Actual No. of Laps
Number of Fewer Laps
Date
Race Winner
400
393
-7
5/3/2003
Joe Nemechek
400
250
-150
2/21/1982
Dave Marcis
400
245
-155
2/27/1977
Cale Yarborough
250
180
-70
4/1/1962
Rex White

·        Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond International Raceway eight times: 1955, 1962 (spring), 1967 (fall), 1986 (spring), 1997 (spring), 2008 (fall), 2014 (spring) and 2016 (spring).  
·        Since the advent of electronic scoring, the closest margin of victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Richmond International Raceway was the race on September 12, 1998 - won by Jeff Burton with a MOV of 0.051 second over second-place finisher Jeff Gordon.
·        Top five closest Margins of Victory in the MENCS at Richmond since advent of electronic scoring:
Rank
MOV
Date
Winner
Runner-Up
1
0.051
9/12/1998
Jeff Burton
Jeff Gordon
2
0.100
9/7/1996
Ernie Irvan
Jeff Gordon
3
0.139
9/10/2011
Kevin Harvick
Carl Edwards
4
0.153
9/9/2006
Kevin Harvick
Kyle Busch
5
0.159
5/6/2000
Dale Earnhardt Jr
Jeremy Mayfield

Female Competitor Stats
·        Two female drivers have competed at Richmond in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series:
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
Driver Rating
Danica Patrick
21
18
4/30/2017
56.9
Danica Patrick
29
15
9/10/2016
66.4
Danica Patrick
21
24
4/24/2016
56.8
Danica Patrick
14
19
9/12/2015
61.1
Danica Patrick
21
25
4/26/2015
56.5
Danica Patrick
13
16
9/6/2014
75.5
Danica Patrick
35
34
4/26/2014
36.5
Danica Patrick
36
30
9/7/2013
39.1
Danica Patrick
30
29
4/27/2013
42.6
Averages
24.4
23.3

54.6
Driver
Starting Position
Finishing Position
Date
Janet Guthrie
14
12
9/11/1977
Janet Guthrie
13
12
2/27/1977
Averages
13.5
12.0

NASCAR in Virginia
·        There has been a total of 501 NASCAR national series races among 10 tracks in the state of Virginia.
Track Name
City
MENCS
NXS
NCWTS
Total Races
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville
137
34
37
208
Richmond Raceway
Richmond
122
67
11
200
South Boston Speedway
South Boston
10
35
3
48
Langley Field Speedway
Hampton
9
14
0
23
Old Dominion Speedway
Manassas
7
0
0
7
New River Valley Speedway
Dublin
0
4
0
4
Southside Speedway
Richmond
4
0
0
4
Starkey Speedway
Roanoke
4
0
0
4
Norfolk Speedway
Norfolk
2
0
0
2
Princess Anne Speedway
Norfolk
1
0
0
1
Totals

296
154
51
501


Virginia Drivers In NASCAR
·        179 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Virginia.
·        Joe Weatherly and Wendell Scott are both from Virginia and have been inducted into the 2015 Class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.  
·        Leonard Wood from Stuart, Va. was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2013 and his brother Glen Wood also from (Stuart) Virginia was inducted in 2012.
·        19 drivers from Virginia have won at least one race in NASCAR’s three national series.
·        11 of the 19 Virginia native NASCAR winners have won in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Driver
MENCS
NXS
NCWTS
Denny Hamlin
31
17
2
Joe Weatherly
25
0
0
Ricky Rudd
23
1
0
Jeff Burton
21
27
0
Curtis Turner
17
0
0
Ward Burton
5
4
0
Glen Wood
4
0
0
Elliott Sadler
3
13
1
Emanuel Zervakis
2
0
0
Lennie Pond
1
0
0
Wendell Scott
1
0
0
Tommy Ellis
0
22
0
Jimmy Hensley
0
9
2
Rick Mast
0
9
0
Hermie Sadler
0
2
0
Elton Sawyer
0
2
0
Stacy Compton
0
0
2
Jon Wood
0
0
2
Jeb Burton
0
0
1


Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Milestones
Drivers
Has
Needs
Milestones
STARTS
Kevin Harvick
599
1
To become the 27th driver in series history to start 600 or more races
Ryan Newman
573
2
To become the 30th driver in series history to start 575 or more races
Denny Hamlin
423
2
To become the 55th driver in series history to start 425 or more races
AJ Allmendinger
324
1
To become the 79th driver in series history to start 325 or more races
WINS
Jimmie Johnson
83
1
Tie Bobby Allison and Darrell Waltrip (84) for fourth on MENCS all-time wins list
Kyle Busch
40
4
Tie Bill Elliott (44) for 16th on all-time MENCS wins list
Matt Kenseth
38
1
Tie Tim Flock (39) for 18th on all-time MENCS wins list
Kevin Harvick
36
1
Tie Bobby Isaac (37) for 21st on MENCS all-time wins list
Denny Hamlin
31
1
Tie Dale Jarrett (32) for 24th on all-time MENCS wins list
Kurt Busch
29
1
Tie Denny Hamlin (30) for 25th on all-time MENCS wins list
Dale Earnhardt Jr
26
2
Tie Rex White (28) for 28th on all-time MENCS wins list
Brad Keselowski
23
2
Tie Joe Weatherly, Jim Paschal (25) for 31st on all-time MENCS wins list
POLES
Ryan Newman
51
3
Tie Bill Elliott for eighth on the all-time MENCS poles list
Jimmie Johnson
35
1
Tie Rusty Wallace and Rex White for 17th on all-time MENCS poles list
Kasey Kahne
27
2
Tie Ricky Rudd (29) for 24th on the all-time MENCS poles list
Kyle Busch
25
1
Tie Bobby Labonte for 27th on all-time MENCS poles list
Denny Hamlin
24
1
Tie Kyle Busch for 28th on the all-time MENCS poles list
ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS
Jimmie Johnson
46
2
Tie Lee Petty for 11th on all-time MENCS second-place finishes list
Dale Earnhardt Jr
149
1
To become the 24th driver to post 150 or more MENCS top-five finishes
Kevin Harvick
299
1
To become the 20th driver to post 300 or more MENCS top-10 finishes
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
24
1
To post his 25th career MENCS top-10 finish
LAPS LED
Jimmie Johnson
18,634
366
To become the ninth driver in series history to lead 19,000 or more laps
Kyle Busch
13,668
332
To become the 10th driver in series history to lead 14,000 or more laps
Matt Kenseth
11,564
436
To become the 15th MENCS driver all-time to lead 12,000 or more laps
Kevin Harvick
10,808
192
To become 17th MENCS driver all-time to lead 11,000 or more laps
Kurt Busch
8,874
126
To become 20th MENCS driver all-time to lead 9,000 or more laps
Denny Hamlin
8,523
477
To become 20th MENCS driver all-time to lead 9,000 or more laps
Dale Earnhardt Jr
8,210
790
To become 20th MENCS driver all-time to lead 9,000 or more laps


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